Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see. ~C. S. Lewis
Ah, the Short Story. Don't you just love them?!! So far, we've read three of them in class. Have you noticed anything yet? Yeah, you rarely finish a short story and think, "Well, that was a nice little story" (unless it's a children's book). Short stories are written for a purpose; they contain all of the elements of traditional longer fiction, but (being more limited in time and space) must have every element work together concisely to produce a single effect. Sometimes, it is to entertain you. Sometimes, it is to surprise or horrify you. But in any of those cases, short stories almost always aim to teach you something about life, about human nature, and about you--through your reactions to them. Choose any of the stories we've read so far and tell me: What is the message the author is trying to tell you? Which story surprised you the most? After you know what happens in the end, can you go back through and see the clues in the reading that you may have overlooked the first time? Do you have a favorite short story or is there one that sticks with you, whether you liked it or not? Then that author has fulfilled his purpose: he has written something that lives on in you! Wait till you read what's coming in the next couple of weeks!! Oh, the fun we will have! :)
im just stating my opinion
ReplyDeleteno i dont like these short stories because they dont really have a true meaning and you need a teacher to come back and lecture about it so you can actually under stand it.
Well, my favorite so far was the story about the Irish sniper. Once you know that the other sniper that he was so desperate to kill was his brother, it kind of gives some more light on the clues. It was a surprise to learn that the sniper he shot was his brother... That's some pretty heavy stuff. I guess it is meant to show that wars can divide families in two and can pit brothers against each other.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story that we've read so far will have the sniper. The sniper is my favorite because it is really the only one that I could understand. This story also suprised me the most out of all of them. I think that if I shot someone like how he did and then I saw that it was my brother I would want to die.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really understand any of these short stories.
ReplyDeleteMY favorite was The sniper. The author is trying to tell you That anything can happen in a battle and That battles are like Hell on earth. death is not the best thing to go through ,especially when its your own relationship dying. That's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story was the sniper. It was very exciting yet sad. I always made you want to know what the snipers would do next. The ending surprised me very much thats why i like the sniper so much.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, my favorite short story was The Sniper. It was a shock to find out that he had killed his own brother. I didnt think that the story had clues leading up to the revealing of him killing his brother. I think that this story shows the distant relationships between some families, and siblings.
ReplyDeleteThe only short story I could truely understand on my own was the Sniper. The other ones I couldnt understand unless someone or the teacher came and lectured until I got it... Til I understood it. I dont get it though.. Why cant we understand them without the lectures. Hmm. I am starting to think about it though. But yet all my thoughts are running together..
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't like the short stories. I think they are too confusing and you don't give us enough time to understand them. I also think you should give us easier stories.
ReplyDeleteYes, I like these short storys because they actually make sense to me and they always end good. The only reason i dont like them is because they have some very challenging words, but in the future it will be good for me
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story was the one about the open window, it was suprising to me that the niece would play the trick on the man by telling the horrible story about the aunt. I liked it a lot because I related to it, I play tricks on people a lot.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story had to be the sniper as well. It was so suspenceful and it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. It also has a surprising ending which is another reason why I liked the story. I believe that this story shows that during real civil wars ( take America for instance) that familys can be torn apart because of their different agreements toward governmental policies. Neighbor vs. Neighbor, Father vs. Son, and in this case Brother vs. Brother.
ReplyDeleteMy personal favorite may be the monkeys paw because i understand it more than the other stories. This story teaches a lesson that says, if your happy with what you have, don't wish for more cause you could be jeopardizing the things you already have and love. And yes i can see the clues when i go back, also this story wasn't really that surprising to me, but kind of predictable like when the son died that surprised me, but when they got the check i saw that coming.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the sniper because the ending was surprising and something you would never of guest and i like that in a story. But my favorite short story was the monkeys paw because it shows that you should love what you have and not be greedy and take or want more then you need. Also the monkeys paw was suspenseful and kept you on your toes.
ReplyDeleteI think the story were the girl lies to hte man about the father and sons dieing was pritty funny. But it was kinda messed up too. But it was too predictable when the man and sons walked through i knew that was going to happen
ReplyDeleteidk, i Don't think i was here for that....ILOVE THE CAT IN THE HAT!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite short story was the Monkey's Paw.I think the theme in this story was do not mess with fate. After reading this story, when went back i caught tons of examples of foreshadowing.Parts of this story suprised me. I knew something bad was to come from the paw, i hadnt expected the son to die, however.
ReplyDeleteShort stories? No way :( If I HAVE to read a story it better be worth it. and I REALLY hate those short stories when they have an ending and you're like what?! what happened?!?!?!?! And then later on you find out there's not a sequel OR an actually book that clipping was from. :(
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