Short Story Tradition: Ultimate UGC NET Guide
Master the evolution of short story form and its major practitioners for your UGC NET English Literature preparation
Introduction to Short Story Tradition
The short story, as a distinct literary form, emerged in the 19th century and has since become a vital medium for literary expression. This comprehensive guide covers all essential writers, movements, and concepts for UGC NET aspirants.
Why This Unit Matters for UGC NET
Short Story Tradition typically carries 4-6 questions in UGC NET English. Key areas include:
- Major short story writers and their signature works
- Characteristics of short story as a literary form
- Thematic concerns across different traditions
- Comparative analysis of short story writers
- Indian short story in English and regional languages
- Modern and postmodern short story techniques
Pioneers of Short Story Tradition
The foundation of modern short story was laid by these visionary writers:
American writer who defined the modern short story with his theory of "single effect".
- The Tell-Tale Heart (1843) - Psychological horror
- The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) - Gothic fiction
- The Purloined Letter (1844) - Detective fiction
- The Cask of Amontillado (1846) - Tale of revenge
Russian master of the modern short story known for subtle characterizations.
- The Lady with the Dog (1899) - Complex love story
- Ward No. 6 (1892) - Mental illness theme
- The Bet (1889) - Philosophical parable
- The Cherry Orchard (1904) - Social change
French writer known for twist endings and economical style.
- The Necklace (1884) - Famous twist ending
- Boule de Suif (1880) - Franco-Prussian war
- The Horla (1887) - Psychological horror
Key Characteristics of Short Stories
Brevity
Concentrated form with limited word count
Single Effect
Poe's principle of unified impression
Epiphany
Joycean moment of sudden revelation
Economy
Precise language with no superfluous details
Suggestiveness
Implied meanings beyond literal text
Unity
All elements contribute to central theme
Modern Short Story Masters
20th century innovators of the short story form:
Irish writer who revolutionized short fiction with epiphanies.
- The Dead (1914) - From "Dubliners"
- Araby (1914) - Coming-of-age story
- Eveline (1914) - Paralysis theme
New Zealand writer known for subtle psychological insight.
- The Garden Party (1922) - Class consciousness
- Bliss (1920) - Sexual awakening
- Miss Brill (1920) - Loneliness theme
American minimalist known for "iceberg theory".
- Hills Like White Elephants (1927) - Subtextual dialogue
- The Killers (1927) - Gangster story
- A Clean, Well-Lighted Place (1933) - Nada theme
Argentinian master of philosophical/metafictional stories.
- The Aleph (1945) - Infinite point
- The Library of Babel (1941) - Infinite library
- The Garden of Forking Paths (1941) - Time theme
Indian Short Story Tradition
Development of short story in Indian English and regional languages:
Early Pioneers
- The Kabuliwala - Bengali story
- The Postmaster - Rural life
- The Hungry Stones - Supernatural
- Kafan (1936) - Hindi story
- Idgah - Childhood innocence
- Poos Ki Raat - Peasant life
Modern Indian English Short Story Writers
- R.K. Narayan: "Malgudi Days" stories
- Mulk Raj Anand: "The Lost Child"
- Raja Rao: "The Cow of the Barricades"
- Anita Desai: "Games at Twilight"
- Jhumpa Lahiri: "Interpreter of Maladies"
- Saadat Hasan Manto: Partition stories
- Ruskin Bond: Himalayan tales
Literary Movements in Short Fiction
Key developments in short story tradition:
Modernism
Joyce, Woolf, Mansfield - stream of consciousness
Minimalism
Hemingway, Carver - sparse style
Magical Realism
Borges, García Márquez - fantastic elements
Postmodernism
Barth, Barthelme - metafiction
Regionalism
Faulkner, O'Connor - local color
Diasporic
Lahiri, Adichie - immigrant experiences
Theoretical Approaches
- Formalist: Focus on narrative structure
- Psychoanalytic: Character motivations
- Marxist: Class and power dynamics
- Feminist: Gender representations
- Postcolonial: Cultural identity
- Reader-Response: Audience interpretation
Historical Timeline of Short Story
Precursors: Anecdotes, sketches, folk tales
Edgar Allan Poe formulates theory of short story
Chekhov and Maupassant perfect realistic story
Joyce's "Dubliners" introduces epiphany
Modernist experiments by Mansfield, Woolf
Flannery O'Connor's Southern Gothic stories
Postmodern and multicultural short fiction
UGC NET Preparation Tips
Important Questions to Focus On
- Analyze Poe's theory of "single effect"
- Compare Chekhovian and Hemingwayesque styles
- Discuss the epiphany in Joyce's stories
- Examine feminist themes in Mansfield's works
- Trace the development of Indian short story
- Analyze postmodern techniques in short fiction
- Compare regional and diasporic short stories
- Discuss magical realism in Borges' fiction
Recommended Study Approach
- Read at least 5 stories each from major writers
- Practice close reading of selected passages
- Compare different writers' styles and themes
- Study the historical development of the form
- Solve previous years' UGC NET questions
Memory Aid: Short Story at a Glance
Pioneers: Poe, Chekhov, Maupassant
Modern Masters: Joyce, Hemingway, Mansfield
Indian Writers: Tagore, Premchand, Narayan
Characteristics: Brevity, Unity, Epiphany, Economy
Movements: Modernism, Minimalism, Magical Realism
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