example of a short story essay

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Essays on Short Story

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Amy Hempel The Harvest Analysis

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Bridging The Gap: Comparing "Letters from My Father" and "The Writer"

The effects of class and morality in 'the boarding house' by james joyce, the connection between art and history for julian barnes, analysis of the short story 'the storm' by kate chopin, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Analysis of Anton Chekhov’s Short Story "Agafya"

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Free Short Story Essay Examples and Topics

The term, short story essay , is a combination of the two genres, “short story” and “essay.” Short stories are meant to be an engaging experience for the audience. The author should tell a compelling narrative in order to captivate their audience. There are many different ways in which you can write this type of essay including: brainstorming ideas, researching your topic, outlining your plot points, making notes about important details that need to be included in your story, writing out dialogue between characters or describing scenes where major events occurred. This article will discuss how you can write a short story essay with examples from other students’ work.

How to write a short story essay

Writing a short story requires the writer to work with many aspects of fiction writing. A person must have imagination, creativity and discipline.

Short story essay vary in length such as:

• 3-5 paragraph short story essay
• 2 Page Short story essay (500-600 words)
• 3 page short story essay (750-900 Words
• 5 Page short story essay (1250-1500 Words)

To guide you in your efforts here are six (6) steps to follow when writing a short story essay:

• Start with an idea

Every good piece of writing starts with an idea, so start by considering what sort of idea you would like to write about. Try brainstorming some ideas that are personal or unique to you. Once you decide on your subject it is time to develop it into a full blown concept for your short story.

• Build the characters

Next consider who will be involved in your story and what roles they play in the narrative. The best stories are those which have strong, dynamic characters. Characters which the readers can relate to and empathise with. Think of your characters as people, real or imagined, who have a certain type of personality which affects how they behave in different situations. In this way you can inspire your readers to have a better understanding about themselves and their own personality traits.

• Incorporate descriptive details

The setting is an important element in any story so be sure that it is properly described. Do not just tell us that a character woke up early one morning but describe the feeling of waking up on a cold winter morning when the sun has not risen yet and everything is silent except for the birds chirping outside our window. All those senses are engaged by those few simple words “silent except for the birds chirping outside our window”.

• Keep a record of ideas and inspirations

A writer needs to be open to inspiration in order to create a good story. If you find an interesting object or spot, make sure that you take note of it because this could later provide you with motivation when writing your short story essay. For example, if while taking a walk in the park you see two people looking at each other from across a gap between the trees, these characters may serve as an inspiration for your short story.

• Create momentum

The best stories are action-packed so try and incorporate actions into your narrative. The best way to do this is by giving your protagonist(s) problems to solve or tasks to achieve, then making it increasingly difficult for them to do so. This will provoke conflict and tension which is what keeps your readers interested in the story.

• The conclusion

The conclusion of the short story must provide conclusions about your characters, their actions and conclusions about life in general. You can leave some thoughts with your readers by adding an element of mystery, something that makes them think back on the entire narrative. A “what if” statement can be useful here: “ What if my grandmother had seen him across the park? Would she have run after him?” These are the kind of questions that arise in our minds when reading a good short story essay.

Comparison Essay on Two (2) Short Stories

Comparison essay is an essential part of academic writing. A fair amount of comparison essay is that it requires students to read two texts, identify similarities and differences between them, create a thesis statement on which are the main differences, back it up with evidence from both stories/texts/books etc., arrange all points in clear paragraphs, learn how to write a conclusion paragraph where you summarize all your ideas again so that the reader will have no difficulty understanding your point even after several days have passed since reading your text.

When teachers require students to write comparison essays on two short stories they give specific instructions on what topics to choose for discussion with their examples, but most often these examples are not enough for students who do not know what exactly should be discussed in their texts.

If you are writing a comparison essay on two short stories, there is no point of discussing different topics as it is not possible within such a paper. The same ideas should be written over and over again but from different perspectives. If you think “I don’t want to write the same thing again and again” you are wrong because that’s the only way to show how similar or different two texts are.

If your teacher wants you to compare/contrast two short stories, he/she expects you to follow certain rules. Here are a few steps you can follow to get better at writing short stories.

Steps to Follow when Writing a Comparison Essay:

• You need to start with a thesis statement which clearly shows what main elements of the texts are being compared and what the focus of your essay is going on about.
• The next paragraphs should be dedicated to comparison of point by point, so there should be several sentences devoted one by one to describe similarities and differences between stories under discussion; please make sure that these points or facts don’t seem too obvious for your reader as they already know them
• Make sure you use correct examples from both texts for comparison so that they are really alike in their right perspective
• Your paragraphs should be organized according to how important certain elements are. You can’t write all your ideas in one paragraph unless the point is very small and unimportant.
• Another tip on ordering of sentences in your essay: if two points are similar, they should be written in one sentence; if they differ, then you need to divide them into several sentences.
• There has to be a clear structure in every paper you write even if it’s just a comparison essay on two short stories! This means correct organization of thoughts with the help of topic sentences (which show what will be discussed next). Point of view should also be clear and easy to understand for the reader.
• Do not forget to write a conclusion paragraph where you summarize your main ideas again using different words, phrases or sentences than those that were used in your essay; this will emphasize their importance.
• You need to read your paper several times checking all kinds of errors (grammar/punctuation/spelling etc.) as even one mistake can ruin your final grade!

How do you Cite (address) a short story in an essay?

When citing or referencing a short story in an essay or other written work, you must include all relevant information about the author and title of the story as well as identifying any additional information specific to your usage. Whether you’re creating an MLA , APA, Chicago/abian or any other type of formatting style, it’s important that your short story citation matches the format and standards outlined in your assignment.

The Basics: Author and Title of Story

As with any work you’re citing, the title and author of the story must be included in your reference entry. The title should include all words from the original publication; for example, if there were quotation marks around the title when originally published, then they should remain on any references. Similarly, underline or italicize titles just as they appeared on a book or magazine cover or publication you found them in.

Cite a short story by its full name along with an abbreviation for state/city/publication information if included at all. If more than one author is listed, use the word “and” between their names as you would for any other citation. If a publication is included, include publisher name and year of publication in parentheses immediately following the title.

When you are finished, your entry should have the author’s last name followed by any relevant title information in italics before the full-stop. Following this should be the city, state abbreviation and publisher of where the short story was originally published. All publication information goes after a forward slash – reference books will often include page numbers for you to use as well.

For Example:

Chavez, Jennifer L., and Monica R. Hand. “The Baby Pharma Industry—Exploiting Expectant Mothers.” Mothering 43 (1999): 38+. ProQuest Central. Web. 15 July 2015 <Link>.

Crowley, Dennis J., et al. “Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm among Young Soldiers.” Military Medicine 158 (1983): 363-67. ProQuest Central. Web. 15 July 2015 <Link>.

These examples are both in MLA format; however, remember that you should never copy and paste your information directly from a document as it is very easy for another person to steal the information and pretend as though they were the original author. Instead, use these examples as a guide to create your own short story citation in whatever format you choose.

Additional Information: Paraphrase or Quote

If you’re directly quoting from a short story under fair-use policy (refer to your assignment on this) then be sure that first and foremost quote marks are properly placed around any text that was originally said by another individual.

Include parenthetical documentation after any quoted text specifying which page number the quotation can be found on if applicable; if not included, place quotations directly after the author’s name without parentheses. If paraphrased words or ideas from a short story are included in your work, simply include a reference entry at the end before works cited.

Short Story Essay Topics and Prompts

Writing a short story essay is a complex task. Readers’ thoughts and ideas are influenced by the words that writers use in their stories. This makes it difficult to write an original, unique opinion about a topic from which many people have written before.

However, there are still some topics that every good writer should consider when writing a literary analysis of a short story- no matter how boring or insignificant they may seem at first glance.

Most of shorty story writing prompts revolve around the following subjects:

• The Beginning of the Story
• The ending of the story
• Character Analysis
• Point Of View [POV]/ Tense
• Style/ Literary devices used
• Setting/ Theme/ Mood Themes within the Story / Writer’s Intentions Annotated Texts [using quotes from the story]

The Beginning of a Story

• One of the most important elements of a short story is its hook . “A good storyteller has to have something that will entice his audience from the very beginning.” [1] In other words, he must be able to capture and keep their attention, and make them want to read on and find out what happens next. Therefore, choosing an interesting topic to write about in regards to a story’s beginning can be quite difficult. Nevertheless, there are several topics that students should consider when writing their literary analysis essay:
• How did the protagonist get into his current situation? (ex: How did Emma ever end up with such awful parents?) Why does the protagonist feel like things need to change? (ex: Why does Emma feel like she can’t continue living with her awful parents?) What happens that makes the protagonist realize/realize that things need to change?
• What are some possible obstacles that must be faced before the protagonist reaches his goal? What other problems might he encounter along the way? How does the protagonist overcome these difficulties and solve his problem(s)?
• How does the first paragraph of a story set up its theme or mood? Does it give you any clues as to what might happen next? How does it prepare you for what is to come in this particular story?
• Are there any foreshadowing techniques used in the beginning of this story that make you think about how things will end or affect your interpretation of the story’s events?

The Ending of a Story

• In general, the ending of a short story is what gives meaning to everything that came before it. If the beginning hooked readers in, then the end must leave them satisfied and fulfilled. In addition to discussing how well or badly a story ends, students might consider writing about some of these possible topics:
• How does the ending reinforce what was already said/written about in this particular piece? What connections can you make between certain parts of this work and its conclusion? How do they fit together?
• What kind of final impression did this work leave on you- either positive or negative?
• Was the ending realistic? Why or why not?
• Was the ending “happy” or “sad”? What evidence does the writer give to support this claim?
• Do you agree with how things ended up, and would you have made a different choice if you had been in charge of writing the conclusion to this particular story?
• What types of events led up to the final moment of resolution/clarity within this piece? Does it make sense that these specific scenarios unfolded as they did, given what you know about each character’s personality and background from earlier parts of the text? In other words, were any coincidences too convenient for your liking, or do certain events seem far-fetched based on their context within story as a whole? How would you have ended this story if you were the writer?
• What impact does the ending have on your overall impressions of the work as a whole? What type of final impression did this story leave with you- positive or negative?

Character Analysis/Development

• What is the main differences between the two characters in the shorty story “A cup of tea”
• One common topic for short story essays is to consider how well or badly a character has been developed. Depending on what kind of feedback students are looking for, some quick questions they might ask themselves include:
• How important was it for this particular character to be convincing and realistic within this setting? Were they interesting enough to carry the story forward by themselves, even if the same events had played out altogether differently? How convincing were they in light of their own history (and everything that led up to the point in which the story took place)?
• Are any of these characters based on real people? If so, how does this influence your interpretation of the character’s actions and motivations throughout the story? For example, some critics have claimed that several aspects of “Catcher in the Rye” are autobiographical. In what ways is Holden similar to Salinger himself? In what ways do you think he differs from his creator?
• How did the author go about developing their backstory? How might this help us better understand why they behave as they do in certain situations within this particular short story or novel? Are there any details that didn’t seem important enough to include, but which could have helped us better understand the character as a whole?
• How does this person change or learn from the events that occur throughout the course of this narrative (if at all)? How would you describe their reactions to various circumstances- particularly those which might elicit surprise, anger, confusion, and/or fear within you as a reader? Is there anything about these changes in behavior that makes them believable and realistic to you?
• What types of details characterize this character’s actions and feelings throughout the work- either directly or indirectly? How well do these match up with your impressions of who they were “supposed” to be based on what was already revealed about them earlier on in the story? Does seeing this specific event change your views about how they might act in the future? Why or why not?
• How would you describe this character’s personality, based on what little we know about them in comparison to the other characters in this work? Are there any significantly different aspects of their backstory which make them stand out compared to others within the same setting (in terms of physical description, socioeconomic status, age-related issues, etc.)? How do these differences influence your interpretation of their behavior throughout the course of this short story or novel?
• What types of evidence does the writer use to develop this person beyond stereotypes and assumptions that might be obvious at first glance? For example, if one reads “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, much can already be inferred about each character based on their age and physical appearance alone. That said, how well do we get to know the characters as a whole? And in what ways might this understanding of them change depending on whether you read the short story or novel version (or both)?
• How effectively does the setting contribute to your interpretation of this character’s actions and motivations? Do they seem out-of-place within their own world, or is every detail just right given their role in this narrative? Does knowing more about their backstory influence your overall reading experience, positively or negatively?

Attitudes/Opinions

Another common topic for short stories relates to a writer’s point of view about certain issues. For example:

• Do you agree with the author’s opinions on the following subjects? Why or why not?
• How did you identify with this character’s attitudes and opinions throughout the narrative, if at all? Were there certain situations in which their views seemed to change for better or worse? If so, what were some of the factors that influenced these changes within them (i.e., other characters, settings, etc.)?
• Did anything about this person’s behavior irritate you throughout the course of the short story or novel (for example: self-righteousness)? At times, do you think they might have been right when others around them disagreed with them on specific points? Or was it more likely that others held a stronger grasp on reality than they did? What type of information is revealed within the plot to convince you that this character was right in what they said/did, if at all?
• What kinds of details support their points-of-view throughout the course of this narrative? Are there any decisions or actions which seemed out-of-character based on your understanding of their personality and personal history? How do these incongruences make you feel about them as a whole (positively or negatively)?
• How much did their views tend to change throughout the work, especially when it came to issues that were particularly relevant for them personally? For example, take a look at “Miss Brill” by Katherine Mansfield. In the beginning, Miss Brill is seen engaging in her usual pastime while eventually coming to realize how little she appears to have in common with the people surrounding her. But do their opinions really matter when it comes to how she perceives herself? How would you describe this character’s personality, based on what little we know about them in comparison to the other characters in this work? Are there any significantly different aspects of their backstory which make them stand out compared to others within the same setting (in terms of physical description, socioeconomic status , age-related issues, etc.)? How do these differences influence your interpretation of their behavior throughout the course of this short story or novel?
• Can they be seen as a universal archetype for people living within a specific era, place, or situation? What kinds of details support this interpretation throughout the course of the narrative? Do any events stand out as being particularly significant within this setting, even if they only lasted briefly? How does this information change your view of them as a human being compared to those around them who are influenced by similar factors but end up reacting in different ways?
• Which characters do you see as having the most in common with this person, and might there be any significant moral implications for these similarities? Do you feel that their opinions are justified on issues where people of their age, gender, social standing, etc., might not have had equal rights or access to certain types of information? How would their lives have been different if they’d taken a more proactive approach to topics concerning politics, race relations by other groups, etc.?
• What is your opinion about the treatment of women within the setting(s) explored throughout this piece? Is there anything which author seems particularly critical about how women are expected to behave or interact with others who present themselves as being progressive on certain issues (i.e. feminism or gender equality)? Is this treatment applied to all women, regardless of their background in comparison to the majority of people within this specific time period?
• How much can you understand about them based on either your personal experiences with these topics or what you’ve learned about people who shared similar views during historical or current events? Do any characters stand out as being significantly more open-minded when it comes to certain issues which are often seen as controversial even today (i.e. LGBT rights, premarital sex, etc.)? How would they have responded if they were exposed to someone who held beliefs that were at odds with their own values and sense of self-identity?
• What major decisions did they make throughout their life that made an impact on other people, or even this person themselves? What kind of changes can be traced back to these events and what evidence is there that they would not have occurred if it hadn’t been for the influence of the protagonist(s)? How does this information supplement your understanding of their personality and general character arc? What do you think might’ve happened if they’d made a different choice at any point in time (even one which seems like an insignificant detail when read from a modern perspective)?
• Does their personal philosophy differ significantly from those around them based on the context provided by the narrative? Is there anything about this character’s way of thinking which stands out as being particularly unusual within such a setting, even if only lasts briefly (such as during a specific scene or chapter)? What can be inferred about this person’s personal values, even if they only make a brief appearance in the story? Are they significantly different from those around them, and if so is that difference justified by events within the story?
• In what ways does the style of narration change throughout the course of this piece? In what ways might it have influenced how you perceive certain details as being more relevant than others, especially when compared to other genres or works of fiction which rely on a similar technique to tell their stories? How significant do you consider each character’s perspectives to be within this narrative and why were certain events described from a particular viewpoint instead of generalizing it based on who was taking part in these scenes?
• What types of emotions does this work evoke in the reader and why do you think they were emphasized so strongly? Do these techniques contribute to how we perceive each character’s internal thought process throughout their interactions with others, or how we understand their position within the group as a whole? How might different choices have been made if you assume that other types of emotional reactions were minimized or excluded entirely?
• Many people would consider this book to be one of the most significant pieces of literature ever published, for both its historical value and what it helped to inspire during periods such as the Harlem Renaissance. However, not everyone will agree about whether it should be categorized as fine art because of its purposeful ambiguity concerning certain details (such as which characters are meant to represent real-life historical figures and whether or not they were actually based on specific individuals). How might the overall tone of the story change if you assume that all of its characters, events, etc. are meant to be understood as being factual? Would it still have made just as much of an impact if it’d been written in a more straightforward manner instead of using symbols and techniques which don’t need to be deciphered in order for the narrative to be coherent?
• What kinds of conclusions can you make about this collection once you’ve reached the end? Have any major revelations been presented within its pages which will have a significant impact on how you interpret each individual piece afterwards? Were these details revealed gradually throughout the work instead of being clustered at the conclusion where they could provide a better sense of closure?
• Why is it significant that the author chose to include such a wide range of topics within this anthology, and how does each contribute to the story as a whole? Do certain emotions or themes become more strongly emphasized depending on which specific piece you’re reading and why do you think these elements remain consistent with earlier selections in terms of tone and style? How would your response to each individual story differ if they were written by multiple authors instead of just one person (and if so, how might this affect your overall appreciation for both the texts and narrative progression)?
• In what ways is this text intended to be interpreted from an allegorical perspective? What types of events are meant to symbolize other conflicts taking place at the same time, and are their meanings meant to be understood in literal terms or within the broader context of the story as a whole? How might this information change your perception of various characters’ roles within each scene, especially if you assume that they are meant to represent something else entirely outside of what’s explicitly stated?
• What elements about this piece make it effective at portraying its theme in particular ways? Are there any sequences which could have been used more effectively to demonstrate these ideas instead of just hinting them without enough elaboration? Could specific techniques have been employed in order to avoid making certain moments feel either too forced or underwhelming compared to other parts which successfully convey similar themes?

