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Short Story

The document discusses the history and evolution of the short story from ancient times to present day. It traces the origins of short stories back to oral storytelling traditions and notes how early written collections influenced the development of the form. The modern short story emerged in the 19th century through writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Anton Chekhov. In the 20th century, modernist and postmodernist authors experimented with narrative techniques and structure, continuing to develop the short story genre.

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Sumama Aulakh
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74 views3 pages

Short Story

The document discusses the history and evolution of the short story from ancient times to present day. It traces the origins of short stories back to oral storytelling traditions and notes how early written collections influenced the development of the form. The modern short story emerged in the 19th century through writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Anton Chekhov. In the 20th century, modernist and postmodernist authors experimented with narrative techniques and structure, continuing to develop the short story genre.

Uploaded by

Sumama Aulakh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Short Story, History of Short Story, Inception to

Postmodern Age:

 Short Story:

A short story is a brief work of fiction that typically focuses on a single


incident, character, or theme. It is shorter in length than a traditional novel, often
ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand words. Short stories aim to bring
out a specific mood or emotion by presenting an engaging narrative with a clear
beginning, middle, and end. They often explore complex ideas, showcase unique
writing styles, and are known for their concise yet impactful storytelling. Some
well-known short story authors include Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, and
Guy de Maupassant.

 History of Short Story:

The history of the short story can be traced back to ancient oral storytelling
traditions. Before the advent of writing, communities passed down their stories
through spoken word, often through poetic or rhythmic narratives. These stories
provided entertainment, shared cultural and moral values, and preserved historical
events.

With the development of writing, short narratives began to emerge in


various cultures. In ancient civilizations like Egypt, India, Greece, and Persia, there
were collections of short stories and fables. For example, Aesop's Fables in ancient
Greece presented moral lessons through short animal stories.

In the Middle Ages, short stories were often found within larger collections
of tales, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" or Giovanni Boccaccio's

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"The Decameron." These collections included diverse stories that helped shape the
foundations of European storytelling.

The modern concept of the short story emerged during the 19th century.
Writers like Edgar Allan Poe in the United States and Anton Chekhov in Russia
played pivotal roles in defining and popularizing the short story as a distinct
literary form. Poe emphasized the importance of brevity, unity of effect, and
precise storytelling techniques to evoke emotions in readers.

In the early 20th century, writers like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott
Fitzgerald further developed the short story form. They experimented with
minimalist writing styles, experimenting with language and structure to convey
complex themes and emotions within a limited space.

Since then, the short story has continued to evolve, with authors from
different cultures and backgrounds contributing to its development. Today, short
stories are not only written for literary journals and anthologies but also widely
shared and consumed through online platforms, allowing for a diverse range of
voices and narratives to be heard.

 Inception to Postmodern Age:

The inception of the short story as a distinct literary form can be traced back
to ancient oral storytelling traditions, as mentioned earlier. However, the
development of the short story as we know it today began to take shape in the 19th
century.

During the Romantic and Realist periods in the 19th century, short stories gained
popularity as a means to explore individual and societal experiences. Writers like
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Guy de Maupassant focused on
exploring the depths of human psychology, the supernatural, and the intricacies of
everyday life.

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In the early 20th century, modernist writers brought the short story to new
heights, experimenting with narrative techniques, fragmented structures, and
narrative perspectives. Authors such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Franz
Kafka explored the subjective nature of reality, stream of consciousness, and
psychological complexity.

During the mid-20th century, as the postmodern era began to take shape,
writers continued to push the boundaries of storytelling. Postmodernism
emphasized self-reflexivity, skepticism towards traditional narratives, and a
rejection of absolute truths. Writers like Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, and
Donald Barthelme embraced metafiction, intertextuality, and unconventional
narrative techniques in their short stories.

In more recent times, the short story has continued to evolve and reflect
contemporary themes and concerns. Postmodern short story writers like Lydia
Davis, George Saunders, and Aimee Bender have further expanded the possibilities
of the form, experimenting with structure, genre blending, and pushing the
boundaries of narrative convention.

Overall, the short story has been a dynamic and evolving genre, reflecting
the changing literary and cultural landscape from its inception to
the postmodern age.

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