Featured Stories

Everything That Rises Must Converge

Everything That Rises Must Converge: Short story by Flannery O'ConnorFlannery O’connor is known for emphasizing her themes through flawed, often thoroughly dislikeable characters. In this story, she has paired a bigoted mother living in the past with a callous, disrespectful son. The son, a college graduate, considers himself intellectually and morally superior to his mother and delights in antagonizing the poor woman. The unfortunate climax comes at the end of a city bus trip when the mother insults her African American “doppelganger” by offering the woman’s young child a penny. Themes include (through Mrs. Chestny) sacrifice, heritage & appearance vs. character, racism; (through Julian) lack of respect, cruelty, self-deception.

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Chivalry

Chivalry: Short story by Neil GaimanThis Neil Gaiman fantasy features a nice old lady with nice friends, who lives in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. She was also living a nice, peaceful life until one day her routine was interrupted by Sir Galahad on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Having recently bought the Grail at an op-shop, the woman refuses Galahad’s offers of the Sword of Invincibility and Apple of (eternal) Life in exchange. Fortunately, the lad finds two other items she thinks would look better on the mantelpiece. Themes include civility and respect, patience, perseverance, and contentment in old age.

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The Story of a Letter

The Story of a Letter: Short story by Carlos BulosanIn this semi-autobiographical story by Carlos Bulosan, a letter written in English in need of translation links two themes: 1) The challenges (language barriers, racism, exploitation and mistreatment) faced by illiterate Filipinos who immigrated to America for a better life during the first half of last Century; 2) The harshness and unpredictability, especially for those on the land, of the life they left behind. Sadly, most of their families at home will rarely, if ever, hear from them again. Other themes include family, community, the importance of education, expectations vs. reality, resilience, perseverance.

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The Goodness of Matt Kaizer

The Goodness of Matt Kaizer: Short story by Edward Wortis (aka Avi)This story from Edward Wortis (aka Avi) is about “the baddest” member of a small group of troublesome sixth graders. Matt is constantly trying to prove how bad he is by taking on dares. His father, a church minister, does not seem greatly concerned by this in the belief that one day Matt will change. A dare that goes horribly wrong (or right depending how you look at it) proves his father correct. Themes: peer pressure, pride, good vs. evil, forgiveness. The story’s message: nobody is born bad; there is the potential for goodness in everyone.

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A Tale of the Tontlawald

A Tale of the Tontlawald: Estonian Folktale from Andrew LangAs is all too often the case in folk and fairy tales, the central plot here involves a young girl who is badly treated by a cruel stepmother, has a series of adventures, marries a handsome prince, and lives happily ever after. The big difference here is that the finds refuge and friendship in Tontlawald, a vast stretch of moorland on which no man ever dared set foot. To her surprise, she learns that it is a magical fairyland where people never age. When she outgrows the playmate who discovered her, she is told that she must leave.

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My Father Goes to Court

My Father Goes to Court: Short story by Carlos BulosanThe message of this Carlos Bulosan story is that money can’t buy health and happiness. The children of a poor family, full of vitality and laughter, spend a lot of time playing outdoors. Their rich neighbor, who keeps his children secluded indoors, files a legal complaint against the poor family for standing outside his house and enjoying the aroma of his food. Their father goes to court and uses a novel approach to win the case. Themes include family, social inequality, standing up for one’s rights, justice, the importance of fresh air, exercise and laughter for a healthy, happy life.

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Mista Courifer

Mista Courifer: Short story by Adelaide Casely-HayfordSet in Sierra Leone, this story by Adelaide Casely-Hayford highlights how colonialism caused many people in occupied countries to abandon their cultural heritage as either a survival tactic or to “get on” in colonial society. Mista Courifer, a proud coffin-maker and lay preacher is obsessed with adopting a British lifestyle, no matter how impractical or uncomfortable it may be. His world falls apart when his son, who has been brought up to do the same, decides to live in a mud hut and wear traditional dress. Themes include colonialism, cultural ambivalence, identity, mimicry/pretence, hypocrisy, generational independence/rebellion

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The Time Machine

The Time Machine: Novella by H. G. WellsIn this H. G. Wells classic, a Victorian era scientist who invents a time machine and travels over 800,000 years into the future finds a disintegrating world. Mankind has devolved into two species: the care-free, childlike Eloi (descendants of the elite) who live above ground in crumbling cities, and the aggressive, ape-like Morlocks (descendants of the working class) who live in perpetual darkness underground. He soon learns the gruesome secret of their co-existence. Themes include time travel, technology and “progress”, inequality and social class (the capitalist divide), the decline of humanity, love and kindness, entropy and decay.

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