Short-Story Masterpieces

Survey American and British short fiction written in the 20th and 21st century. Analyze ambitious, self-consciously literary short fiction published in magazines, as well as violent and sensational genre short stories originally published in pulp magazines. Consider what each has to teach about the conventions and concerns of short fiction and the value of literature as opposed to a good story. By the end of the course, you should be able to recognize how elements of fiction are used in short fiction, the differences between genre and literary short fiction, the influence of changing cultural values and social mores on literary works, and what a short story demonstrates about the nature of fiction and the value of storytelling.