Style/ Literary Devices Used:

• How does the author’s style contribute to the story’s overall tone and atmosphere? Is this choice of writing consistent throughout or does it change at any point, and if so, does this have a significant impact on how you perceive each character’s personality? Do you notice any elements which could be considered postmodern in nature (such as nonlinear plot structure and self-reflexivity)? What types of messages do these convey about the work itself and what might they imply about its focus when compared with similar texts? Are there certain techniques used multiple times throughout which help strengthen this connection between events we’ve seen before and things yet to come?
• Does the text include any specific commentary on human nature, especially when contrasting different characters’ actions against one another? Are there certain moments when the environment or backstory are more significant than which of the people inhabiting it, and if so, what kinds of emotional responses can you expect to experience while reading these scenes? Is the narrative ever intended to be confusing in any way (in terms of its structure or by presenting symbolism within otherwise normal circumstances)?
• How would this short story’s tone change if you assumed that all of its characters are meant to be understood as being factual? Would it still have made just as much of an impact if it’d been written in a more straightforward manner instead of using symbols and techniques which don’t need to be deciphered in order for the narrative to be coherent?
• What kinds of conclusions can you make about this collection of stories as a whole? Is there any specific common element between each piece (in terms of genre, time period, setting, etc.)? How would they vary if they had been written by someone who isn’t the same person who created this compilation and how might it change your overall appreciation for both the text and its author?
• Why is this anthology classified as science fiction in particular and what needs to be included in order for an individual story to fit within that category? Are there elements about it which could put off some readers from making certain connections or having certain reactions when reading it? What makes this selection different compared to similar texts with extremely similar content (such as “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury) and why didn’t you find those as appealing?
• How do the changes in tone and atmosphere presented within the stories affect your overall impression of each one? For instance, if a darker piece were to follow a more whimsical story about an otherwise innocent protagonist, would this have a negative impact on your interpretation of how the characters within that first work had been portrayed by the author? What about vice versa – would lighter stories be more enjoyable if they came after something which had been intended for mature audiences only due to its dark nature and violence toward its characters?
• What makes these particular pieces especially effective at portraying their themes without feeling excessively preachy or forced down your throat from beginning to end? How do the different emotions evoked by each entry help create a balance between enjoyment and genuine appreciation for the text itself? Does this collection ever take on any unexpected levels of depth or does it present everything in-between its covers clearly and concisely, while still making you think about them for hours after finishing each one?
• Did the stories presented within “The Illustrated Man” have a noticeable impact on other works released near the same time period (such as The Twilight Zone television episode “The Long Morrow”) or can you identify elements which were likely to have been directly influence by Bradbury’s work instead (such as Superman)? Do any aspects of this anthology help to date it compared with similar books from around that era and would it be more or less enjoyable depending on your familiarity with 20th Century culture?
• Are there specific characters who are common to more than one story in the anthology? What are the circumstances surrounding their first appearance and what makes them stand out among Bradbury’s other characters which weren’t featured as frequently throughout this book? Is there any difference between how these central individuals appear within each separate narrative or do they seem like copies of each other without any significant differences, no matter where you encounter them?
• How would your perspective on “The Illustrated Man” change if it was labeled as horror instead of science fiction? Would that have an impact on its appeal or general tone depending on who you are or how familiar you are with either genre? What about its overall structure – is it ever meant to be read linearly from beginning through end, or should people skip around whenever they feel like doing so?
• What makes the writing style in particular stand out compared to other entries you’ve read throughout your life? Does it ever seem too wordy or overly complicated even when the subject matter is complex to begin with? Do any elements of Bradbury’s prose help you become more invested in what he has presented as a result and do any changes present between each piece come across as improvements instead of hindrances?
• Do any aspects of this book still surprise you after having read it multiple times already, whether due to its length or content itself? Is there anything which was likely going through your head while reading certain parts which you never expected to find at all beforehand – including things related directly the plot and characters themselves as well as small details which you wouldn’t normally think to be included for certain reasons?
• If the stories within “The Illustrated Man” were to be adapted into a movie, would they fit in with modern tastes and expectations or would it feel like something from the past which belonged at its time of creation? Is there anything about this book which could easily be updated with special effects such as space travel and other such technologies, while leaving everything else exactly the same no matter how many decades pass by during your lifetime?
• Would any of the stories be more effective if they were read out loud instead of silently flipping between pages throughout an average-sized book? Do you think Bradbury ever intended for anything written here to be presented outside of its original medium to begin with, by either recording each story in an audio format or branching the film rights out into separate spin-offs?

Setting/ Theme/ Mood within the Story / Writer’s Intentions

• What are some of the different elements that have been included in order to create a specific tone/ mood throughout this piece? Which of these are most significant and why? How do all of these contribute toward establishing an overall theme for the entire text as well as its individual components?
• Why are all of these characters behaving differently than usual, or why are they engaging with one another in ways which seemed unlikely during the first few chapters? Are there any clues (either subtle or obvious) which can be used to accurately infer what happened or why it has led to their current situation?
• What are the main differences between how each character sees themselves, and how do other people in their life see them instead? How might their perception of reality change over time if they’re able to be more objective about these observations?
• Given the setting of the story, have any assumptions you’d previously made about certain characters been proven wrong by this point in the narrative? Why does the author choose to include so many different perspectives when telling this particular story, and is there any reason behind presenting multiple perspectives that don’t necessarily agree with one another whenever possible ?
• Is this piece written from anyone’s perspective but that of an outsider? Is there any specific reason why the author would choose to follow a more detached approach to their storytelling, or does this fact help establish an overall theme of alienation that remains consistent throughout the entire text?
• What are some of the various points of view which have been included in this story, and how do their individual viewpoints differ from one another? Does anyone receive special treatment within its pages, or is everyone represented as being flawed at best/ reprehensible at worst ?
• How does conflict affect the progression of events during each scene? Can you identify certain moments where it might have been able to be diffused before longtime rivalries become irreconcilable grievances, or are these violent exchanges apparently inevitable despite certain characters’ efforts toward reconciliation?
• How do the actions of one character affect another’s choices within this piece, and vice versa? What is the overall significance of their relationship with one another, and does it remain consistent during each scene or evolve into something different over time?
• Why does the author choose to include certain dialogue exchanges (and more importantly, details regarding how these individuals behave in private)? What are some of the various aspects which make up a person’s personality, and why would an author attempt to capture these idiosyncrasies on paper?
• To what extent is the setting an integral part of this story; why does the author choose to set it at this specific place/ time instead of another location/ era? Does it help establish an overall theme of nostalgia, regret, or instead a false sense of security?
• How does the setting help enhance the events and moods which take place during this piece (in other words, can you identify certain environmental factors which make it easier for these individuals to become more accepting of one another after an extended amount of time)? Are any of these moments seemingly insignificant; perhaps explained away as part of everyday life- such as enjoying a cup of coffee on the front porch- why might they be included in spite of seeming like ordinary activities?
• How do all of these texts seem to relate with one another? Why is there so much emphasis placed upon family ties and their role within society as a whole during each work? What larger message might the author be trying to convey by incorporating these similarities into each story?
• Which aspect of family has been most emphasized within this text (is it biological relationships, or is it the connection between friends?)? What does this particular theme indicate about how people are supposed to relate with one another throughout their lives, and why would an author choose to give so much prominence to any specific element within their work of fiction ?
• If you were able to narrate this piece (either in its entirety or only certain scenes), what would you want your audience to know/ understand better after reading your account of events? How do you think they’ll be affected by everything that takes place within each scene, and how has their understanding changed as a result of reading about these characters’ experiences?
• How has your overall appreciation for this story changed as a result of completing the various questions found above? Do you have anything else to add regarding its significance, or do you believe it is self-explanatory without any additional commentary?

Short Story Essay Examples

• Short story essay on childhood memories

Sample Short Story Essay On Childhood Memories

• Short story essay about friendship

Sample Short Story Essay About Friendship (pdf)

• Short story essay about accident

Sample Short Story Essay About An Accident (pdf)

Sample comparison essay on two short stories

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Essay Samples on Short Story

The metaphorical dance: about the story of the moth.

Embedded within the delicate wings of a moth lies a story that transcends its physical form. The story of the moth is more than a tale of transformation and the pursuit of light; it serves as a metaphor for human aspirations, struggles, and the eternal...

• Short Story

"The Lady or the Tiger" Ending: Exploring Ambiguity and Reader's Choice

Frank R. Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" has captivated readers for decades with its enigmatic ending that leaves the resolution of the narrative up to interpretation. This essay delves into the significance of the story's open ending, the author's intent, and the...

Exploring "A Cup of Tea": Short Story Analysis

Katherine Mansfield's short story "A Cup of Tea" delves into the complexities of human nature and societal contrasts through a seemingly ordinary encounter. Set against the backdrop of 1920s London, the story follows the impulsive act of kindness by a young woman and the unforeseen...

"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place": Analysis of Themes and Characters

Ernest Hemingway's short story "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" is a poignant exploration of the human condition, loneliness, and the search for meaning in an often chaotic world. Set in a quiet café late at night, the story delves into the lives of its characters and...

• Ernest Hemingway

The Death of the Moth: Study of Life's Challenges

Introduction “The plough was already scoring the field opposite the window, and where the share had been, the earth was pressed flat and gleamed with moisture.” The book The Death of the Moth, by Virginia Woolf, is a high imagination book which has a lot...

• Virginia Woolf

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Brokeback Mountain: The Portrayal of LGBT Relations in the Story

Born from years of observation and a heavy dose of imagination, Brokeback Mountain is the acclaimed short story that would go on to spark countless conversations. It has wiggled its way into the thoughts of a multitude of people, old and young and those yet...

Brokeback Mountain: The Development of Character's Personal Identities

In multiple forms of literature, we see characters struggle to develop their personal identities. These characters often struggle to develop these identities because of conflicts against their environment, society or within themselves that prevent such change. The qualities or beliefs of a character may change...

Lamb to the Slaughter: Dissecting Literary Devices Used in the Story

Similes are quite often used within the short story, “Lamb to the Slaughter”. An example of this can be identified in the title, which can also be interpreted as: “Like a lamb to the slaughter” the lamb in the story is used as a symbol...

• Lamb to The Slaughter

Functionality of Suspense in the Poe’s and Shelley's Novels

Suspense is dominant in both Poe’s and Shelley's novels. However, suspense is demonstrated similarly and differently by the two authors. Firstly, in the short story “The Tell- Tale Heart” Poe used the technique of suspense efficiently by employing frantic diction and first-person point-of-view to bring...

Dukwane’s Deliverance: The Setting In The Short Story

Setting Neil Ramsorrun’s short story “Dukwane’s Deliverance” is set in London and spans over a couple of days. Although the time setting is not mentioned, we can assume the events probably happen around the time the short story was published in 2010. Physical setting The...

• The Deliverance

Dukwane’s Deliverance: Character Analysis

Everyone has a dream in life, while on this path to make the dream come true, there can be many hard decisions to make. These decisions can make a big impact on your life, so you need to follow your own instincts. You will probably...

• Character Analysis

Portrayal Of Women's Oppression In The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written in a period when women were oppressed by men: they were meant to be seen and not heard. The story does not discuss what John is treating the narrator as an official diagnosis. “As the story progresses, the...

• The Yellow Wallpaper

Critical Analysis Of Story Of An Hour From Feminist Perspective

Marriage supposed to be beautiful and coping with each other. Where love is the main reason to still be together. The spouse’s can’t imagine life without each other. But what if it all turns upside down, death. The death of someone will impact the other...

• The Story of An Hour

The Yellow Wallpaper: The Symbolism Of Mental Illness

In the 1890s, the prejudice against mental illness, especially in women, was reinforced by various physicians. They believed that if a woman was mentally ill, she was either insane or hysteric. They had little to no scientific basis to their theories of the women's lunacy,...

Symbols As Used In Yellow Wallpaper And Story Of An Hour

Nineteenth century society saw the concept of separate spheres being used in society to help women understand their place, the ideology rested on the definition of the ‘natural’ characteristics of men and women. Men were seen as the superior sex and women inferior, both physically...

Portrayal Of Loneliness In Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck

In the novella of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, loneliness is a significant theme that considerably affects several of the main characters. George and Lennie avoid loneliness by staying together, Candy uses his dog to keep him company, and Curley's wife acts flirtatiously because...

• John Steinbeck
• Of Mice and Men

The Imagery Of Violation Of Women's Rights In Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wall-paper” serves as a perfect example of how women have been persecuted in the 19th century. Throughout the story, the main character, as she observes the house while in isolation, notices the true meaning in life, specifically for women. Gilman’s...

The Main Idea In Shooting An Elephant, The Case For Animal Rights

In “The Case for Animal Rights” Tom Reagan argues that seeing animals as resources created for human use rather than beings is fundamentally wrong regardless of how you decide to justify it. (value). In “An Animal’s place” Michael Pollan argues that the brutalization animals endure...

• George Orwell
• Shooting An Elephant

The Yellow Wallpaper: Symbols In Gilman's Short Story

In this class, we have read “Yellow Wallpaper” as our first reading material. This is a tragic and devastating story. “Yellow wallpaper” uses the first-person narration, and the narrator records her mental torture and destruction in her secret diary. The narrator is a young mother...

How It Feels To Be Colored Me And Other Works By Zora Hurston

Zora Neal Hurston was an American author, Folklorist, and Anthropolist. Zora published fifty plays, essays, short stories, and four novels. She was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama, as the child of Lucy Ann and John Hurston. She was raised in a household...

• How It Feels to Be Colored Me
• Zora Neale Hurston

Figurative Language Used In The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Stetson is recognized as one of the important figures in the social reform movement of the late 1800s to early 1920s. Pieces of her life experiences are woven into the plot of her most recognized fictional short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Stetson’s short...

The Usage Of Imagery In The Yellow Wallpaper

Author Charlotte Gilman in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' gives a personal tale about emotional wellness care during her time. This record is close to home, as the character in the story has encounters near what author Gilman had during her time of getting the 'resting cure'...

