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The author
What is / was the author's life like?
Give a (very) short biography of the author
What is the importance of the given story in his or her complete works. Is this story one of the (most) important ones heor she wrote?
Are there any elements in the short story which he/she may have taken from his or her biography?
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Summary of the Story
The summary must be very short and only assure the general understanding of the following parts.
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The Main Characters (= The Protagonists)
What are the features of the main characters (friendly, stern, grumpy ,,,)?
What is their age?
What is their job, their educational background, their general personal situation?
How do the main characters behave?
What are the motives of their behaviour?
What are the relationships between them?
What conflict(s) do the main characters have to face?
What is their way out of this conflict?
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Minor Characters (See The Main Characters)
What are the relationships they have with the protagonists?
In how far do they contribute to the behaviour of the main characters? What is their function in the story?
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The "Message" of the Short Story
What does the short story tell us?
What can we learn from it? Is there any general morale we can deduce from the story?
Is the message of the story still topical today?
Is this message applicable to the society in your country?
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Important Metaphors and Leitmotifs
Are there any metaphorical aspects that are important for the story?
Are there any elements which repeat themselves (leitmotifs)?
Why are they repeated several times?
What is their function in the story?
Are there any important places which play a role?
Are there any interesting "images?
Language Can you find any interesting language items?
Are there any linguistic elements which have caught your attention?
Are there any words or constructions which are worthwhile memorising? Are there any language items which occur repetitiously?
Is the style of the story difficult, easy to understand, accessible? Why? Does the style chosen by the author have any function in the story?
How do the characters speak?
Do they differ in style (slang vs. sophisticated style)?
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The Plot
What is the most interesting or exciting moment in the story?
When was the story boring?
Was there a point when you couldn't stop reading?
When and why?
Is the plot convincing?
Attention: There is a "twist" at the end of most short stories.What is the function of this twist. does it contain a message?
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Your Personal Evaluation
Did you like the short story? If so, why? If not, why not?
What can you deduce from the story for your own life?
Would you read the story again? If so, why? If not, why not?
Would you recommend the story to your friends? Why? Why not?
Would you have acted in the same way as the main character(s)?
If you were the author, would you have written the story differently?
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Important Short Stories which can easily be read in classes from an intermediate level on:
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Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Great Carbuncle
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O. Henry: The Gift of the Magi
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O. Henry: The Cop and the Anthem
O. Henry: The Cop and the Anthem
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O. Henry: The Princess and the Puma
O. Henry: The Princess and the Puma
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O. Henry: The Ransom of Red Chief
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Ambrose Bierce: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Ambrose Bierce: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
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H. G. Wells: The Red Room
H. G. Wells: The Red Room
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F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Cut-Glass Bowl
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Cut-Glass Bowl
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James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
James Thurber: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
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Ray Bradbury: A Sound of Thunder
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Raymond Carver: Cathedral
Raymond Carver: Cathedral
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Raymond Carver: A Small, Good Thing
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John Updike: A&P
John Updike: A&P
..
Disclaimer:
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