Featured Stories

The Master Cat; or, Puss in Boots

The Master Cat; or, Puss in Boots: European Folktale from Charles ParraultPuss in Boots is sometimes criticized for the mixed message it sends to children. Derived from a 14th Century Italian folktale, a clever cat helps its slow-witted master win the heart of a princess through trickery, lies, threats and theft. To condemn the story because of this seems a little unfair, since folklore is full of likeable tricksters whose crimes are far worse than the cat’s. These characters often play an important role, challenging traditional beliefs through satire. Here, the cat’s actions show up both the greed and gullibility of the king and the shallowness of his daughter.

Continue ReadingThe Master Cat; or, Puss in Boots

The Age of Lead

The Age of Lead: Short story by Margaret AtwoodIn this story by Margaret Atwood, a frozen 150-year-old body buried in the permafrost provides a lesson for the living. The story uses the solution to mystery cause of death of members of the ill-fated Franklin Expedition to highlight the dangers of consumerism and modern technology such as soil and water pollution, toxic waste and acid rain. The issues are brought home in the parallel story involving the the protagonist’s frustrating relationship with her eccentric, possibly gay lifetime friend who dies of an unknown viral infection. Themes include tragedy, side effects of consumerism and technology, individuality, friendship/unfulfilled love.

Continue ReadingThe Age of Lead

Ann and the Cow

Ann and the Cow: Quick Read by Johannes V. JensenIn this story by Johannes Jensen, an old woman stands knitting beside her cow at a Danish fair. The cow is in good condition and soon comes to the interest of buyers. Several men ask how much she wants for it, but to each she replies It is not for sale. People begin to gossip about her, and one man accuses her of coming to the fair to make fun of people. She hasn’t, and has a good reason for being there. Themes include isolation and loneliness, human-animal connection, poverty, the plight of the rural elderly.

Continue ReadingAnn and the Cow

Morphine

Morphine: Novelette by Mikhail BulgakovIn this story by Mikhail Bulgakov, a young Russian doctor receives a plea to visit a gravely ill classmate practicing in a nearby country town. Before he has a chance to leave, the friend is brought to his hospital suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As he dies, the friend bequeaths him a notebook from which we learn of his problem (morphine addiction), how he strove and failed to overcome it, and how it gradually destroyed his life and the hopes of a nurse who loved him. Themes include isolation and loneliness, addiction, self-delusion, deception and manipulation, despair, suicide.

Continue ReadingMorphine

The Ambitious Guest

The Ambitious Guest: Short story by Nathaniel HawthorneBased on a true event, this Nathaniel Hawthorne story illustrates the power of nature and the futility of man in trying to best it. A young man stops at an inn high on a mountain pass and boasts to the family inside about his ambition to do something great to be remembered by. Above the inn are towering mountains from which rocks and boulders are frequently dislodged. The family have built a safe house nearby in the event of an avalanche, but when the ‘slide’ comes, nature wins. Other themes include hubris, ambition, contentment, connection, fate.

Continue ReadingThe Ambitious Guest

Odour of Chrysanthemums

Odour of Chrysanthemums: Short story by D. H. LawrenceD. H. Lawrence’s Odour of Chrysanthemums begins with an introduction to a woman living in a coal-mining village who feels trapped in an unhappy world of her husband’s making. Although her father is working-class (an engine-driver), her speech and behavior suggest that she aspires to a better life. The accidental death of her husband (a miner) triggers an epiphany in which she realizes that they never really knew each other, and that their problems were equally of her own making. The main theme is superficial (physical) attraction vs. love. Other themes: industrialization, social class, sex roles, isolation, mother-child connections, death.

Continue ReadingOdour of Chrysanthemums

Diary of a Madman

Diary of a Madman: Short story by Lu Xun.Lu Xun‘s diarist suffers from paranoia, stemming from strange looks he thinks he is getting from fellow villagers. On learning of an act of ritual cannibalism in a neighboring village, he concludes that those around him, including his own brother, are planning to make a meal of him. The story has several interpretations. The most common is that it satirizes the outdated Confucian traditions of Chinese feudal society. An opposing view is that it cautions the May Fourth period’s New Culture Movement against indiscriminately overturning (eating) all past traditions. Themes: madness, cannibalism, tradition, betrayal.

Continue ReadingDiary of a Madman

A Respectable Woman

A Respectable Woman: Short story by Kate ChopinKate Chopin’s ‘respectable woman’ is unhappy when her husband invites an old school friend to visit instead of spending time together. She decides to be polite but not friendly towards the man but, despite her efforts, feels a growing sexual attraction towards him. Months later, after visiting an Aunt for the remainder of his stay, she suggests to her husband that his friend be invited again, telling him: I have overcome everything! Overcome what? Does she plan to remain a ‘respectable woman’? Themes include female sexuality, desire vs. self-restraint, infidelity vs. loyalty and social conventions, identity (quest for selfhood).

Continue ReadingA Respectable Woman