The Creation Of The Short Story
Short stories, these two words conjure to mind many works
of literature. From The Chaser by John Collier to The Monkey’s
Paw by W.W. Jacobs. All of these stories give us invaluable, life
long lessons. But in all of these stories we can find a treasure
trove of literary devices. Plot, setting, character, setting, all of
these devices are found in the stories that are so beloved by the
instructors of our youth to teach us lessons. Today I am here to
talk to you briefly about three stories and these devices that are
contained within them. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, The
Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty, and The Most Dangerous Game by
Richard Connell are the three stories I have the great pleasure of
talking about with you. Yes these three short stories all contain
literary devices, The Sniper relies heavily on its setting while The
Lottery’s plot is what shines through the most; whereas in The
Most Dangerous Game conflict, suspense, foreshadowing, and
imaginative language all are major points. So without further ado
let us delve into these stories.
As I have stated, within the short story The Sniper by Liam
O’Flaherty setting is key to the story. “Around the beleaguered
Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the
city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night,
spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms.”( O’Flaherty,
213) This passage does two things, one it sets the mood, but
that is of no concern of ours. It gives you the basic overall setting
of the story; as well as giving you the basic information of where
the story is going to take place. This next quote is going to
introduce us to a specific place that is most pivotal in the story as
it is where the majority of it takes place. “On a rooftop near
O'Connell Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him
lay his rifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field
glasses.”(O’Flaherty page 213)This gives you an exact place for
you to fix in your minds eye and thus drawing you evermore
deeply into the story. This last quote finish the process that the
first two had begun, it draws and firmly places an area in your
mind. “Dropping flat onto the roof, he crawled back to the
parapet. With his left hand he felt the injured right forearm.”
(O’Flaherty page 214) This passage is what firmly roots the
setting in place, it connects the first two quotes into a coherent
mass and and gives the story the meaning that was desired by
the author. Now that I have begun to open your eyes to the
literary devices that are displayed allow me to move into our next
story.
All short stories we know and love contain one thing that
draws us through the reading like moths are drawn to flame.
That one not so simple thing is summed up with one word, plot;
yes it is the plot that compels us to read all stories from start to
finish. And one story that’s plot shines through is The Lottery by
Shirley Jackson. The following quote, while while not seeming
special is actually a quite important. “The people of the village
began to gather in the square, between the post office and the
bank, around ten o'clock;” (Jackson paragraph 1) This quote
begins the story and though you might not realize it at the time,
states the beginning of a chain of events. This next quote allows
us to see the storm begin to brew and helps further the plot even
more.”"Well, now." Mr. Summers said soberly, "guess we better
get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work.
Anybody ain't here?"
"Dunbar." several people said. "Dunbar. Dunbar."
Mr. Summers consulted his list. "Clyde Dunbar." he said. "That's
right. He's broke his leg, hasn't he? Who's drawing for him?"
(Jackson paragraph 9) As I said this quote furthers the
development of the plot by allowing us a glimpse of the
impending doom. This next quote almost brings the plot to its
fruition as well as enhancing the story greatly. “After that, there
was a long pause, a breathless pause, until Mr. Summers.
holding his slip of paper in the air, said, "All right, fellows." For a
minute, no one moved, and then all the slips of paper were
opened. Suddenly, all the women began to speak at once,
saving. "Who is it?," "Who's got it?," "Is it the Dunbars?," "Is it the
Watsons?" Then the voices began to say, "It's Hutchinson. It's
Bill," "Bill Hutchinson's got it." (Jackson paragraph 43) As I
stated this quote brings the plot to the verge of its ruinous
conclusion and firmly grasps you and holds you in place. The
plot is key to the story as it allows the events to flow naturally
and keeps the story lucid and coherently. With the plot this story
would have been a dull comparison to what it is with it. The next
story that I am about to introduce you too is a symphony of
literary devices.
The story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
is full of excellent examples of all literary devices but it excels
with the usage of conflict, suspense, foreshadowing, and
imaginative language. Through out the story there are many
examples of conflict, but I think that the best one is this. “He
staggered, but he did not fall; nor did he drop his revolver. He
stood there, rubbing his injured shoulder, and Rainsford, with
fear again gripping his heart, heard the general's mocking laugh
ring through the jungle.” (Connel paragraph 53) I think that it
shows an excellent use of conflict to enliven the story and
progress it along. This next quote is a prime example of
suspense. “Rainsford held his breath. The general's eyes had
left the ground and were traveling inch by inch up the tree.
Rainsford froze there, every muscle tensed for a spring. But the
sharp eyes of the hunter stopped before they reached the limb
where Rainsford lay; a smile spread over his brown face. Very
deliberately he blew a smoke ring into the air; then he turned his
back on the tree and walked carelessly away, back along the trail
he had come. The swish of the underbrush against his hunting
boots grew fainter and fainter.”(Connel paragraph 42) This is an
excellent usage of suspense to add to the flow of the story as
well as keeping the reader interested. Not only does Peck excel
in the use of conflict and suspense he is a master of the art of
foreshadowing the next quote is proof of his mastery. “Some
wounded thing--by the evidence, a large animal--had thrashed
about in the underbrush; the jungle weeds were crushed down
and the moss was lacerated; one patch of weeds was stained
crimson. A small, glittering object not far away caught
Rainsford's eye and he picked it up. It was an empty cartridge.”
(Connel paragraph 12) This was an excellent way for him to use
foreshadowing to enhance the story with out giving away any of
it. The final skill that Connel has mastered and used to great
effect is figurative language, this next quote will expose you to
his usage of that literary device. “Rainsford did not smile. "I am
still a beast at bay," he said, in a low, hoarse voice. "Get ready,
General Zaroff." (Connell paragraph 73) This is a most
descriptive sentence that achieves its purpose through the use of
figurative language to its full effect.
So as I stated above all short stories use a myriad of
literary devices but The Lottery, The Sniper, and The Most
Dangerous Game are all shining examples of the use of plot,
setting conflict, suspense, foreshadowing, and figurative
language. Through the use of carefully selected quotes I hope
that you too, have come to understand the use of literary devices
in our most beloved teaching stories.