Symbolism Found In Charlotte Gilman's Yellow Wallpaper

In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the author Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses symbolism throughout the story, which gives the story a deeper meaning. After recently giving birth to her child, the narrator, a writer, happens to find herself more and more depressed, as well as undefinably fatigued...

Culture As An Element Of Human Nature In An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

The fundamental behaviors of culture and human-nature have been debated since the dawn of culture in itself; in terms of how humanity’s manifestation of culture arose and if it is instinctive in behavior or not. Ambrose Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” cultivates this...

• An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

The Analysis Of Women's Oppression In Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Gilman’s literary piece “The Yellow Wallpaper” is set in a period where women were oppressed and restricted from their true potential. Gilman was a fervent believer in women’s rights. She believed that women had a right to exercise their intellect and talents that were...

An Occurrence At Owl Bridge: The Hardships Of Civil War

The short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Author Ambrose Bierce takes place during the time of the Civil War. Payton Farquhar is the main character and is sentenced to die by standing at the end of a wooden plank over the creek on...

An Analysis Of The Yellow Wallpaper And Figurative Language Used

In 1892, feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman published her short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” describing an intense summer vacation for a woman recovering from mental illness. The story takes the reader through the narrator’s erratic journal entries of a three month stay in a rented...

The Careful Use Of Symbolism In The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper written by American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman was published in January 1892. The story begins with the narrator describing her marvelous summer home she shares with her husband John. While the narrator hopes to enjoy her summer, she begins to explain her...

Finding The Meaning Behind The Symbolism In The Yellow Wallpaper

The life of a woman wasn’t that easy back then in the 1800s. Gilman wrote a short story describing the point of view of the roles in society, the story was her way of bringing together women’s oppression to light. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is written...

Literary Analysis Of The Veldt And Other Bradbury's Works

A tragic culture is a fanciful society that builds up a severe, hopeless, and unfortunate presence for its residents. A popular American creator, Ray Bradbury composed numerous accounts that course around tragic social orders. Inside Bradbury's accounts, expectations on innovation and oversight are regularly shown....

• Ray Bradbury

The Theme Of Child Abuse And Violent Nature In Lord Of The Flies And The Veldt

Children in our society are often thought to be clean slates, innocent and free of any grim intentions. The idea of a child killing or feeling any need to kill, is not seen often in a civilized society. However, actions like these were seen in...

A Mind's Way: Symbolism In Yellow Wallpaper And Story Of An Hour

A symbol is a literary device that contains several layers of meaning. The symbol, is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. Authors and writers use symbols to connect to the theme or themes of their work. Symbolism can...

The Symbols Showcased In The Yellow Wallpaper And Story Of An Hour

A symbol is a literary device that contains several layers of meaning. The symbol is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning. In the short stories “The Story of an Hour” and “The Yellow Wall-Paper” both have it significant...

The Symbols Of Women Oppression In The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper story is based on the men dominated society in the nineteenth century. The story depicts the married life of narrator who is in depression and her husband. “Charlotte Perkins Gilman” tries to tell the readers about the mental harassment and physical abuse...

Capturing The Anxiety And Mental Struggles In The Thing Around Your Neck

A collection of short stories titled The Thing Around Your Neck divulges a holistic expression of Position Two situation: “To acknowledge the fact that you are a victim, but to explain this as an act of fate…the necessity decreed by History, or Economics, or the...

• The Thing Around Your Neck

The Comparison Of Americanah And The Thing Around Your Neck

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie born on 15 September 1977) is a Nigerian novelist, writer of short stories and nonfiction. In this essay I am going to deeply investigate how are women represented in a particular way in six of Chimamanda Adichie's short stories and why this...

Analysis of the Symbolism of Candles in "The Masque Of The Red Death"

By definition, a candle is a cylinder of block or wax or tallow with a central wick that is used to produce light as it burns. However, the symbolic definition of a candle is a production of light in darkness; it symbolizes life being produced...

• Edgar Allan Poe
• The Masque of The Red Death

Analysis Of Class Interests In The Garden Party

The conflict of interest between the upper-class Sheridan family regarding the death of their neighbour Mr. Scott seems purposely emphasized by Mansfield to shed light on the presence of prejudice to the working class living in modern communities. The social class division became coherent when...

• The Garden Party

"The Garden Party" And The Concept Of Marxism

This short story offers a Marxist reading as it employs the concept of social divisions and class constructs paired with the historic setting of society in the Victorian era. 1921 certainly portrays a time when appearance and style were much more important than substance, and...

The Scarlet Ibis: Analysis of Doodle's Death Witnesses

In The Scarlet Ibis there are multiple witnesses throughout this story to support the narrator's innocence. The death of Doodle was a simple misunderstanding and can be easily defended by many symbols in the story. The witnesses that are called to the trial are Doodle’s...

• The Scarlet Ibis

Comparison Of Symbolism In A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings And Swimmer

'The Swimmer' by John Cheever and 'A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, both focus on magic realism in the way that people are never content. 'The Swimmer' is a story of how one man's ego can change his life. The...

• A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

The Scarlet Ibis: The Many Elements Of Symbolism

The Scarlet Ibis: I chose the dying scarlet ibis from the end of the text. Just like Doodle, the birds' strength has become very little, and though it had overcome flying through a terrible storm it just couldn’t keep going in its weakness and loneliness....

The Symbolism And Themes In The Masque Of The Red Death

In “The Masque of the Red Death”, Edgar Allan Poe artfully utilizes symbolism and themes of morality and inevitability to highlight the inescapable nature of death. Poe utilizes symbolism in this story through the decor of the abbey and the ebony clock. The rooms of...

The Masque Of The Red Death And Symbolism Of Covid-19 Pandemic

In “The Masque of the Red Death,” Edgar Allan Poe says this story of aristocrat Prosper,” fortunate and dauntless and sagacious,” who, as those Red Death sweeps his dominios, gathers his closest friends into his magnificent castle, which he so seals off from the outer...

The Portrayal Of Red Death In Allan Poe's Masque Of The Red Death

'The Masque of the Red Death” written by Edgar Allan Pole, is about a plague known as the Red Death that spreads through the fourteenth Century of Europe. Prince Prospero accumulated 1000 healthy young people, mostly nobility that covered up with him inside a stronghold...

The Dark And Gloomy Suspense In The Masque Of The Red Death

An author that exclaims his love for gothic poetry and portrays it through his works is a man by the name of Edgar Allan Poe. His dark and domestic way of writing makes his short stories and poetry mysterious and extremely interesting. He creates an...

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings: Analysis Of Good And Evil

In the Old Bible in Titus chapter 1 verse 16 it saids “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work”, this words utterly emphetazie with Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the message in...

Different Perspectives On Love In Raymond Carver's Short Story What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

When it comes to love we all have an idea of what love should be like and what love really is. In the short story of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” by Raymond Carver, love is discussed in terms of three...

• Types of Love

Themes Of Communication And The Importance Of Memory In The Short Story A Temporary Matter By Jhumpa Lahiri

The short story that I have studied is A Temporary Matter by Jhumpa Lahiri. In this short story, communication and the secrets people keep from one another appear as one of the major themes. Following the loss of the couple’s stillborn baby, Shoba and Shukumar...

Story Behind Anne Sullivan Macy And Her Relationship With Helen Keller

As I braced myself to meet the girl who would become a lifelong student and companion of mine, I clutched the sides of my long, brown skirt in fear that perhaps not even I, who had almost gone blind during infancy, would be able to...

• Helen Keller

Analysis Of The Figurative Language Used In Mark Twain's Short Story The Notorious Jumping Frog Of Calaveras County

Mark Twain was successful in his own story “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” was written in November 18th, 1865. This story can be said as a “first step” in his big career, helps him be famous not only in America but also in...

Conflicts As A Main Driving Force Of The Story In The Short Story The Interlopers By Saki

Conflict plays a very important role in the interlopers and it’s the main highlight of this story. In this story we can find many types of conflicts such as 🙁 man VS man, individual VS society, man VS nature, man VS self). In this essay,...

• English Fiction

Analysis Of Life Lessons And Symbolism In T.C. Boyle's "Greasy Lake"

The narrator, in the short story “Greasy Lake” written by TC Boyle, learned a few hard lessons throughout the story. In the beginning of the story they believed they were dangerous characters and that it was “Good to be bad”. The narrator describes a world...

• American Fiction

Role of Children in Jhumpa Lahiri's Short Story Sexy

The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a collection of a variety of short stories that show the life of immigrants of India since the author is an immigrant novelist and writer of the Indian diaspora. In her collection of short stories, one element...

• Interpreter of Maladies

Symbolism in Eudora Welty’s Short Stories "The Key" and "A Worn Path"

The term symbolism is nothing but a literary element used in literature. It helps the readers to understand a literary work. Symbolism is everywhere. Symbolism exists whenever something is meant to represent other meaning. In Greek mythology phoenix is a bird with long span of...

• A Worn Path
• Eudora Welty

Personal Input of Tobias Wolff in His Works

Tobias Wolff is a contemporary writer whose work is so understandable, mesmerizing, and a little weird at times, a reader wants to take it apart and find some simple way to describe it (Ansell, 2011). Although sometimes taking place in such foreign locations, Wolff's stories...

• This Boy's Life

Exploring the Theme of Immigration in World Literature

The immigrant writers can be categories from nationality of author. The major immigrant literatures are contributed by the writers from Indigenous, English, French, Asian, African, Caribbean and European nation etc. The immigrant writers have mostly dealt with hyphenation experience in the host land. It has...

Analysis of Modernist Themes in "Babylon Revisited"

Since all writers and artists are heavily influenced by the society around them, different eras in history have different literary periods; Modernism is one of those periods. “Modernism is defined as extending from 1880 to 1945, giving “priority to the prewar years” or “postwar years”...

• Babylon Revisited
• Scott Fitzgerald

The Week Thoughts of Montresor in The Cask of Amontillado

Revenge, vengeance, retribution and malevolent all have one thing in common; the evil desire to inflict harm as retaliation for an injury or insult. When many people think of these words, they visualize a week, sadistic, and cruel person. In this circumstance, the short story...

Gothic Elements in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado"

Edgar Allan Poe is a name that has become synonymous with Gothic literature, and his exceptional talent is brilliantly showcased in "The Cask of Amontillado," a gripping and haunting tale that employs setting, symbolism, and character traits to create an atmosphere of horror and impending...

• The Cask of Amontillado

The Psychopathic Nature of Spouses in "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses"

The Girls in Their Summer Dresses by Irwin Shaw is a short story about the beginning of the end for a couple. It documents the exact moment that both Michael and Frances, the main characters, realise that the marriage and bond they committed to each...

• Gender Roles

Complexity of Character Building in The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

When the person is in the moment where the boundary between life and death just like a heavy rock hading on very thin hair rope, the unconscious part of the mind which used to be pain and suffering buried deep down in the grave of...

• The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

The Lonesome Lives of Women in Jury of Her Peers, Miss Brill and The Chrysanthemums

The three women from the short stories “Jury of Her Peers,” “Miss Brill,” and “The Chrysanthemums” are very much alike in many ways yet their stories are so different. The women all start out being distant from their communities, then events happen that change all...

• A Jury of Her Peers

Living In a White Person's World in The Red Convertible

Culture contact always affects one group than another because of the different economic and political situation. The dominant group colonizes, humiliates, and takes advantage of the minority group to elevate themselves. In worst cases, the superior culture enslaves other communities, as in the case of...

• Culture and Communication
• The Red Convertible

The Symbolism of PTSD in Erdrich's "The Red Convertible"

In this day and age, the conversation about mental health is growing. What once was an extreme taboo is now getting more and more light shined upon. For years, those with mental illness lived with the fear of their struggles not being understood by the...

The Truth of Vietnam War in The Red Convertible

'I don't want to take psychiatric drugs,' he [Ron Fleming] says. 'The vets call them 'the happy pills.' I don't want any of those, because they change you. I don't want to change.” (April Dembosky, 2017) From his interview with the National Public Radio, Ron...

The Narrators in Literature in How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie and Others

‘Eveline’ is a fiction story wrote by James Joyce which talks about a young Irish girl and her strive to liberate her from the cold and dead life she lives to go live in the beautiful sunny Buenos Aires with the love of her life....

Indian Education by Sherman Alexie: Analysis of Rhetorical Devices

This assignment is on “Indian Education” by Sherman Alexie. It makes an analysis of rhetorical devices used in the short story. "Indian Education" is a semi-autobiographical short story written by Sherman Alexie, a Native American writer. The story follows the protagonist, Victor, from his first...

• Rhetorical Strategies
• Sherman Alexie

The Theme of Paralyzation in James Joyce's Dubliners

Dubliners, by James Joyce, is an assortment of short stories that all touch on the idea of maturity and coming of age. Joyce’s main idea for all the short stories that have been placed into the novel show a moment where the character has a...

• Concept of Change

Magical Realism in Jorge Luis Borges's Collection of Short Stories "Ficciones"

Ficciones, by Jorge Luis Borges, is a collection of short stories that portrays different plots and themes. Borges is an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He brings the reader into his world of magical realism. In several of...

• Jorge Luis Borges

Narrator's Guilt in Tillie Olsen's I Stand Here Ironing

In the melancholic short story ' I Stand Here Ironing' by Tillie Olsen, Olsen uses the narrator's sense of guilt on her daughter's situation to progress the ideology that economic and physical hopelessness, leads to an unwanted lamentation of one's choices made in life. Olsen's...

• I Stand Here Ironing

Devoted to Distraction In 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'

In the short story, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”, James Thurber puts forth the idea of daydreaming as an essential human activity. It provides an arena for rehearsing social skills and can be used as a defense mechanism to escape from harsh reality. To...

• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Humorous and Interesting Fantasies In 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'

The secret life of Walter Mitty, composed by James Thurber, fixates on the humorous and interesting fantasies of Walter Mitty a customary man, who lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his oppressive, pestering spouse Mrs. Mitty. All through this short story, Mitty is described just like...

Short Overview of “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker

In “Everyday use” written by Alice Walker, the story is mainly about two sisters and their mom role in their relationship. Dee, which is the educated sisters, traveled around the world while Maggie the simple sister stayed at home and follows the traditional ways of...

• Alice Walker
• Everyday Use

Antagonist And Protagonist In “Lamb to the Slaughter”

“Lamb to the Slaughter” is a short story written by Ronald Dahl. it is about two people who love each other, but the love is one-sided. One day, the man wants to get a divorce from the woman while she is six months pregnant. She...

• Protagonist

"Lamb to the Slaughter": Comparison of the Story and the Movie

In the three makings of Lamb to the Slaughter, they all tell their story in a different way. In the text comparison to the 1979 film color, one of the main differences was that Mary had a flashback of her killing Patrick instead of her...

My Adaptation to 'Lamb to the Slaughter' by Roald Dahl

The text I am adapting is a short story called “Lamb To The Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. In this text, there were a lot of things that interested me. In the story, Roald Dahl uses the themes of death and murder. Patrick Maloney is one...

The Character of Mary Maloney In “Lamb to the Slaughter”

Mary Maloney is the protagonist of Roald Dahl’s short story, “Lamb to the Slaughter”. She is introduced as a typical middle class housewife who is six months pregnant and is devoted to her husband, Patrick Maloney. She is described as beautiful woman, with soft skin...

Perfect Revenge In The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe’s stories are usually imaginary or a gothic tale. But however “The Cask of Amontillado” is not imaginary an imaginary gothic tale. The primary purpose of Poe writing this story was due to his literary feud with writers names Thomas Dunn English and...

Story Of Inspector Pierce In Cask of Amontillado

Inspector James Pierce of the Scotland Yard examined the letter on his desk. It had been sent from a village in Italy, asking him to investigate a mysterious disappearance that had happened almost a century ago. Inspector Pierce did not take just any case, but...

Symbolism In The Cask of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe

Left for dead, drunk, in the deep catacombs, surrounded by six million dead corpses, perfectly stacked for two hundred miles. No one would want to be in this claustrophobic situation which would frighten anyone to death, let alone read about it. It might be easy...

