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The Apple Tree by Daphne du Maurier Short Story Analysis
“The Apple Tree” is a long short story by British author Daphne du Maurier, better known for “The Birds” and Rebecca. But who doesn’t like a Christmas ghost story? There’s not much ‘Christmassy’ about it if, by Christmassy, you think family, fun and celebration of Christ. Nope, this is a revenge tale. This is “Rip […]
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The Rocket by Ray Bradbury Short Story Study
Also known as “Outcast of the Stars”, “The Rocket” is a short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, included in The Illustrated Man collection (1951). It’s basically a science fiction re-visioning of famous English fairytale “Jack And The Beanstalk”. WHAT HAPPENS IN “THE ROCKET” A TIME OF LATE CAPITALISM Fiorello Bodoni lives in a future […]
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The Birds by Daphne du Maurier Short Story Analysis
“The Birds” is a short story by British author Daphne du Maurier. Alongside Rebecca, “The Birds” remains her best-known work.
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The Turning by Tim Winton Short Stories Analysis
The Turning is a 2004 short story collection by Western Australian author Tim Winton. In 2013 the collection was adapted for film. It’s unusual to find a feature-length film which is actually a series of short stories, which might partly explain the tagline on the movie poster: A Unique Cinema Event. I really enjoyed three […]
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The Ratcatcher by Roald Dahl Short Story Analysis
Run with rats you become a rat.
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Miss Smith by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
“Miss Smith” is an early short story by Irish-English writer William Trevor. Find it in The Day We Got Drunk On Cake And Other Stories (1968) and also in Collected Stories.
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A Complicated Nature by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
“A Complicated Nature” is a short story by William Trevor, published in Angels At The Ritz And Other Stories (1975). Find it also in Collected Stories. A prim, starchy man who lives alone in his apartment faces a moral dilemma when the woman upstairs calls him, begging for a favour. She wants him to help […]
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Mrs. Silly by William Trevor Short Story Analysis
Can men write women? For a case study in “Yes!” read William Trevor. Today’s short story, Mrs Silly is told via the viewpoint character of an eight-year-old boy. Trevor never lets us into “Mrs Silly’s” head. Instead, he shows us the cauldron of misogyny
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Uncle Einar by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
We’ve already met Einar as Timothy’s uncle in “Homecoming”. Now we see the man at home, and learn more about the realities of living as a supernatural being in a world made for regular humans.
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Homecoming by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
“Homecoming” is a short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1946. A family of ghouls hosts a big family reunion for Allhallows Eve. Dead relatives return for the occasion. Unfortunately for Timothy, he seems to be the only member of the family who doesn’t have supernatural powers. Some readers pick this up […]
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The Night by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
“The Night” is a second-person point of view short story by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1955.
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The Man Upstairs by Ray Bradbury Short Story Analysis
Let’s take a look at a vampire story by American writer Ray Bradbury. “The Man Upstairs” was first published in the March 1947 issue of Harper’s Magazine. You’ll also find it in Stories Volume One and Bradbury’s 1955 collection called The October Country.
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How To Write Like Carson McCullers
If you want to start with the best of Carson McCullers, focus on the stories she wrote in the 1930s and 40s. Ill-health and issues related to alcoholism made it difficult for McCullers to keep producing the same high quality of life up until her death. The most prevalent theme in the novels–rejection or unrequited […]
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The Haunted Boy Short Story by Carson McCullers Analysis
“The Haunted Boy” is a 1955 short story by American writer Carson McCullers, focusing on the soft emotions of boys.
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A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield Short Story Analysis
“A Cup of Tea” is a Modernist short story by Katherine Mansfield, first published in May 1922. I’m reading it 100 years later.