ENG-3020

March-Russell, P. (2009, May 15). The short story: An introduction. Edinburgh University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=434307&ppg=1
Read Chapter 1 -- Origins: From Folktale to Art-Tale.

March-Russell, P. (2009, May 15). The short story: An introduction. Edinburgh University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=434307&ppg=1
Read Chapter 2 Riddle, Hoaxes and Conundrums.

March-Russell, P. (2009, May 15). The short story: An introduction. Edinburgh University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=434307&ppg=1
Read Chapter 3 Memory, Modernity and Orality.

March-Russell, P. (2009, May 15). The short story: An Introduction. Edinburgh University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=434307&ppg=1
In these beginning chapters of Paul March-Russell’s book titled, The Short Story, the origins of what we now know as the short story are discussed. Understanding the birth of this art form can help us understand both its modern strengths and limitations; consider these ideas as you eventually craft your own short fiction.

Ribó, I. (2019, December). Prose fiction: An introduction to the semiotics of narrative [eBook edition]. Open Book Publishers. https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0187
In the first four chapters of author Ignaso Ribó’s book Prose Fiction, the concepts of Plot, Setting, and Characterization will be introduced. These are the core components of creative writing that will make up the works you read and write throughout the course. Take notes as you move through this text, focusing on the breakdowns of the narrative process that are presented, such as Freytag’s Pyramid and the notions of conflict and resolutions as they apply to a story. Becoming familiar with these facets of a story will help you as you think critically about published works and craft your own!

Bierce, A. (1890). An occurrence at owl creek bridge. Owl Eyes.
https://www.owleyes.org/text/occurrence-owl-creek-bridge/read/i
Now that you’ve read about the major components of a short story, it’s time to read one! This particular story is well known and has been analyzed through different perspectives for well over a hundred years, so there’s a lot that can be talked about! Focus, as you read, on the characters (and how they’re portrayed), the setting, and the plot (all of which were outlined in your Prose Fiction reading!)

Khanom, A. (2013). Silence as Literary Device in Ambrose Bierce’s ‘The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’. Teaching American Literature, 6(1), 45–52. http://proxy1.nu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=90713082&site=eds-live
Having now completed Ambrose Bierce’s story and the first few chapters of Prose Fiction, you would be forgiven for asking yourself the question, “How can I use all these ideas fluttering around my head about what I just read?” The answer is found in literary criticism! The field of lit-crit is full of people sharing and supporting their ideas about fiction and nonfiction works in essays, and all those ideas you have about this week’s readings are how such papers start. As an example of this kind of deep analysis of the written word, read this article dissecting a single element of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” Consider, as you do, what your own thoughts are regarding the paper’s argument—do you agree with them? Why or why not? Can you further support your own opinion on the matter?

Books: Short Stories (sorted by popularity). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Short Stories
A great source of classic fiction is Project Gutenberg, which you will use for the Week 1: Part 1 Assignment. Keep in mind that this website, should you use it, contains both complete novels and short stories, so make sure what you choose is a work of short fiction.