Main Theme In Cask of Amontillado Main Theme

Do you remember that thing you did, yeah THAT thing, that one you got away with? You get that sick feeling every time you think about it, that feeling is called guilt. You regret doing it so you blame the feeling on something else, but...

Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon is a short story written by the American writer Daniel Keyes. The genre of the story is science fiction. It was first published in April 1959 to “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The story of the Flowers for Algernon was...

About W.W. Jacobs Short Story The Monkey Paw

As the plot of the sharp story unfolds, this thought is seen. To start with, Sergeant Morris hesitantly gave the paw of the monkey to Mr.White yet cautioned him of the impact. In the middle, Mr.White and his whole family wanted for 200 pounds energetically...

The Role of Symbolism in "The Flowers" by Alice Walker 

In Alice Walker’s short story ‘The Flowers,’ the author depicts the story of a ten-year old girl named Myop growing up in a day. The story begins with Myop's feelings of peace and happiness. Walker's descriptions depict Myop skipping happily exploring the forest behind her...

F. Scott Fitzgerald Winter Dreams: Love Can't Be Bought with Money

Winter Dreams, a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, describes the story of a covetous man named Dexter Green. Basically, when he was a young boy at the age of just fourteen years old, he came across a lovely girl, Judy Jones. This encounter...

Analysis of Life Lessons Displayed in "The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas"

The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas by Reginald McKnight introduces a story about an African American boy named Clinton who goes through racial challenges. The story is set in the 1950s, where racism was still prevalent in the United States. Throughout the story,...

• Book Review

Similarities Between Harrison Bergeron and Fahrenheit 451

The two stories Fahrenheit 451 and Harrison Bergeron are similar in the that that there government and rules merge. They have laws that have been passed to confine what people can do. The legislatures keep citizens from considering and associating with one another in positive...

• Harrison Bergeron
• Kurt Vonnegut

Dehumanization in Kurt Vonnegut's Short Story Harrison Bergeron

Have you ever heard of Dystopian Literature? Well if you haven't Dystopian literature is a genre of science fiction that tries to make up a horrible world or tries to predict a horrible future that we get to look forward to. In a Dystopian world,...

The Necklace: Conflict in Guy de Maupassant's Short Story

The Necklace is a short story by Guy de Maupassant that explores the theme of conflict in various dimensions. The story focuses on Madame Loisel, who is a middle-class woman with dreams of living a luxurious lifestyle. However, her aspirations come into conflict with her...

• The Necklace

The Unreal Dreams in Ray Bradbury's Short Stories

Ray Bradbury is known for his speculative fiction who turned his childhood dreams and nightmares in modern American literature. He has a very descriptive and colorful writing style where he enriches the perfect combination of mystery, tragedy, and scientific fiction to create a fascinating gripping...

"Jealous Husband Returns in Form as a Parrot": Search for Freedom

I am analyzing the story called “Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot.” It was written by Robert Olen Butler, and first published in the New Yorker on May 22, 1995. It eventually became a part of his book “Tabloid Dreams” that was published by...

Blind Devotion in James Joyce’s “Araby”

“Araby” by James Joyce is a short story whose basic external story is easy to follow. However, typical of Joyce, it is actually deeply layered allegorical story, with autobiographical themes and references to medieval, religious, and classic references. Though when the story is read for...

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings as a Masterpiece of Open Interpretation

An author can change how a reader interprets a piece of writing in a number of ways. They can use gaps, motifs, and symbols to possibly bring the reader's attention to a potentially large message to internalize and seek its meanings. Nevertheless, the understanding of...

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: the Significance of the Duality of Child and Parent

By labelling his story “a tale for children,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez leads his readers to consider traits of stories often found in children’s literature, and to contemplate how “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” satisfies, or rather manipulates, these expectant, inadvertent criteria. Perhaps most...

Decisions of the Youth: Finding out about Consequences in 'A&P'

“A & P” is a humorous adventure story in which a young fellow acts in the name of romance and love. One might believe that this sensitive hero has been set free from a job that would lead him nowhere and a restrictive moral code....

Literary Analysis of Kate Chopin's Desiree's Baby

Kate Chopin in her short story, Desiree’s Baby, depicts an abandoned mother and child seeking desperately to appease a stone-cold father and an unforgiving society. Upon reading this short story, it is said that Desiree was that of an unknown lineage and was adopted by...

• Kate Chopin

Suspense is Key in The Most Dangerous Game

In Richard Connell’s short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” the protagonist Rainsford, a hunter, finds himself stranded on a mysterious island after accidentally falling off the side of his boat. He is welcomed at the door by General Zaroff, a noble Cossack who lives on...

• The Most Dangerous Game

Negative Aftermath of Over-Protectiveness in A Rose for Emily

To a young girl, her father will always be an essential part of her. To a father, their daughter will always be considered his little girl. In “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, Emily Grierson is neither considered a friend or a foe towards...

• A Rose For Emily
• William Faulkner

The Need for Creative Outlet in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'

Author Charlotte Gilman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” gives a personal short story about mental health care during her time. This account is personal, as the character in the story has experiences close to what author Gilman had during her period of receiving the ‘resting cure’...

• Women's Rights

Best topics on Short Story

1. The Metaphorical Dance: About the Story of the Moth

2. “The Lady or the Tiger” Ending: Exploring Ambiguity and Reader’s Choice

3. Exploring “A Cup of Tea”: Short Story Analysis

4. “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”: Analysis of Themes and Characters

5. The Death of the Moth: Study of Life’s Challenges

6. Brokeback Mountain: The Portrayal of LGBT Relations in the Story

7. Brokeback Mountain: The Development of Character’s Personal Identities

8. Lamb to the Slaughter: Dissecting Literary Devices Used in the Story

9. Functionality of Suspense in the Poe’s and Shelley’s Novels

10. Dukwane’s Deliverance: The Setting In The Short Story

11. Dukwane’s Deliverance: Character Analysis

12. Portrayal Of Women’s Oppression In The Yellow Wallpaper

13. Critical Analysis Of Story Of An Hour From Feminist Perspective

14. The Yellow Wallpaper: The Symbolism Of Mental Illness

15. Symbols As Used In Yellow Wallpaper And Story Of An Hour

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Symbolism in the White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett

This essay about “The White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett explores the use of symbolism in the story to address themes such as innocence, nature, and transformation. It centers on the protagonist, Sylvia, and her experiences with a rare white heron, which represents purity and the unspoiled natural world. Sylvia’s quest to protect the heron from a hunter, who symbolizes the destructive human desire to dominate nature, highlights a moral conflict between appreciating nature and succumbing to materialistic incentives. Ultimately, Sylvia’s choice to keep the heron’s location secret underscores a narrative of moral growth and prioritization of natural preservation over human greed. This narrative serves as a critique of humanity’s exploitative relationship with nature and advocates for a respectful and protective stance towards the environment.

How it works

In Sarah Orne Jewett’s poignant short story “The White Heron,” the author delves deep into the nuanced realms of symbolism to explore themes of innocence, nature, and personal transformation. Jewett’s narrative, centered around a young girl named Sylvia and her encounter with a rare white heron, seamlessly weaves the natural environment into its thematic structure, making every element of the landscape resonate with symbolic significance.

At the heart of Jewett’s story is Sylvia, a character whose youthful innocence and strong connection to nature are epitomized through her interaction with the white heron.

This bird, with its striking and pristine appearance, symbolizes purity and the untouched quality of the natural world. Much like the heron, Sylvia is also in a state of grace and innocence, living away from the industrialized world and in close harmony with the land. The heron’s rarity and elusiveness mirror Sylvia’s unique perspective and her solitary way of life, which is untainted by the societal norms and expectations that often govern human behavior.

The quest to find the heron represents a pivotal journey for Sylvia, not just through the physical landscape but also into her own values and convictions. As she climbs the great pine tree to locate the heron’s nest, Sylvia undergoes a symbolic ascent into self-awareness and moral judgment. The view from the top of the tree is revelatory; it lays out before her the vast expanse of the world she is part of, highlighting her small but significant place within it. This panoramic vision is a metaphor for enlightenment, offering Sylvia both a literal and figurative perspective that is new and transformative.

Jewett also introduces a hunter into the narrative, a character who contrasts sharply with Sylvia and the symbolism she represents. The hunter, with his gun and his quest to add the white heron to his collection, symbolizes the destructive human impulse to conquer and possess nature. His presence in the story introduces a conflict for Sylvia between her deep-seated love for the natural world and the allure of human approval and material reward. The hunter’s bribe, which promises financial gain in exchange for the whereabouts of the heron, tests Sylvia’s fidelity to her own values and the natural world she cherishes.

Ultimately, Sylvia’s decision to protect the heron and keep its location a secret is a powerful act of defiance against the intrusions of a materialistic world. This decision underscores the theme of preservation and highlights Sylvia’s transition from innocence to a conscious commitment to her environment. In choosing the heron over the hunter, Sylvia affirms her identity and her priorities, symbolically aligning herself with the untamed beauty and integrity of the natural world rather than the human world’s propensity for domination and destruction.

“The White Heron” serves as a subtle yet profound critique of humanity’s often exploitative relationship with nature. Through the story of Sylvia and the heron, Jewett advocates for a deeper respect for the natural world, suggesting that true wisdom and moral strength are found in the commitment to preserve rather than possess. The white heron, as a symbol, extends beyond the pages of the story, urging readers to contemplate their own interactions with nature and the impact of their choices on the world around them.

In crafting this narrative, Jewett not only provides a meditation on growth and morality but also paints a vivid portrait of rural American life and its close ties to the natural environment. The story remains enduringly relevant as a call to recognize and protect the intrinsic value of our natural surroundings, making it a profound piece of literary art that resonates with each new generation.

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Short Story Examples and Samples

Writing a short story is like an encapsulated novel focused on one main character. It is an artform on its own, and one needs to practice writing many of them to get a handle on the form. Reading our samples of short stories will also help you a great deal.

How to Write A Short Story: The Complete Guide

Writing a short story involves a balance of crafting an engaging narrative while also keeping it concise. It’s a specific genre of fiction writing that can be immensely satisfying and challenging to undertake. A successful short story captivates its readers, offering them a complete narrative experience within a relatively small word count.

Creating a short story requires mastering specific storytelling techniques. The author must establish a setting, introduce engaging characters, create conflict, and bring the narrative to a satisfying climax and outcome. Short stories are an excellent platform for authors to explore various styles and types of narratives, enabling them to showcase their creativity and storytelling abilities within a condensed format.

One of the exciting aspects of fiction writing is the range of genres available. The genre you choose for your short story can significantly shape its structure and content, from horror and fantasy to romance and mystery. It’s essential to understand the conventions of your chosen genre to effectively satisfy your readers’ expectations.

The Core Elements Of A Short Story

The power of a short story lies in its core elements: the protagonist, conflict, character development, plot, climax, and outcome. Each element contributes to the richness of the narrative, making it compelling and memorable.

The protagonist, or the main character, is the central figure of your story. The character’s desires and struggles drive the plot forward, drawing the reader into their world. A well-developed protagonist is crucial for creating an engaging story.

Conflict is the engine of the plot. It creates tension and challenge for the protagonist, giving them something to struggle against and overcome. The conflict can be external, such as a physical enemy or natural disaster, or internal, such as a personal fear or dilemma.

Character development refers to the evolution of your protagonist throughout the story. Through their struggle with the conflict, the protagonist should undergo some level of growth or change, providing depth to their character and making them more relatable to the reader.

The plot is the sequence of events that make up your story, guided by the protagonist’s actions and the conflict they face. It starts with an introduction, rises to a climax, and concludes with a resolution, creating a satisfying narrative arc.

The climax is the turning point of your story, the peak of the protagonist’s struggle and the highest point of tension. It’s usually followed by the resolution, where the outcome of the conflict is revealed, leading to the end of the story.

How To Write An Outline For A Short Story

An outline provides a roadmap for your short story, organizing your ideas and ensuring a balanced structure. A well-crafted outline helps guide your writing, ensuring that you cover all necessary elements of your story without losing focus.

Begin by sketching out your main character, their motivations, and the conflict they’ll face. This will give you a good sense of your story’s direction. Next, outline the sequence of events or plotline leading to the climax, then detail the resolution and outcome.

Don’t forget to note how your protagonist will evolve throughout the story – this character growth is a crucial part of compelling storytelling. Once you have these core elements, you can flesh out additional details, such as setting, supporting characters, and subplots.

Remember, an outline is a guide, not a rulebook. Feel free to deviate and explore new ideas as they come up during the writing process.

How To Write A Short Story: A Step-By-Step Approach

• Choose Your Genre : Your choice of genre will set the tone and style for your story. Understand the genre’s conventions and expectations, and use them as a guiding framework for your storytelling.
• Develop Your Protagonist : Craft a protagonist with desires, fears, and complexities. Remember, character development is key to drawing in your readers.
• Establish the Conflict : Define the struggle that will propel your plot and challenge your protagonist.
• Outline the Plot : Sketch out the sequence of events in your story, from the introduction of the conflict, through to the climax and resolution.
• Write the First Draft : Start writing, using your outline as a guide. Don’t worry about getting everything perfect – focus on getting your ideas down.
• Revision : Once you’ve finished the first draft, review and revise your work. Look for inconsistencies, check the flow of your narrative, and ensure your language and storytelling techniques are effectively engaging your readers.
• Get Feedback : Share your story with others and listen to their feedback. Different perspectives can help highlight areas for improvement you might have overlooked.
• Final Draft : Incorporate the feedback and make final adjustments. Once you’re satisfied with your story, give it a final proofread, then sit back and enjoy the accomplishment of crafting a complete short story!

Remember, writing is a process that requires patience and practice. Don’t be disheartened if your first few attempts don’t meet your expectations. Do some research to find useful tips that may help you get better. You can organize them in a reference list to help you navigate through them more easily (use tools like ASA citation machine to make this step quickr). The main point is – keep writing, keep experimenting, and keep learning, and you’ll find your voice as a short story author.

Language Use in Short Story Writing

In the domain of short story writing, language use holds critical importance. It is the tool through which authors convey their storyline, character growth, and the tension and resolution inherent in their plot. Crafted effectively, the language will serve as a vehicle that transports readers into the narrative world, enabling them to share the protagonist’s experiences, challenges, and outcomes.

The language used in short story writing should be concise yet descriptive, with every word chosen for its impact and relevance. The choice of words, sentence structure, and tone should complement the genre, whether that be the ominous undertones of a horror story or the passionate expressions of a romance. Authors must strike a balance between being vividly descriptive to paint a clear picture and being succinct to maintain the pace of the story.

Figurative language, including metaphors and similes, can add depth and creativity to your storytelling techniques, enriching your narrative art. Dialogue, too, plays a vital role in revealing character traits, conveying emotion, and driving the plot forward. However, brevity is key in short story writing, so ensure dialogue serves a purpose and avoids unnecessary verbosity.

The language should also reflect and enhance character development. As the central figure progresses through the narrative, their dialogue and internal thoughts should mirror their evolution, giving the reader insight into their persona building and role progression.

Unleashing Your Short Story Writing Potential

Crafting a short story is an exciting journey, a chance for you to shape a compact universe, orchestrating a fascinating dance between the protagonist and their conflict. The art of writing a short story requires careful arrangement of its core components— a relatable main character, an engaging conflict, structured character development, a compelling plot, and a satisfying climax and outcome.

To write a short story, you need to master the art of storytelling, involving a delicate blend of narrative techniques, character evolution, and tension-building. Your chosen genre also plays a crucial role in your storycraft, lending its unique structure to your narrative framework.

Don’t forget that revision is an integral part of the writing process. Reviewing, reworking, and reevaluating your story will help refine your narrative, enhancing its flow and coherence. Receiving feedback from others can offer valuable insights into your story’s strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating your growth as an author.

Writing a short story, like any creative endeavor, requires patience, practice, and an unyielding spirit of exploration. Don’t be discouraged if your initial efforts aren’t perfect. Continue crafting, composing, experimenting, and learning, and over time, your hard work will come to fruition, producing a narrative gem that shines with your unique storytelling flair.

