Short story:
According to Literary critical terms a short story can be defined as:
“A prose narrative of shorter length than the novel that concentrates on a single theme.”
According to Britannica Encyclopedia:
“A short story is a brief fictional prose narrative. It usually presents a single significant episode or scene involving a limited number of characters. A short story concentrates on the creation of mood rather than the telling of a story.”
According to Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms a short story is defined as:
“A fictional prose tale of no specified length, but too short to be published as a volume on its own.”
Short story can also be defined as:
“A kind of story shorter than the novel or novelette, characteristically developing a single central theme and limited in scope and number of characters.”
There is a common point in above definitions that the short story is a work of prose tale or fiction which is shorter in length but has a central theme. So these short stories are shorter in length but they do have a theme.
The aspects of a Short Story:
A short story is similar to a novel in many aspects. The elements of a short story includes: plot, character, setting, theme, moral values.
In short stories the plot is the sequence of events namely; the beginning, middle and end. Characters are people in the story; there could be major characters and minor characters. In short story the setting is the place and the time that where and when a story takes place. The theme is a general idea of what the story is about and the moral values are principles that convey important messages.
Characteristics of a Short Story:
- It is shorter in length and could be read usually in one sitting.
- The information offered in a short story is relevant to the tale being told.
- It is unlike a novel where a story can diverge from the main plot.
- It usually tries to leave behind a single impression or effect.
- As these stories are concise so, the writers depend on the reader bringing personal experiences and prior knowledge to the story.
- The authority of the narrator is questioned while writing a short story.
- In terms of language patterning of symbols, multiplicity of voices, indirect language, and stream of consciousness are the techniques which are followed by the modern writers.
Conflict as an important element:
Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a short story. There could be an external conflict in which a character struggles against some outside force or there could be an internal conflict which exists within the mind of the character. The common applications in a conflict could be:
- Man vs man.
- Man vs self.
- Man vs nature.
- Man vs society.
- Man vs technology.
- Man vs fate.
