The All-American Slurp

The All-American Slurp: Short story by Lensey NamiokaThe major themes of this story by Lensey Namioka are: 1) the innate desire of most people (especially the young) to “fit in” with the community in which they find themselves; and 2) the need to understand and accept cultural differences when they appear. Said to be based on real experiences from the author’s early life in America, the story makes these points in a light-hearted way. Its main message is expressed cryptically in the very last line: All Americans slurp. This suggests that if we put aside cultural differences, we are all the same inside.

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The Man to Send Rain Clouds

The Man to Send Rain Clouds: Short story by Leslie Marmon SilkoThis playful story by Leslie Marmon Silko illustrates how two cultures, one indigenous and very much attached to their land, the other foreign and dominant, coexist. When an aging Pueblo Native American dies tending their sheep, his people plan to give him a traditional tribal burial. They deceive a young Catholic priest, who would have insisted on a Christian ceremony, but later find they need something from him. Themes include death, tradition, adaptability (by the tribe as a means of mitigating culture clash) and flexibility (by the priest as a means of being accepted into the community).

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The Monkey’s Paw

The Monkey's Paw: Short story by W. W. JacobsToday we are bringing you The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs, one of the most famous horror stories of all time. First published in 1902, it has since appeared in many forms including live plays, movies, TV shows, radio plays, books, comics and cartoons (even a Simpsons episode!). In the story, a man makes a wish upon an enchanted monkey’s paw with disastrous results for his family. First, some advice before you start to read. Don’t do it sitting at home alone on a dark and stormy night! Themes: family, greed, tempting fate, industrialization (work safety), death, the supernatural.

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Inem

Inem: Short story by Pramoedya Ananta ToerThis story by Pramoedya Ananta Toer is set in 1930s Java. A six-year-old boy’s best friend, an eight-year-old girl, is married off to a seventeen-year-old-man. The naïve girl, who has no idea what marriage entails, is excited only because of the new clothes and make-up she will wear at the ceremony. Her family are neighbors, and for months afterward the boy is kept awake by her screams at night. A year later she is divorced, a tainted “woman” facing a miserable future. Themes include cultural tradition, innocence, friendship, child marriage, brutality, patriarchy, shame, compassion vs. social correctness.

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The Hospice

The Hospice: Short story by Robert AickmanAuthor Robert Aickman preferred to be called a writer of “strange fiction” rather than ghost or horror stories. The Hospice, considered one of his best, is a good example of why. The story is full of unexplained twists and turns. It builds to what readers expect will be a typical horror climax, then seemingly falls flat with the protagonist safely on his way home. But is he? It’s easy to see why Aickman has been called the English Kafka. Was it a dream? Delirium caused by an animal bite? Supernatural forces? Or did he die along the way?

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Hills Like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants: Short story by Ernest HemingwayThis story by Ernest Hemingway is aptly set at a railway junction. A couple waiting for a train have an important decision to make that will determine the direction of their lives. Unfortunately, they have reached a point in their relationship where they find it hard to open up and talk about their feelings. Although the man says he will leave it up to the woman, he puts subtle pressure on her to choose his way. Themes: perspective (male vs. female views on pregnancy and abortion), choices and consequences (freedom vs. family), language and communication (disconnection), dependence and control.

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The Undertaker / Coffin-Maker

The Undertaker / Coffin-Maker: Short story by Alexander PushkinMany readers feel let down by this gloomy Alexander Pushkin story because of its seemingly abrupt ending. A Russian undertaker moves house to a more affluent Moscow suburb of predominantly German artisans. Invited to a neighbor’s party, he over-indulges in wine. After taking a proposed toast to his “corpses” as an insult to his profession, he threatens to have his own celebration the next day for those for whom I work: the orthodox dead. He wakes to find that his threat has become a reality. Or has it? Themes: life and death; racial, professional and religious prejudice; insecurity; unethical conduct/cheating.

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The Green Door

The Green Door: Short story by O.Henry.This story by O. Henry provides a mix of adventure, mystery, romance and humor. By day, Rudolf Steiner lives a normal life working in a piano store. At night, he walks the streets looking for adventure. One night, adventure calls in an unusual way. A man standing outside a building hands him a card containing the words: The Green Door. Rudolf goes inside and knocks on the only green door he can find, leading to a series of events that could change his life. Themes include the nature of adventure (risk vs. rewards), chance vs. fate, romance.

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