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• Essay on Family

Example Of Essay On Short Stories

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Family , Women , Literature , Human , Life , Love , Children , Parents

Words: 2750

Published: 03/09/2020

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Nowadays, people tend to care too much what other people may think about them, sometimes making sacrifices beyond their possibilities, for the sake of appearances. The story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant teaches us a very good life lesson regarding this issue and in another order of ideas, we can call it the deceptiveness of appearances. The main character of the story, Mathilde, never felt that the normal life she had fits her, and she always dreamed on being wealthy and making part of the social class. She had her change to bright for a couple of hours at a social ball, where her dream came true. She was the most beautiful and charming woman from the party, being help by his husband with a new expensive dress and by her friend who borrowed a diamond necklace. However, Mathilde paid a very big price for that. At the end of the story, we found out that the necklace that Mathilde borrowed from her friend Madame Forestier, and lost it, was fake. She sacrificed ten years of her life for paying the necklace that she thought was real. "Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was worth at the very most five hundred francs! "(Maupassant, The Necklace). The necklace from Madame Forestier gave Mathilde the illusion of richness and value because Madame Forestier was her rich friend, a person she admired and who wanted be like her, being unthinkable that such a respectable lady could had a fake necklace in her jewelry collection. The fact that the necklace change from a cheap one to an expensive one and the lady didn’t notice suggest us that the appearance could be easily deceived, and the true value are influenced by our perception. The story “Love in L.A.” by Dagoberto Gilb is treated in a realistic measure. All the traditional love story follow a clear pattern, as two strangers meeting and falling in love one for each other and day living happily after but “Love in L.A” doesn’t follow this pattern. It is a unique story love story with a twist in the end, but even it isn’t a traditional love story, it doesn’t disqualify on being a love story. The realism of the story is shaped by the personality of the two main characters, Jack and Marina. Jack is far from being the well-mannered man on a white horse, representing the opposite, being dishonest and self-absorbed. The second love theme in the story is the love that Jack has it from itself and his car and could me more important than the other. The writer of “Love in L.A.” leaves us the impression that the story is a desire for love at the most shallow and self-serving level. This story is similar with “Ind AFF” by Franklin Birkinshaw and presents us the love story between an unmarried graduate student and his married history professor, which is also her thesis adviser, who are in vacation, in Yugoslavia. This trip was made for the professor to decide whether to leave his wife for his lover. Like the other story, this one was also an unexpected twist. The young woman, tired of the grumpiness, irritable, boring attitude that professor Peter has, and comes to her senses and escape from a bad and depressing situation. Comparative to the first story, here we also have the first contrasting, regarding the power of the women and the fact that she could go further without regrets. The second contrast that appears comparing this both story was a length to the period when love story was presented. The first story tells us about a shy and uncertain beginning of a love story, but the second story finds the protagonist at the end of a love story. Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and a short-story writer who lived in the nineteenth century. His fictional works were considered part of the Dark romanticism, his themes approached things like the sin of humanity and inherent evil; his stories often had moral messages and deep psychological complexity. “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was a famous story that has in foreground, Aylmer, a late 18-century scientist who was totally dedicated into his work and who had recently married a beautiful woman named, Georgiana. The perfection of the woman was shadowed by a birthmark in a form of a hand that Georgiana had on her cheek. “The crimson hand expressed the ineludible gripe in which mortality clutches the highest and purest of earthly mould, degrading them into kindred with the lowest, and even with the very brutes, like whom their visible frames return to dust. In this manner, selecting it as the symbol of his wife's liability to sin, sorrow, decay, and death, Aylmer's sombre imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object.” (Hawthorne, The Birthmark) This quote revealed Aylmer’s thought. He wanted her woman to be perfect in both ways, body and soul, and perhaps the birthmark itself wasn’t the problem, but rather the fact the she was an imperfect human being with same vices as someone else. The message from this story is that nobody is perfect, and we should learn to accept people that we love with their imperfections because human being are necessarily imperfect and we shouldn’t throw away a good thing if isn’t exactly as what we wanted to be. Sometimes the little imperfection things build perfect relationships. The plot of the story “Lust” by Susan Minot followed the conventional methods. The characters were well defined in the exposition and the central conflict regarded the main character that used her body to gain intimacy, the psychological consequences becoming the important point on this narration. In the end, she realized that she had paid a prize too big for hers sexual escapades. We found out from the narrator how tired, used and lonely this teenager was feeling after doing this supposed sexual freedom; in fact was trying to hide under this behavior her needed for love, affection and understanding from another human being. The story ends uncertain, leaving the reader wondering if she had learned something for his self-destructive actions and she will embrace the change that she needed in her life. The most interesting thing that I found in this story is how Susan Minot treats the subject of a young girl vulnerability regarding theirs engaging on premarital sexual relationship. The book is a warning for the female readers who have sexual relationships with different partners and don’t have any emotional involvement is an issue that leads to damaging emotional consequences. A good example from the book regards the feelings of the main character that described the consequences as “an overwhelming sadness, an elusive gaping worry.” (Minot, Lust) Minot was aware of the message that she wanted to transmit to the readers and made a good and careful articulated prose in order to express ideas and beliefs regarding this subject. The book was a wonderful life lesson for younger teenage girl; that had low self-esteem and they, usually, found them self in the situation on doing everything they could for a small act of kindness from a man. The story “Girl” by Jamaica Kinkaid is it about the life lesson that a mother gave to her youngest daughter. Of course, this was just a guess because we didn’t find those things written in the monologue. We could assume, however that the central voice in the unnamed mother and by the way she was speaking makes us think it could have been her daughter. The voice interrupted her mother twice to protest her innocence, but her mother continued her directions. Kinkaid used here semicolons to separate the words of wisdom to the admonishment, and had repeated sentences to strengthen the idea. The woman was telling her daughter a lot of useful advice, regarding how to manage things on life, and how to grow and transform to a beautiful and intelligent woman. Most of those were practical advices of how to wash the color clothes, how to cook a good meal, how to set a table, how to iron or how to behave in society, not to sing any Antiguan folk song on the Sunday school, not to squat while playing marble and the most important thing, to always walk and talk like a lady. She also taught her how a romantic relationship works and that one day she will find a man, warning her that sometimes a woman and men “bully” each other. She told to the girl how to smile at the persons the she didn’t like and how to smile at the person that she likes a lot and also how to avoid evil spirits. I have been in a similar situation, my mother always told me what to do. Over time, it proved to be very useful even if when I was a child, I didn’t was on the same opinion. I founded her annoying and nagging but after I grew up, when I had a problem I remember all the advices that she gave me, it was all in my head I could hear her voice directing me on making the best choice. “Popular Mechanics” by Raymond Carver was the story of a couple with big issues, who were described in the middle of their last fight. The message that Carver was trying to transmit is that people don’t have healthy communication anymore with each other, and they don’t know how to express their feeling in order to be understood by their life partner. They get angry very quickly, and they don’t have the necessary patient to deal with the real problems, so they are satisfied with a simple solution on argue and eventually leave. This is a real issue nowadays because married couples are more likely to break up than to sit and solve with more communication, and to understand each other's needs and desire. This story sends a warning in hopes that couples will try to change this attitude especially when a child appears in the middle. Another important point that Carver is trying to highlight in this story is that when a couple has issues of communication, the baby is always in the middle and is the one who suffer most. In the book, we have very clear example of this because the baby appears in the middle of his parent’s physical fight. The both parents were controlling one of the baby’s arms by pulling it and in the same time, arguing who should have the baby. The baby started to cry because it was in pain, and the parents hurt him in the pulling and grasping game of power. In the end, the story leaves as with an understatement on the final sentence “He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided.” (Carver, Popular Mechanics). We don’t know for sure what happened in the end; the author leaves it to us to interpret the ending. The worst macabre scenario could be the breaking of the baby in two, but this hypothesis could be treated only on a metaphorical level. The irony of this story is also linked to the final quotation above and is about the irony of the situation in which parents where and ambiguous manner in which the story ends bringing out the irony within the verbal communication which runs between the two partners. The use of style, tone and irony gives the story a tangled reading but also clearly convincing. “The Story of the Good Little Boy” by Mark Twain is a short story that was published in 1875 and was the mirror of the story “The Story of the Bad Little Boy.” The first story puts us in front a young boy named Jacob Blivens who did everything right and desired nothing more than to be good. He never lied, never stolen, never cheated but bad things still happens to him. The book was a Mark Twain’s observation on literature written by poor authors, poorly written fiction, whose in the author’s opinion was clearly connected to the Sunday school books. The boy wanted to be the best he can be, just as good as the characters in the story that he read. He remarked on the reading that people who did good things were always rewarded with good things, and this was also his wish. In the end, the story had a twist, and the good boy had a tragic and catastrophic end. He was always nice with the bad kids but one day, when he was walking along the factory, he saw some children picking up on some dogs, he tried to make the right thing but the blame fell on him. After that, the factory exploded scattering on the air pieces of the dog and the boy. Good things happened always to people that did good things and bad things happened always to people that did bad things is the lesson that we learn on Sunday’s school books but this story doesn’t follow this pattern. The reason was simple; this wasn’t the way of the world worked. Often people who did bad things succeed because they did those things, and people who did good things can often be far worse. You must give people a more powerful reason for being good, more the de fear of doing the right things if not, bad people can happen to them because bad things inevitably happen. “55 Miles to the Gas Pump” by Annie Proulx is a macabre, gory and revolting story that talks about a married couple who lived 12 years together without noticing that they lived separately life and the story mocks the lack of normality and decency. Also could by a story that made fun of the uncivilized country life that those people were leaving along, far away from any community of human beings. This is one of the reasons for their strange, creepy and abnormal behavior in lack of civilization and human contact and the issues that this absence can do to unstable, lonely minds. The story is short, I think this is the shortest story I’ve ever read. It has 226 words divided into two slim paragraphs and a separate final sentence. This form of story provides a necessary counterbalance to the main subject. The first paragraph describes the physical appearance of Rancher Croom, how he makes his beer and in the end how he takes his life, throwing him away from the canon cliffs at one night of drinking. The second paragraph presents us his wife, Mrs. Croom, who discovered the dead body for the former lovers that his husband had in the past, hidden in the attic. The body were“covered with tarry handprints, the marks of boot heels, some bright blue with the remnants of paint used on the shutters years ago, one wrapped in newspaper nipple to knee.” (Proulx, 55 Miles to the Gas Pump) The last sentence “When you live a long way out you make your own fun.” (Proulx, 55 Miles to the Gas Pump) can be an excuse for their unusual behavior but is a shocking, ridiculous and amusing, and also could be the moral of this dark, black humorous story.

Works cited

De Maupassant, Guy. The Necklace. Short Stories.Web. 11 october 2014. http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/Neck.shtml Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Birthmark. The Literature Network. Web. 11 october 2014. http://www.online-literature.com/poe/125/ Minot, Susan. Lust and other stories. Vintage, 2000. Print Carver, Raymond. Popular Mechanics. Web. 11 october 2014 http://www.mccc.edu/pdf/eng101/fall2011/Carver%20Raymond_%20Popular%20Mechanics.pdf Proulx, Annie. 55 Miles to the Gas Pump. Biblioklept. 11 october 2014. http://biblioklept.org/2011/01/22/55-miles-to-the-gas-pump-annie-proulx/

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 great narrative essay examples + tips for writing.

General Education

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story .

But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif —a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing.

But not to fear—in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like.

What Is a Narrative Essay?

At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end. Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs.

Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying.

Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction—as well as other kinds of essays—is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is.

For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity.

The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning.

Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay—even expected—to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective.

Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif.

Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently—you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative.

The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologically as opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well.

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace

Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though—I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it.

Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened—though that’s also true— but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest.

In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: “Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.”

Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly , but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear.

But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism , such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do.

Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose—he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why he discusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or “black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,” feel almost alien to him.

All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating:

At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from—from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices….The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli—quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time….Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates , deep down, at a public event….The real spectacle that draws us here is us.

Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way.

The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point.

When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either—as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himself, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again.

In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die—it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience.

In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life—the moth is “content with life,” people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die.

In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die—Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her.

At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity.

At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death.

All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event—watching a moth die—and illustrating her point through details.

With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass.

Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms—unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race.

Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father.

Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well.

Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another.

At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear:

This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.

Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself—he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father.

In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion—though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense.

You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent—if not, readers may feel mislead.

5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating—sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh.

Develop Strong Motifs

Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay . What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs.

In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme.

Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger!

Use First-Person Perspective

In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay—in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective.

Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed.

If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful—too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth.

That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay.

Stick to the Truth

Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay—just don’t make them up entirely.

Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody.

Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later.

However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one.

Use Sensory Descriptions

Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style.

These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a “wilderness,” and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state.

All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that.

What’s Next?

Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared!

Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes!

A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Short Narrative Essay

Everyone finds it interesting to tell stories about their lives or about someone else’s. Through those stories, we can get lessons which we can apply in our daily lives. This is what a narrative essay is all about. Let’s go back to your experiences when you were still in grade school. Your teacher would often ask you to write about your favorite experiences especially during Christmas season and summer vacation.

Some people would mistakenly identify a narrative essay as equally the same as a descriptive essay . They are totally different from each other, yet both of them are forms of academic writing . Look into this article to learn more about narrative essays.

What is Short Narrative Essay?

A short narrative essay is a brief piece of writing that tells a story, usually focusing on a particular experience, event, or moment. It follows a narrative structure, involving characters, a setting, a plot, and a conclusion, aiming to engage the reader through vivid descriptions and storytelling techniques within a concise format.

Best Short Narrative Essay Examples?

Title: The Summer Adventure

The scorching sun bore down on the dusty road as we embarked on our summer adventure. Packed into the old, battered car, my family and I set off for the great outdoors. The air hummed with anticipation, echoing our excitement for the unknown.

As we traversed winding roads, the landscape unfolded like a painting. Rolling hills adorned with emerald-green trees greeted us, promising the allure of exploration. The scent of pine wafted through the open windows, mingling with laughter and the crackling excitement of adventure.

Our destination? A secluded lakeside campsite embraced by nature’s serenity. The promise of tranquil waters and starlit nights ignited our spirits. Upon arrival, we pitched our weathered tent, a ritual signaling the beginning of our escape from routine.

Days melted into each other, filled with hikes through dense forests, dips in cool, crystal-clear waters, and evenings spent around crackling campfires. We discovered hidden trails, stumbled upon secret meadows, and marveled at nature’s splendid orchestra of sounds and colors.

But amidst the beauty lay unexpected challenges. Unforgiving storms threatened our haven, testing our resilience. Yet, huddled together, we found solace in each other’s company, discovering strength in unity.

As the final sun dipped behind the horizon, casting its golden glow upon the rippling waters, a bittersweet sensation enveloped us. The adventure had drawn to a close, leaving behind cherished memories etched in our hearts.

Reluctantly, we packed our belongings, bidding farewell to the tranquil haven that had nurtured us. With weary but contented hearts, we embarked on the journey back, carrying not just souvenirs but a treasure trove of shared experiences and the promise of future escapades.

The car rolled away from the lakeside, but the echoes of laughter, the scent of pine, and the warmth of togetherness lingered, reminding us of the magical summer adventure that had woven us closer together.

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What is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a type of academic writing that allows you to narrate about your experiences. This follows a certain outline just like what we have observed in argumentative essays , informative essays and more. The outline consists of the introduction, body paragraph and conclusion.

This is a type of essay that tells a story either from the point of view of the author or from the personal experience of the author. It should also be able to incorporate characteristics such as the ability to make and support a claim, develop specific viewpoint, put conflicts and dialogue in the story, and to use correct information.  You may also see personal narrative essay examples & samples

The purpose of a narrative essay is to be able to tell stories may it be real or fictional. To enable us to write a perfect narrative essay, the author should include the necessary components used for telling good stories, a good climax, setting, plot and ending.

How To Write a Narrative Essay?

Compared to all types of academic essay , the narrative essay is the simplest one. It is simply written like the author is just writing a very simple short story. A typical essay has only a minimum of four to five paragraphs contain in the three basic parts: introduction, body paragraph and conclusion. A narrative essay has five elements namely the characters, plot, conflict, setting and theme.

