Flashcards: Mastering the Art of Short Stories — 16 cards

Short story — defining features?

Brief, unified, fictional prose narrative.

Poe’s unity — purpose?

Create one single, emotional effect.

Narrative element — plot?

Main event or crisis involving few characters.

Brevity — effect on meaning?

Compresses content, emphasizes the unsaid.

Collection types — example?

Sequences linked by characters; cycles share themes.

Analytical tool — focalization?

Perspective from which story is perceived.

Historical trend — origin?

Mid-19th century America, linked to mass printing.

Marginal voices — genre role?

Amplifies excluded, outsider, and minority perspectives.

Story length — range?

From microfiction (~50 words) to longer stories.

Poe’s brevity — key idea?

Every word must contribute to effect.

Implicit meaning — technique?

Say less, imply more, encourage interpretation.

Collection structure — example?

Stories linked by characters or themes, often with framing.

Narrative voice — types?

First-person, third-person, with various focalizations.

Open ending — purpose?

Creates ambiguity, invites reader interpretation.

Modern short story — development?

Emergence in 19th-century America, experimental techniques.

Short stories for marginalized?

Provide voice, challenge norms, explore social issues.