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P10111 : Short Story - an Introduction
This lesson gives a detailed introduction to Short Story. It discusses the various aspects of a short story.
The Short Story has its origin in the oral tradition. In ancient times people gathered around a story teller to listen to the tales he narrated. Later stories were told through Koothu and Drama. After the Industrial Revolution and the advancement of printing techniques stories took the form of novel and short stories. The advent of journalism and the growth of magazines paved the way for the development of short story into an important literary form.
It is not possible to strictly define a short story. However, it is generally accepted that it should be brief. It is not a chapter out of a novel or part of a long story. It should be complete in itself. Several scholars from the west as well as from India have offered various definitions of short story.
Short story and novel are similar in certain respects. Both came to India from the west and use the prose form. Since both forms basically aim at telling a story, critics classify them under one label-fiction. However, they are very different in narrative structure and form.
The three important aspects of a short story are Plot or Theme, Setting and Unity. The plot of a short story can reflect the inner conflict of an individual; explore problems and relationships within a family; portray issues that are of social importance or depict the economic disparity in society. During the 1940’s and 50’s several stories fostering the spirit of nationalism were written in India. Setting is the time and place in which the story happens. Unity refers to the unity of impression or emotion. A short story should focus only on one emotion from the beginning to the end.
The structure of short story should be tight and well knit. A good beginning, climax and ending are essential to a short story. The title should be attractive and reflect either the beginning or the ending of the story ; the theme ; or the central character. It is important to have an impressive opening and an equally striking ending as it will arouse the reader’s interest.
Style, Narrative form and Characterization are the three important techniques of short story writing.
Short stories can be broadly classified into The Story of Plot, The Story of Character and The Story of Impression.