Plot – this tells what happened in the story or simply the sequence of events. There are five types of plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The exposition is the an information that tells about background of the story. It can be about the character, the setting, events, etc. Rising action  is where the suspense of a story begins. It helps build toward the climax of a story. Climax  is the most intense part of the story.  Falling action  happens after the climax when it is already almost the end of the story.  Resolution is the part where the problem has already been resolved.

Characters – it is the person or other being that is a part of the narrative performs an action or speak a dialogue .

Conflict – this is the struggle or the problem that is faced by the characters of the story. This can be an external conflict and an internal conflict. An external conflict is a type of problem that is experienced in the external world. An internal conflict is the type of conflict that refers to the characters’ emotions and argument within itself.

Setting – this is knowing where and when the story takes place. This can be a powerful element because it makes the readers feel like they are the characters in the story.

Theme – this is what the author is trying to convey. Examples of a theme are romance, death, revenge, friendship, etc. It is the universal concept that allows you to understand the whole idea of the story.

How to write a short narrative essay?

• Select a Theme or Experience: Choose a specific event, moment, or experience that you want to narrate.
• Outline the Story: Plan the narrative by outlining the key elements – characters, setting, plot, and a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Engaging Introduction: Start with a hook to captivate readers’ attention, introducing the setting or characters involved.
• Develop the Plot: Write body paragraphs that progress the story logically, describing events, actions, and emotions, using vivid details and sensory language to immerse readers.
• Character Development: Focus on character traits, emotions, and reactions to make the story relatable and engaging.
• Climax and Resolution: Build tension towards a climax, followed by a resolution or lesson learned from the experience.
• Concise Conclusion: Conclude the essay by summarizing the experience or reflecting on its significance, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
• Revise and Edit: Review the essay for coherence, clarity, grammar, and punctuation, ensuring it flows smoothly.

What are the 3 parts of a narrative essay?

• Introduction: Sets the stage by introducing the story’s characters, setting, and providing a glimpse of the main event or experience. It often includes a hook to capture the reader’s attention.
• Body: Unfolds the narrative, presenting the sequence of events, actions, emotions, and details that drive the story forward. It develops the plot, characters, and setting.
• Conclusion: Summarizes the narrative, reflecting on the significance of the experience or event, and often delivers a lesson learned or leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

How do you start a narrative essay with examples?

• ” ‘Are we there yet?’ echoed in my ears as our family car trudged along the endless highway, marking the beginning of our unforgettable summer road trip.”
• “The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the serene lake. It was there, amidst the tranquil waters, that my adventure began.”
• “The deafening roar of applause faded as I stepped onto the stage, my heart racing with anticipation. Little did I know, that moment would change everything.”
• “Looking back, it all started with a single decision. That decision, made in a moment of uncertainty, led to a series of events that transformed my life.”
• “The scent of freshly baked cookies wafted through the air, mingling with the joyous laughter of children. It was a typical afternoon, until an unexpected visitor knocked on our door.”

How do you start a narrative introduction?

You may start by making the characters have their conversation or by describing the setting of the story. You may also give background information to the readers if you want.

What makes a good narrative?

A good narrative makes the readers entertained and engage in a way that they will feel like they are becoming a part of the narrative itself. They should also be organized and should possess a good sequence of events.

How many paragraphs are there in personal narratives?

Usually, there are about five paragraphs.

How many paragraphs are in a short narrative essay?

A short narrative essay typically comprises an introductory paragraph introducing the story, three to four body paragraphs unfolding the narrative, and a concluding paragraph summarizing the experience.

How long is a short narrative essay?

A short narrative essay typically ranges from 500 to 1500 words, aiming to convey a concise and focused story or experience within a limited word count.

Narrative essays are designed to express and tell experiences making it an interesting story to share. It has the three basic parts and contains at least five elements. If you plan to create a good narrative essay, be sure to follow and assess if your narrative has all the characteristics needed to make it sound nice and pleasing.

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Short Story Essay Examples

We found 272 free papers on short story, essay examples, edgar allan poe’s “the purloined letter” detective short story.

Short Story

The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe is often regarded as his best detective short story, featuring detective C. Auguste Dupin. Dupin also appears in Poe’s other two detective stories, The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Mystery of Marie Roget. In this particular story, Dupin works with the Paris police in their efforts…

To Build a Fire Creative Writing Assignment

To Build a Fire

This is a creative writing assignment that replaced the ending of “To Build a Fire” by Jack London from around the point when the fire went out. By cracker Since the fire went out he would seek shelter in the forest or any other suitable location. An hour later, he came upon a cave and…

On Being 17, Bright, and Unable to Read Sample

The article is called “On Being 17. Bright. and Unable to Read” by David Raymond. This writer tells his dyslexia experience how he felt through high school and tells people take easy to people who had dyslexia. One clip a replacement picked Raymond to read aloud from the text edition forepart of the schoolmate. but…

A short story – The Old Lady

The Old Lady sank wearily into her cracked leather armchair and shifted around to get comfortable with the lumps. With a sigh, she looked around at her world. For two years, she had been restricted from living upstairs because of rheumatism. And she often wondered how much dust had accumulated in her once proud and…

New Understanding and Renewed Perception of Ourselves Analysis

This text reveals that discoveries and discovering can offer new understanding and renewed perception of ourselves and others. These can be far reaching and transformation fort the individual and broader society. The young girl in the story, whilst away, on the island, makes many discoveries. For example, she discovers the “web of life”. The web…

My Surroundings or How I’m Resting

Storytelling

My Surroundings Ah, the breath of fresh air and the wide open range of earth is soothing as I glance out into the world. My eyes scan across the landscape of God’s country, and the tall trees that have sprung forth are starting to shed their leaves. With each warm breeze, a new leaf finds…

A short story – A fly on the wall

‘So could everyone please stand and applaud this family, who have given so much to this community, their donations and commitment making it what it is today. Without them who knows where we would be. We are all truly grateful and would like to take this opportunity to let you know that you are the…

Gregor “Greg” As He Was Called

Imagine this: A child with 4 brothers and 6 sisters, with no dad and not a lot of money. He lives in a run down old trailer park. He has to decide whether to go to school with his friends or play basketball on an organized team. Well, Once upon a time there lived two…

Ambiguity in Recitatif Analysis

Introduction             The short story Recitatif by Toni Morrison revolves around the story of two girls—Twyla, the narrator of the story, and Roberta. The story is divided into meetings or moments in each of the girls’ lives, from childhood at the St. Bonny’s facility up to the time when both of them already have families….

Short Interesting Story – Blind Date Narrative Essay

Blind dates are full of uncertainty as you can never really know someone until you spend time with them and communicate. Several years back, my initial blind date occurred at my workplace. A colleague would often bring up her daughter and propose that I should go out with her. This colleague depicted her daughter, Kelli,…

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34 English Short Stories with Big Ideas for Thoughtful English Learners

What if you could understand big ideas in English with just a little bit of text?

You don’t need to read an entire English book to learn. A good English short story is often enough!

Stories are all about going beyond reality, and these classics will not only improve your English reading but also open your mind to different worlds.

1. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop

2. “the ant and the grasshopper” by aesop, 3. “white wing: the tale of the doves and the hunter”, 4. “royal servant”, 5. “emily’s secret”, 6. “the bogey beast” by flora annie steel, 7. “love is in the air”, 8. “the tale of johnny town-mouse” by beatrix potter, 9. “paul bunyan” adapted by george grow, 10. “cinderella” by charles perrault, 11. “little red riding hood” adapted by the british council, 12. “the lottery” by shirley jackson, 13. “the happy prince” by oscar wilde.

• 14. “The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond

15. “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

• 16. “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco

17. “Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu

18. “the missing mail” by r.k. narayan, 19. “harrison bergeron” by kurt vonnegut.

• 20. “The School” by Donald Barthelme

21. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

22. “rikki-tikki-tavi” by rudyard kipling, 23. excerpt from “little dorrit” by charles dickens, 24. “to build a fire” by jack london, 25. “miracles” by lucy corin.

• 26. “Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal

27. “The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce 

28. “the monkey’s paw” by w.w. jacobs, 29. “a tiny feast” by chris adrian, 30. “the story of an hour” by kate chopin, 31. “the zero meter diving team” by jim shepherd, 32. “the velveteen rabbit” by margery williams, 33. “the friday everything changed” by anne hart, 34. “hills like white elephants” by ernest hemingway, how to use short stories to improve your english, and one more thing....

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This classic fable (story) is about a very slow tortoise (turtle) and a speedy hare (rabbit). The tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The hare laughs at the idea that a tortoise could run faster than him, but the race ends with a surprising result.

Have you ever heard the English expression, “Slow and steady wins the race”? This story is the basis for that common phrase . You can read it for free , along with a number of other stories in this list!

This is another great story that teaches a lesson that’s written for kids but adults can enjoy, too . The story tells of a grasshopper who lounges around all summer while his friend the ant prepares for the winter. When winter comes, the two friends end up in very different situations!

The moral is that those who save up during the good times will get to enjoy the benefits when times are bad.

This very short story from India was originally written in Sanskrit (an ancient language). When a group of doves is caught in a hunter’s net, they must work together as a team to escape from the hunter’s clutches.

You can listen to a reading of the story as you read along on this website.

In this story, an old man sets out to ask an African king to dig some wells in his village when their water runs dry. But first, he teaches the king a lesson in humility by showing him how all people help each other. Read the story to see how the clever old man gets the king to do as he asks!

This is a modern-day story about a little girl with a big secret she can’t tell anyone about. When her teacher finds out her secret, they work together to fix the issue.

This story is a good choice for absolute beginners, because it uses only the present tense. It’s also written in very basic English with simple vocabulary and short sentences.

The woman in this story finds a pot of treasure on her walk home. As she carries it home, the treasure keeps changing, becoming things of lesser value.

However, the woman’s enthusiasm makes her see only the positive after each change, which would have upset anyone else. Her positive personality tries to make every negative situation seem like a gift!

This story shows how important it is to look at things from a positive point of view. Instead of being disappointed in what we don’t have, this story reminds us to view what we do have as blessings.

This modern story is about a young woman named Penny who is anxious about going to her family’s annual reunion barbecue. But despite screaming children and arguing cousins, Penny ends up happy that she came to the reunion when she starts a conversation with a handsome man.

The story is written in simple English, using only the present tense, so it’s perfect for beginners.

This classic children’s story is about two mice, one from the country and one from the city. Both mice think that the other mouse is so lucky to live in what they think is a wonderful place!

The two mice decide to visit each other in their homes. It turns out that the country mouse has a difficult time in the city, and the city mouse struggles in the country.

In the end, they realize that they believed the old English saying: “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” In other words, each mouse thought the other had a better life, only to discover that they actually preferred their own life!

The story of Paul Bunyan has been around in the United States for many years. He’s the symbol of American frontier life, showing the ideal strength, work ethic and good morality that Americans work hard to imitate.

Paul Bunyan is considered a legend, so stories about him are full of unusual details, such as eating 50 eggs in one day and being so big that he caused an earthquake. It can be a pretty funny read, with characters such as a blue ox and a reversible dog.

This version of the story is also meant to be read out loud, so it’s fast-paced and entertaining. This website has an audio recording with the story, which you can play at slower or faster speeds.

You may already know the story of Cinderella, whether you saw the Disney movie or read a children’s book of it.

However, there are actually many different versions of “Cinderella.” This one by Charles Perrault is the most well-known and is often the version told to children.

“Cinderella” is a beloved story because it describes how a kind and hard-working person was able to get a happy ending. Even though Cinderella’s stepsisters treated her awfully, Cinderella herself remained gentle and humble. It goes to show that even though you may experience hardships, it’s important to stay kind, forgiving and mindful.

This is a story that every English-speaking child knows. It’s about a little girl who meets a wolf in the forest while going to see her sick grandmother. The wolf pretends to be her grandmother in order to trick the little girl.

This story is presented by the British Council as a video with the text clearly spoken. You can then play a game to rearrange the sentences below the video into the correct order, read the text of the story in a PDF file and answer some activity questions (then check your answers with the provided answer sheet.

This website has many other stories you can read and listen to, like “Circus Story” by Sue Clarke, which is an excellent option for learning animal vocabulary, and even adaptations of Shakespeare plays for younger readers.

Every year, the small town in this story holds an event known as “The Lottery.” During this event, someone from the community is randomly chosen.

What are they chosen for? You’ll have to read the story to find out.

You may have heard of the term “mob mentality” and how it can allow for some pretty surprising (and terrible) things to happen. This classic story looks at society, and how much evil people are willing to overlook to keep their society stable.

This is considered to be one of the most famous short stories in American literature. It’s a great example of what is known as a dystopian society, where people live in a frightening way. To learn more, check out this TED-Ed video that tells you how to recognize a dystopia.

Since the story is old, much of the English is outdated (not used in modern English). Still, if you have a good grasp of the English language, you can use this story to give yourself a great reading challenge.

14. “The Night Train at Deoli”  by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond used to spend summers at his grandmother’s house in Dehradun, India. While taking the train, he always had to pass through a small station called Deoli. No one used to get down at the station and nothing happened there.

Until one day, when he sees a girl selling fruit and is unable to forget her.

Ruskin Bond is a writer who can communicate deep feelings in a simple way. This story is about our attachment to strangers and why we cherish (value or appreciate deeply) them even though we might never meet them again.

The title is taken from a poem that describes how nature will continue its work long after humanity is gone. But in this story, we see that nature plays a supporting role and the machines are the ones who have taken its place.

They continue their work without any human or natural assistance. This shows how technology has replaced nature in our lives and how it can both destroy us and carry on without humanity itself.

16. “Orientation”  by Daniel Orozco

This is a humorous story in which the speaker explains the office policies to a new employee while gossiping about the staff. It’s extremely easy to read, as the sentences are short and the vocabulary is simple.

Many working English learners will relate to this story, as it explains the silly, nonsensical moments of modern office life. Modern workplaces often feel like theaters where we pretend to work rather than get actual work done. The speaker exposes this reality that few would ever admit to.

He over-explains everything from the view out the office window to the intimate details of everyone’s life—from the overweight loner to the secret serial killer. It talks about the things that go unsaid; how people at the office know about the deep secrets of our home life, but don’t discuss them.

Jack’s mother can make paper animals come to life. In the beginning, Jack loves them and spends hours with his mom. But once he grows up, his mother’s inability to speak English keeps Jack from talking to her.

When his mother tries to talk to him through her creations, he kills them and collects them in a box. After a tragic loss, he finally gets to know her story through a hidden message that he should have read a long time ago.

The story is a simple narration that touches on complex issues, like leaving your home country and the conflicts that can occur within families when different cultures and languages collide.

Thanappa is the village mailman, who is good friends with Ramanujam and his family. He learns about a failed marriage and helps Ramanujam’s daughter get engaged to a suitable match.

Just before the wedding, Thanappa receives a tragic letter about Ramanujam’s brother. To spare them heartache, he decides not to deliver the letter.

The story explores the idea that despite the best of intentions, our actions can cause more harm to our loved ones than we ever intended. If you like this and want to read more by R.K. Narayan, check out the other stories in the author’s “ Malgudi Days” short story collection.

The year is 2081, and everyone has been made equal by force. Every person who is superior in any way has been handicapped (something that prevents a person’s full use of their abilities) by the government. Intelligent people are distracted by disturbing noises. Good dancers have to wear weights so that they don’t dance too well. Attractive people wear ugly masks so they don’t look better than anyone else.

However, one day there is a rebellion, and everything changes for a brief instant.

Technology is always supposed to make us better. But in this case, we see that it can be used to disable our talents. Moreover, the writer shows us how the mindless use of a single value like equality can create more suffering for everyone.

20. “The School”  by Donald Barthelme

And that’s just the beginning of the series of unfortunate events at the school in this short story, narrated by a teacher. The story is absurd (ridiculous to the point of being silly), even though the topic is serious. By the end, the kids start asking difficult questions about death that the adults don’t quite know how to answer.

This story leaves a lot of things unsaid, which means you’ll need to “read between the lines,” or look closer at the text to understand what’s really happening.

