How To Read Short Stories

We like to read short stories because we like to know

people.We like to watch them in action.We want to know

what they do and say to each other,how life treats

them,and how they try to turn events to their own

purposes. Of course,the people in stories are not

"real" in the ordinary sense of the word;a story is

not,like a biography, a factual record of an actual

person's life. Yet fiction can seem more realistic and

believeable than fact, oftentimes,and a good writer

can tell us many truths about life.Moreover,a piece of

fiction can call upon the free play of the author's

imagination,and hold our interest with suspense or

humor.The writer's hand is always behind the

story,arrangeing events,causing things to happen,

beckoning the reader on to the end.A skillful reader

soon learns to recognize the clever ways in which a

story is created.
Every story must have action; otherwise it becomes an

essay or a character sketch. Near the beginning of the

story something happens that starts the action

rolling. Two characters are in disagreement,serious or

otherwise,over some matter;or within the mind of

single character there is some indecision,some doubt

troubling him.There is,in other words,some kind of

conflict or problem.You learn about the problem at the

start of the story,and then you are curious to see how

it well be worked out.
After the action is once started,the events fall into

place."The plot thickens,"we often say,meaning that

the characters get more and more involved in a

particular situation.Since the plot is based on

struggle,it must have suspense.You will be uncertain

of the outcome and eager to reach it.If you can guess

the end too easily or if you feel little interest in

the characters,there will be little suspense in the

story for you.But usually you will find yourself

engrossed in the turn of events.Because we all tend to

identify ourselves with a character in a short

story,we tend to "choose sides" in the problem or

conflict presented.We wand the character to win our in

his struggle against nature (a storm,for example) or

against another person;or if the struggle is in his

own mind,we want him to choose wisely and make the

right decision.
The breaking point in a story—— the point where

something is bound to happen one way or another to end

the conflict or solve the problem —— is called the

climax.In a short story the climax usually comes and

goes quickly.There is not much room for a long and

complicated plot; because the story is brief,so is the

action.After the climax,the tensenss is relieved.You

know the best or the worst; the outcome is

certain.There are two major questions that you are

likely to ask yourself —— often unconsciously——

after having read a story.First,was I surprised by the

ending?Not all stories have a "surprise ending,"but

you will feel a certain pleasant tingle when you run

across one.Of course, the ending is never completely a

surprise.A good writer gives you hints as to the

outcome,and a good reader recognizes these,so that the

he half expects the ending before it is reached.
The second question you may well ask yourself is: did

the ending satisfy me? Now,if you are the kind of

person who always wants a happy ending,you will be

disappointed in a large part of modern literature.

Life is not made up of happy endings,by any means,and

fiction is a reflection of life.Instead of looking for

happy endings,look for an ending that is true to the

characters and events in the story.If the characters

were bound to come to a tragic end because of some

weakness they displayed or because they were

overwhelmed by stonger forces,then don't look for some

quick reversal of events to make the story end

happily.The things that happen to people are pretty

much like the people themselves—— there isn't much

luck in life,or in fiction either.
A brief word needs to be said about characters in

fiction.You know from reading plays and novels and

short stories that the best way to obtain a rounded

picture of a character is to watch three things:what

the character says,what he does,and what is said about

him by others.This information you gather easily if

you read attentively but you will want to go a step

further and try to understand the feelings and

thoughts of a character.Rarely do you meet a character

in fiction exactly like yourself.If you are young,the

character may be old;if you are poor,he may be rich;if

you are farm-bred,he may be from a city;and so

forth.Thus,you will find it necessary to step outside

of your own narrow circle of experience and place

yourself in another frame of mind.Try to imagine what

life must be like in a different place,under different

circumstances.If you are successful ,you will enjoy

stories all the more for having understood the

characters in them.
And this is,finally,the great reward that short

stories will offer you —— taking you into different

places,,introducing you to new and different kinds of

people,facing you with different but "real" problems

that you have never encountered before.Short stories

can be like windows on the world,if you will but sit

by them and give your attention entirely to what they

show.


(only it is  the short extract when there are some free

time.)