In “Girl,” a mother tells her daughter how to live her life properly. The mother instructs the girl to do all the household chores, in very specific ways, making it seem like that’s her only duty in life.

Sometimes the mother tells the girl how to attract attention, not to talk to boys and to always keep away from men. Other times, the mother hints that the girl will need to be attractive to men to live a good life.

This story doesn’t feel like a story. There’s no plot, and nothing really happens. But read closely, and you’ll see an important message about how girls are taught to live restricted lives since childhood.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is a classic tale about a Mongoose who regularly visits a family in India. The family feeds him and lets him explore their house, but they worry that he might bite their son, Teddy.

One day, when a snake is about to attack Teddy, the Mongoose kills it. This event helps the family accept the mongoose into their family.

This is a simple story about humans and animals living together as friends. It’s old, but the language is fairly easy to understand. It reminds us that animals can also experience feelings of love and, like humans, they will also protect the ones they love.

“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is part of Kipling’s short story collection “The Jungle Book,” which was famously made into a movie by Disney.

Dorrit is a child whose father has been in prison ever since she could remember. Unable to pay their debts, the whole family is forced to spend their days in a cell. Dorrit dreams of seeing the world outside their little cell.

This excerpt (short part of a larger work) introduces you to the family and their life in prison. The novel is about how they manage to get out and how Dorrit never forgets the kindness of the people who helped her.

Injustice in law is often reserved for the poor. “Little Dorrit” shows the government jailing people for not being able to return their loans, a historical practice the writer hated since his own father was punished in a similar way.

A man travels to a freezing, isolated place called Yukon with only his dog for company. Throughout his journey, he ignores the advice other people have given him and takes his life for granted.

Finally, he realizes the real power of nature and how fragile (easily broken) human life actually is.

Nature is often seen as a powerful force that should be feared and respected. The animal in this story is the one who’s cautious and sensible in this dangerous situation. By the end, readers wonder who is really intelligent—the man who could not deal with nature, or the dog who could survive?

This is a modern-day story that describes a group of children gathering around their father to watch little spiders hatch out of their eggs. But the story gets a different meaning as it nears the end. What do you think happened?

26. “Evil Robot Monkey ” by Mary Robinette Kowal

Sly is a character who doesn’t fit into society. He’s too smart for the other chimps, but humans don’t accept him. He is punished for acting out his natural emotions.

But the way he handles his rage, in the end, makes him look more mature than most human beings. Nominated for the  Hugo award , many readers have connected with Sly since they can see similarities in their own lives.

“The Boarded Window” is a horror story about a man who has to deal with his wife’s death. The setting is a remote cabin in the wilderness in Cincinnati, and he feels helpless as she gets sick.

There’s an interesting twist to this story, and the ending will get you thinking (and maybe feeling a bit disturbed!).

If you enjoy older stories with a little suspense, this will be a good challenge for you. It talks about the event that made a hermit decide to live alone for decades, with a mysterious window boarded up in his cabin. It also uses a lot of psychology and symbolism, so you may want to read the story more than once to understand everything it has to say.

Be careful what you wish for! One man finds this out the hard way when he brings a magical monkey’s paw home from India. This paw is supposed to grant three wishes to three people. People start to wish on it, only to realize that our wishes can have severe consequences.

The characters in this story immediately regret when their wishes come true. Even though they get what they wanted, it comes at a large cost!

This short story is from the early 1900s and uses some outdated English, but it’s still easy to follow. It reminds us that there are no shortcuts in life, and to be wary if something seems too good to be true.

This story centers around Titania and Oberon, two fairy characters from Shakespeare’s famous play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The two fairies are having a rough time in their marriage when they find a human child. They decide to adopt him, hoping that he’ll help them save their relationship. However, the child develops a deadly, modern disease and the fairies have no idea what to do since they have never known illness or death.

This is a tragic tale about how they try to understand something they’ve never seen before and their deep love for a stranger who is so unlike them. The story explores the grief of parenthood and the uncertainty of knowing whether your child will ever even know you.

This story, written by a woman, is a sad look inside an unhappy marriage. Mrs. Mallard is a woman with heart troubles. When her husband dies, the people who come to give her this news tell it to her gently, so she doesn’t have a shock.

Mrs. Mallard busts into tears and locks herself in her room. At first, she’s upset by the news. But the more she considers it, the more excited she becomes about the idea of the freedom that would come from her husband’s death.

What happens, then, when her husband comes home after an hour, alive and well?

The story explores the conflicting range of the human emotions of grief and hope in a short span, and the impact it can have on a person’s mind and body.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was one of the deadliest accidents of the twentieth century. This is a story about that event seen through the eyes of a father and his sons, who were all unfortunate enough to be close to the disaster area.

The story exposes the whole system of corruption that led to a massive explosion taking innocent lives and poisoning multiple generations. The technical vocabulary and foreign words make this text a little more difficult. However, its plot is relatively easy to follow.

The story is divided into small parts that make it both easy and exciting to read. Its various events show what it was like to live in the former Soviet Union . And just like any other good story, it’s also about human relationships and how they change due to historic events.

A simple, stuffed rabbit toy is given to a young boy as a Christmas present. At first, the rabbit isn’t noticed, as the boy is distracted by much fancier gifts. While being ignored, the rabbit begins to wonder what it means to be “real.”

One day, a certain event brings the rabbit into contact with the boy, and changes the toy’s life forever.

Have you ever loved a toy or doll so much, that you treated it as if it were alive? This story shows the power of love from a very unexpected viewpoint: that of a fluffy stuffed rabbit. It also highlights the importance of self-value, being true to yourself and finding strength in those who love you.

Tradition is important in this school, where the boys always go to fetch water for the class. The girls are teased for being “weaker,” and are last to get other privileges, like having the first choice of magazines. One day, a girl asks the teacher why girls aren’t allowed to get the water, as well. This one question causes a big reaction and leads to a huge change.

The girl’s courage surprises everyone, but it also inspires other girls to stand up for themselves. One act from one brave person can lead to change and inspire others. The story reflects on gender equality and how important it is to fight for fairness. Just because something is accepted as “normal,” doesn’t mean it is right!

At a Spanish train station, an American man and a young woman wait for a train that would take them to the city of Madrid. The woman sees some faraway hills and compares them to “white elephants.” This starts a conversation between the two of them, but what they discuss seems to have a deeper meaning.

This is another very well-known story that asks you to “read between the lines” to find the hidden meaning behind the text. Much of the story is a back-and-forth dialogue between two people, but you can tell a lot about them just from what they say to each other.

There’s a lot of symbolism that you can analyze in this story, along with context clues. Once you realize what the real topic of the characters’ conversation is, you can figure out the quiet, sadder meaning behind it.

Short stories are effective in helping English learners to practice all four aspects of language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Here’s how you can make the most out of short stories as an English learner:

• Use illustrations to enhance your experience: Some short stories come with illustrations that you can use to guess what the story is about. You can even write your own caption or description of the picture. When you finish the story, go back to your image description. How did you do?

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• Explore stories related to a theme: Do you like ghost stories? Science fiction? Romance? If you’re learning about food or cooking, find a short story with a lot of food vocabulary .
• Choose the right reading level: Make sure that you always challenge yourself! One easy way to tell if a story is just right for you is to use the “five-finger test.” Hold up your fist as you read a paragraph, and put up one finger for each word you don’t know. If you have all five fingers up before the end of the paragraph, try to find an easier text.
• Practice “active reading”: Your reading will only help you learn if you read actively . You’re reading actively when you’re paying very close attention to the story, its words and its meanings. Writing with a notebook nearby and in a place with no distractions can help you focus on active reading.
• Choose only a few words to look up: You may be tempted to stop at every unknown word, but it’s actually better to try to figure out its meaning from context clues. This means looking at everything else in the sentence or paragraph to try and guess the meaning of the word. Only look up words that you can’t figure out even with context clues.
• Summarize the story: When you’ve finished reading the story, retell it in your own words or write a summary of it. This will help you to practice any new words you learned, and make sure that you understood the story well. If you’re struggling, read the story again and take notes as you read.
• Take breaks: Just because these stories are short, doesn’t mean you need to read them in one sitting! If you find it hard to focus or you’re struggling to understand the story, take a break. It’s okay to read it one paragraph at a time.

I hope you have fun with these English short stories while improving your English language skills.

Happy reading!

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English that goes straight to the heart

Short Essay Writing

An essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the person writing it. To write an essay you need an Introduction, a Body (Supporting Paragraphs), and a Conclusion.

A basic essay mainly consists of three parts: Introduction , Body , and Conclusion . The following parts will help you write a good essay.

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Introduction

It constitutes the opening paragraph of the essay.

• It helps the reader get oriented with the topic.
• It states the purpose of the essay.
• It captures the interest of the reader.
• It presents the general idea of the essay.
• It often ends with the thesis or the main idea of the essay.

Body (Supporting Paragraphs)

They constitute the supporting sentences and ideas.

• They provide the reader with additional details about the main idea.
• They support the thesis of the writer.
• There is no fixed number of supporting paragraphs.
• Ideally, every supporting paragraph should contain a different idea.

It constitutes the ending paragraph(s) of the essay.

• It ties up loose ends of the paragraph.
• It helps in reiterating or highlighting the main idea.
• It summarises all the arguments.
• It brings the essay to a logical close.
• It never ends in detail.

Short Essay Writing Examples

Short essay writing #1, short essay writing on my family (250+ words).

Family is the place where you learn your first lesson in life. Your family members are the only assets that will remain with you forever. Whatever the circumstances, family members are always there for each other to support us. Good values and good morals are always taught in a family.

In the family, we are prepared to respect our elders and love younger ones. We learn lessons consistently from our family, about honesty, dependability, kindness and so on. Although I am a student in my final year, my family always treats me like a child but always provides us with a sensation of so much love and care. My family is the best family for me. I live in a nuclear family of four members.

My father is a teacher. He is the man who heads and leads our family. My mother is a housewife as well as a beautician. She is a lovely woman. My mother is everything to me. She is the one who understands me best and most closely. My grandmother is the cutest person of all.

I love my family because they are the jewels of my life. They work hard so that we can get anything we desire makes me love and respect my parents considerably more. We play games every night and discuss various topics to spend quality time together. I give deep respect and pay the highest regard to my family not just because they are my family, but for their unmatched and incredible sacrifices for me.

Short Essay Writing #2

Short essay writing on christmas (250 words).

Christmas is one of the most famous and light-hearted festivals which is celebrated across the world by billions of people. People of the Christian religion celebrate Christmas to remember the great works of Jesus Christ. 25th December is celebrated as Christmas Day across the world. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ of Bethlehem was a spiritual leader and prophet whose teachings structure the premise of their religion.

Christmas Day is celebrated every year with great joy, happiness and enthusiasm. Everyone whether they are poor or rich gets together and partakes in this celebration with lots of activities. On this day people decorate their houses with candles, lights, balloons etc. People decorate Christmas trees on this day in their homes or a public square. They decorate Christmas trees with small electric lights of various colours, gift items, balloons, flowers, and other materials. After that, the Christmas tree looks very appealing and wonderful.

People follow popular customs including exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, obviously, trusting that Santa Claus will arrive. Children eagerly wait for Christmas day very anxiously as they get lots of beautiful gifts and chocolates. In most cases, the fat person in the family dressed up as Santa Clause with a bell in his hand which attract kids and they get lots of beautiful gifts and chocolates from Santa Clause. 25th December, Christmas Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

Short Essay Writing #3

Short essay writing on health is wealth (250+ words).

The greatest wealth is our own health. A healthy body can earn great wealth but, a wealthy person cannot earn great health. We live in a fast-moving world where individuals have no time for themselves. Most part of their life withers away in search of materialistic wealth in order to outshine others but, along the way, they lose their health.

Recent studies have shown that the increased stress of the present speedy life is leading to various medical conditions. Major among those are heart and neurological problems. Good health assists an individual to keep a positive attitude toward work and life in general. Wealth matters, but, is not as important as health.

Spending lots of money on junk food in five-star hotels or on other entertainment sources like watching films for a day and so on has no advantages other than self-satisfaction. Being physically and mentally healthy helps an individual to be socially and financially healthy as well. A healthy person can earn lots of money however an unhealthy person cannot because of a lack of motivation, interest, and concentration level.

Money is the source to carry on with a healthy life however good health is the source of living a happy and peaceful life. So, everyone should take many precautions in maintaining good health. Everyone should be away from bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles. Being healthy isn’t only the condition of being free of disease, ailment, or injury but also being happy physically, mentally, socially, intellectually, and financially. Good health is an actual necessity of happy life and the greatest gift from nature.

Short Essay Writing #4

Short essay writing on balanced diet (250+ words).

A diet that contains all kinds of necessary ingredients in almost the required quantity is called the “Balanced Diet”. A Balanced diet is one that helps to maintain or improve overall health. We should consume a balanced diet consisting of essential nutrition: liquids, adequate proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and calories. We must eat fresh fruits, salad, green leafy vegetables, milk, egg, yoghurt, etc. on time in order to maintain a healthy body.

Among the minerals, we require chiefly iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and small quantities of iodine, copper, etc. They are found in green vegetables and most fruits, Vitamins have a number of kinds like A, B, C, D, etc. Vitamin A is found in fish oil, butter, carrot, papaya, etc., and Vitamin B is found in green leafy vegetables, wheat grain, etc. Vitamin C is found in green chilli, green vegetables, amla, lemon, and citric fruits. Vitamin D is found in the first oil, butter, and rays of the sun. We also need Vitamins E and K for our health. Milk is perhaps the only single item that can be called a balanced diet in itself.

Animal protein is found in meats, poultry, and fish. The white of an egg also contains protein. Another kind of protein is found in milk (casein), cheese, curd, pulses, soybean, dry fruits, etc. Fat is found in butter, pork, coconut, all edible oils, cod liver oil, the yolk of an egg, etc. We should drink more water at least 7-8 glasses of water. A healthy body also needs some daily physical activities, proper rest and sleep neatness, a healthy environment, fresh air, and water, personal hygiene, etc.

Short Essay Writing #5

Short essay writing on science and technology (250+ words).

In a fast-changing world, the fate of the country can be moulded through our ability to harness modern science and technology, which is a road to boost the development programs of the country. Rapid technological advances have reduced the dependency on natural resources or the factors in proportion to it.

Man is performing precisely by machines with a regular improvement in his work because of quick technological changes by virtue of scientific advancement all around the world. We have accomplished desired scientific and technological advancement and have succeeded in boosting various important international activities like information and telecommunication, television, meteorological services, medical advancement, industrial development, nuclear research, Space Research Oceanographic Research, etc.

Over the years a strong science and technology infrastructure base has been established for giving modern shape to world industries. It covers a chain of laboratories, specialized centres, various academic and research institutes, training centres, and useful development programs, which continuously provide skill, technically trained manpower, and technological support to industries for better execution. Science has advanced a great deal in the field of medical care. New technology has given a compelling medical care framework at a reasonable cost. Medical research has been carried out, broadly on nutrition, tuberculosis, reproduction, child care, leprosy, drugs, communicable diseases, cholera, and malaria, which has an extremely certain result.

If we look at the global scenario, the modern world is moving exceptionally fast. There are rapid scientific and technological changes that are occurring in a steady progression. Our country, as a global competitor, in the race of becoming a world power, needs to accomplish more in the area of Science and Technology emphasizing it as its foremost national priority in order to accomplish its objective.

Short Essay Writing #6

Short essay writing on co-education (250+ words).

Co-education is a system of education in which boys and girls study together in a common school or college. Co-education was not prevalent in ancient times. It is a groundbreaking thought. Co-education is exceptionally practical. The number of schools required is less. The strength of the teaching staff is diminished. The government spends less money on infrastructure and laboratories. The balance of money so saved is spent on better maintenance of schools and colleges, which facilitates the students for better study.

The parents supported the case for adequate education for the children irrespective of their sex. The countrymen realized that the boys and girls have to move together and shoulder to shoulder in every walk of life in the free world. They started educating their children in co-educational institutions. That is the reason why the students of co-educational institutions do better in every walk of their life.

It is useful in producing a sensation of solidarity and a feeling of equivalent obligation among boys and girls. When young boys and girls come closer to each other, they take more care in understanding each other. That helps in creating a friendly atmosphere between the two. The boys and the girls partake in their joint exercises consistently in schools and universities.

If we want that our country ought to sparkle, we need to bring young boys and young girls together for making a power of working hands in the country, which can give a compelling reaction for greatness by accelerating the advancement in every one of the fields.

Also, Read Examples of Informative Essay

Short Essay Writing #7

Short essay writing on education (250 words).

There are two basic purposes behind education. The first is to free people from ignorance, superstition, bad habits, and many wrong ideas. Secondly, to provide the citizens of a country with some skill or special kind of knowledge that would enable them to earn a decent living. In a highly populated country like India education is a must for both the purposes mentioned. First, there must be a hundred per cent literacy if the so-called democracy that the constitution guarantees for its citizens is to have any true meaning.

Only educated citizens can utilize democratic rights usefully. But as the population of this country rises by leaps and bounds, mere knowledge for its own sake will not suffice. People, educated people, must learn to produce things that are in daily demand. We need more technicians, more carpenters, more well-informed farmers and cultivators, and more skilled workers of different categories who can increase the goods and services they demand which are constantly rising.

There should be close coordination between producers of necessary goods and educational planners. Turning out graduates from colleges and universities would not help things because such ordinary graduates are not employable in industries. Colleges, universities, and other seats of higher education must train young men and women who are able to show tangible results in the form of useful goods needed by society. Such education alone can exorcise the spectre of unemployment that is stalking the country today and is at the root of all its serious troubles.

Short Essay Writing #8

Short essay writing on save environment (250 words).

Environment means a healthy natural balance in the air, water, animals, plants, and other natural resources. The environment influences the existence and development of an organism. Pollution is the process of creating the environment dirty by adding harmful substances thereto. Owing to indiscriminate industrialization man has created a polluted environment. He has continuously tampered with nature which led to a threat to the sustenance of mankind.

The constant more in the world population is the main reason for environmental pollution. More population means more industry. Factories release toxic gases into the air, and filthy poisonous waters from factories and mills For also released into the waters of rivers; trees are cut down for fuel and other commercial purposes, or for procuring land for building houses. This results in a fall in the supply of oxygen that the trees provide With the felling of trees animals and birds also lose their shelter and this destroys the balance in the ecology.

To prevent these hazards from endangering human, animal, and plant life measures should be taken before the situation goes out of control. More trees should be planted. Anti-pollution scientific methods should be devised, so that toxic gases and poisonous effluents are not released by factories and mills into the air and water respectively. Cutting down trees should be made punishable by law. Poaching and hunting of animals for monetary gain and recreation should also be stopped. Finally, from early life, people should be so educated that they become aware of the vital importance of a healthy, natural, and toxic-free environment.

Also, Read Top 10 Essay Examples

Short Essay Writing #9

Short essay writing on cleanliness (230+ words).

There is truth in the common saying: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Cleanliness is a great virtue. It makes a man healthy and happy. The healthy habit of cleanliness should be formed from childhood in our everyday routine. A clean environment keeps us free from pollution. Cleanliness comes out of a taste for decency.

Cleanliness is of two types—cleanliness of body and cleanliness of mind. Cleanliness of the body makes for physical health. Health is an impossibility without bodily cleanliness. The disease is the handmaid of dirt. The germs of disease breed and multiply in the dirt. Epidemic diseases like cholera and typhoid which often sweep over villages and towns and take a heavy toll on life are the result of dirty habits and the surroundings of the people.

Cleanliness of the mind is as necessary as that of the body for self-respect. No one loves and respects a man if he is not clean in mind-free from impure desires, and evil thoughts. Mental cleanliness makes for one’s success in any sphere of life. The effects of cleanliness are great. It contributes to the character of a noble personality not only with clean clothes but also with clean ideas, clean thoughts, and clean ways of life. In every walk of life, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness in body and mind as well as indoors and outdoors. Cleanliness is truly next to godliness. All should cultivate it.

Short Essay Writing #10

Short essay writing on water pollution (250+ words).

According to the World Health Organization, any foreign matter either natural or other sources which contaminates and pollutes the water or the water supply making it harmful to human and aquatic life is termed water pollution. Household detergents and wastes pollute water bodies. When detergents and fertilizers containing phosphates are discharged into water, it promotes the growth of algae. Drilling oil under the sea may prove dangerous for marine life.

Water pollution may severely affect human, plant, and animal life. When contaminated water is consumed, the pathogens enter the human body. It may cause various water-borne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, and jaundice. Metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium dissolved in water may cause several diseases if they enter the human body. When water contaminated with cadmium was consumed by the Japanese, they were affected by a disease called Itai-Itai.

Similarly, a disease known as Minamata affected the Japanese after they consumed fish that had a large concentration of mercury. When phosphorus and nitrates from fertilizers are disposed of in water bodies, they promote the growth of algae. The presence of algae in water bodies in a large number reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in water resulting in the death of fish and other water organisms. Thermal pollution increases the temperature of the water which in turn reduces the level of oxygen in the water. This results in the death of many species of fish. Measures should be taken to prevent water pollution before the situation goes out of control. Anti-pollution scientific methods should be devised.

Short Essay Writing #11

Short essay writing on child labour (250+ words).

Child labour has been quite a problem down the ages. Child labour means the labour done by children below the age of eighteen. Employing little boys and girls not only saves money but also helps the employer avoid labour unrest. Young boys and girls can be paid lesser wages and they do not form unions to realize demands for higher pay.

The types of work children have to do are many and various. In tea stalls and small hotels, they clean the utensils, mop the floors and serve at the table. In garages, they wash the cars, buses, and lorries. The female children serve as maid-servants in various families. Though child labour is a cruel practice it saves many families from starvation. The income of the adult members of these families is not sufficient even for their hand-to-mouth living. If the children do not work to supplement their income, the families will have to starve. So simply banning the use of child labour one could not solve the problem.

In recent times the government of India has become aware of the evils of the system. But it can be hard to do away with it all of a sudden. Abolition of the employment of child labour must be preceded by a process of improving the economic condition of the families concerned. Proper methods should be adopted so that the children are educated and not sent to workplaces that destroy both the body and the soul of these unfortunate creatures.

Short Essay Writing #12

Short essay writing on my hobby (250 words).

A hobby is voluntary work done in leisure with pleasure. There are many fashionable hobbies such as stamp-collecting, coin-collecting, photography, etc. But my favourite hobby is gardening. I started it when I was only ten. I have a small plot of land beside our house. There I cultivate gardening. I spend one hour every day gardening. Back from the morning walk, I go to my garden with a spade and a waterful bucket. I dig up the soil, trim the plants, and water them. I also spray insecticides and apply fertilizers.

When I see the plants swaying in the wind, my heart leaps in joy. I experience heavenly pleasure as I see them grow day by day. I have chosen this hobby because it gives me not only joy but also enough physical exercise to keep my body fit.

I face some problems in cultivating gardening. Entellus often eat up flowers and destroy the plants, though I am at pains to scare them away. Gardening brings me both joy and health. Every afternoon I work for an hour in my garden and watch the buds come up and the branches nod in the breeze. Although a hobby is a source of pleasure and not of profit, my hobby combines the two. My mother looks upon it very kindly, as a part of my garden serves as a kitchen garden. A hobby is an index to a man’s character and I believe my hobby reflects my character.

Also, Read Academic Essay Examples

Short Essay Writing #13

Short essay writing on my ambition in life (200 words).

Ambition is a goal or objective to achieve in life. In order to succeed in life, one must have a goal. An aimless man is like a ship without a compass. So, I have to select an ambition in my life. Very soon I shall be a citizen of my country. I shall have some duties to society and my country. I must perform them. I think no country can prosper without education. So, my ambition in life is to spread education. Any noble work needs money.

So, after completing my graduation I shall join my father’s business. Business is the best source of earning money. I shall spend a large part of my profit on spreading education and treatment for the poor and sick villagers. I shall set it up. schools for children. I shall start night schools for the adults to make them literate. I shall set up a library. Books on various subjects will be issued without any subscription. I shall open training centres for young boys and girls to provide them with jobs. I do not know how far my ambition will be successful. But I shall try my best.

Short Essay Writing #14

Short essay writing on value of time (250 words).

There is a saying, “Time and tide wait for none. The value of time is very great. We can regain lost money and lost health. But lost time is gone forever. So, we should know the use of time. We should remember that we cannot recall the time that is gone. We can stop the clock but we cannot stop the time. And so we must make the best use of every moment. This knowledge and habit of proper use of time are the secrets of success.

Our life is short. But time passes swiftly. Our life is made of moments. So, to lose a moment is to waste a valuable part of life. By making the right use of the time we can do a lot. We should avail ourselves of every opportunity. If we do not know the use of time our life becomes miserable. We should know that a stitch in time saves nine. Idle time is said to be a thief of time.

If we idle away our time, our appointed work will suffer and success will be hard to achieve. Time lost is lost forever. We are born to do a lot of work. Great men realize it. They never lose a moment. Gandhiji always used to keep a watch to watch his time. He who performs his duties punctually prospers in life positively. What can be done today should not be put off for tomorrow. We should not say ‘later’, we should do ‘now’.

Short Essay Writing #15

Short essay writing on value of trees (250+ words).

Trees are of great importance in our everyday life. They provide us with thatch for huts, timber for buildings and furniture, firewood, food like fruits, honey, etc., and medicine. We are dependent on trees for our very existence on earth. They produce oxygen which keeps us alive. They also absorb carbon-di-oxide exhaled by us and thereby help to create a pollution-free atmosphere. Trees help to prevent the erosion of soil and floods.

Both the urban and rural people gain advantages from growing more trees. The former enjoys a pollution-free atmosphere and the latter gets fruits, fuel, goods of economic importance, and medicines. Road-side trees are planted to beautify the roads and purify the air. Trees supply fresh air to reduce pollution in urban areas and help in rural economic growth. It is important to note that 33% of the land is required as forests in any country to maintain ecological balance. Hence we must take utmost care to grow more trees and stop deforestation. Trees give men shelter and shade. They protect wildlife. Trees help men fight against environmental pollution.

So we all must grow more trees and stop deforestation. We must care for trees for our own sake. We should not forget that the great scientist Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose proved that trees are living beings. The festival, Vano-Mahotsav is observed every year during the rainy season. Thousands of saplings are planted on the occasion. More and more areas are brought under forest cover and people are taught “Plant trees and save a life.”

Short Essay Writing #16

Short essay writing on morning walk (250 words).

Morning walk and early rising go hand in hand. One who wants to go for a morning walk has to get up early. A morning walk is a healthy habit. It removes the physical lethargy caused by the night’s sleep, helps in the circulation of blood, and makes one healthy. It is good exercise after a long night’s rest and provides us with fresh oxygen from the cool morning air. It gives a good start to a man’s whole day’s work. He can finish a large amount of his work before others get out of bed. He need not hurry over any part of his work.

A morning walk enables a man to have closer contact with nature. He can see the calm, quiet and complete beauty of nature- the beauty he cannot see by day. A morning walk provides independent exercise. He need not go to the gymnasium for exercise. Morning walk, like early rising, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Even doctors advise their patients to have a morning walk daily, as a remedy for various types of physical ailments, especially diabetes. Moreover, a morning walk is certainly a good start for the whole day’s work. During our walk in the morning, we come into greater and closer contact with nature. A morning walk is advantageous as an independent exercise. If anyone wants to ensure proper care of his or her health, he or she can undertake a morning walk as it is very simple as well as beneficial.

Short Essay Writing #17

Short essay writing on science (250 words).

Science is a great boon to human civilization. All signs of Progress in civilization have been made possible by science. Science has made our life easy and comfortable. It has given us electric fans, and lights. fans cool us, lights remove darkness. Lift, washing machine, etc. save our labour. Car, train, bus, and aircraft have made our travel speedy and comfortable. The computer has taken the excess load off our brains. Science has given us life-saving medicine. Surgery can do something miraculous. Space flight is another wonder of science.

Thus through the gifts of science, the man who had once lived in the cave has now landed on the science of the moon is a blessing to us. But it is a curse at the same time. Science has given us speed but has taken away our emotions. It has made our machine. The introduction of the mobile phone has destroyed the art of letter writing. Science has made war more dreadful by inventing sophisticated weapons. Peace has become scarce. Yet there are some abuses of science. It has given us the frightful nuclear weapons that can destroy the whole world.

But who is responsible for making Science a curse? Certainly, it is the evil intention of a few scientists and malignant politicians. We can use fire for cooking our food or burning other’s houses. It is not the fault of fire, but of its users. Likewise, man is responsible for the uses and abuses of science. But science cannot be blamed for this.

Short Essay Writing #18

Short essay writing on noise pollution (250+ words).

Any unwanted loud sound which causes stress and irritation can be termed noise pollution. Of late, sound or noise pollution has adversely affected our normal life in a major way. It is chasing us at almost every step. In schools, colleges, offices, and even hospitals we have an explosion of deafening sound. The main sources of noise pollution are Means of transport, the Use of loudspeakers, the Industrial sector, and the Celebration of festivals and wedding ceremonies. We are almost deafened by the blaring mikes or the record players which are often played at full volume.

Secondly, we have noise pollution caused by various groups of people shouting out their slogans or impatient automobiles always honking their horns. During some social and religious festivals, crackers are burst indiscriminately. Noise pollution can have serious effects on human health. It may cause impairment of hearing and can cause sleep disruption. People who are frequently subjected to a high level of noise pollution may suffer from hypertension, depression, and panic attacks. It may lead to an abnormal increase in heartbeat and heart palpitation. It can also cause migraine headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

Some Measures to Minimise Noise Pollution are Prohibiting the blowing of horns, The use of loudspeakers should be banned, Airports should be located away from residential areas, and People should restrain themselves from lighting firecrackers. In recent times laws have been passed to take effective steps to control sound pollution. People must also be made aware of the dangers of noise pollution.

Short Essay Writing #19

Short essay writing on television (250+ words).

Television is one of the many wonders of modern science and technology. It was invented in England by the Scottish scientist J.N. Baird in 1928 and the British Broadcasting Corporation was the first to broadcast television images in 1929. Previously the radio helped us hear things from far and near and spread information and knowledge from one corner of the globe to another. But all this was done through sound only. But television combined visual images with sound.

Today we can watch games, shows, and song and dance programs from all corners of the world while sitting in our own homes. TV can be used for educating the masses, for bringing to us the latest pieces of information audio-visually, and can provide us with all kinds of entertainment even in colour.

But as in all things, too much televiewing may prove harmful. TV provides visual images but the televiewer has a limited choice of programs. He has to adjust himself to the scheduled programs of a particular television channel. But as for the book, a reader’s imagination plays a vital role. He can freely read a book which is a personal activity and it cannot be shared with others at the same time. In many cases, the habit of watching TV has an adverse effect on the study habits of the young. When we read books, we have to use our intelligence and imagination. But in most cases, TV watching is a passive thing. It may dull our imagination and intelligence.

Short Essay Writing #20

Short essay on newspaper (250+ words).

The Newspaper is the mirror of the world. Modern life cannot be imagined without newspapers. A newspaper is a regular source of important news from home and abroad. It represents the current and living history of the world. Newspapers are of various kinds dailies, weeklies, bi-weeklies, monthlies, etc. The main function of a daily paper is to publish news of general interest while the others mostly contain literary pieces and articles on important topics.

Nowadays every newspaper has some special sections dealing with politics, everyday problems, off-beat news, business, sports, editorial page, feature pages, etc. So, the newspaper is one of the most powerful organs for the dissemination of news and views among the public. It plays a very important role in educating people and guiding them along the right path. If it wants to it can fight social evil successfully. A newspaper can also do us much harm. Used wrongly it can create hatred and enmity between man and man, section and section, nation and nation.

Sometimes it publishes baseless reports or stories to create deliberately confusion in the minds of gullible people. A newspaper is as powerful as any potent weapon. It can be used for both good and evil. Much depends on the outlook and motive of the people who are at the helm of the paper. It shapes Public opinion. It can mislead people with false and fabricated news. The newspaper should give impartial and correct pieces of information. It must not feed false news.

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