The Shroud / Kafan

The Shroud / Kafan: Short story by PremchandThis dark comedy by Premchand follows father and son Chamars (one of the Dalit or “untouchable” sub-castes) as they go to buy a funeral shroud for the son’s deceased wife. The lazy but likeable pair, who will do anything to shirk work, end up spending donated shroud money on a boozy night in town. The story satirizes the caste system by pointing out that those who can never rise above their low birth position have little incentive to do more than ensure their survival. Themes include social class, callousness, indolence, tradition, selfishness, exploitation (of the generosity of others).

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Hermann the Irascible (Story of the Great Weep)

Hermann the Iracible: Short story by SakiThis story by Saki is a classic example of the use of reverse psychology to achieve a desired result… in this case, shutting down the women’s suffrage movement. The story first appeared in 1909 at the height of mass demonstrations of both men and women in support of the cause. I have seen some suggestions that the story trivializes women’s rights. This misses the point that Saki’s use of satire is so “over the top” here that, rather than mocking suffrage, the story highlights and supports it. Themes include human rights, tyranny, manipulation through excess.

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Under the Banyan Tree

Under the Banyan Tree: Short story by R. K. NarayanThis story by R. K. Narayan starts by contrasting the village of Somal’s poor utilities and sanitation practices with the almost idyllic existence of its inhabitants. Set before the coming of electronic media, the only regular source of entertainment is Nambi, the village storyteller. As de-facto village priest, Nambi is also the focal point of its culture and traditions. Sadly, he is getting old. He forgets prepared stories, and has difficulty coming up with new material. Fortunately, he has the good sense to make his ‘greatest’ story his last. Themes include storytelling, community, aging, knowing when to stop, spirituality..

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Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push

Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push: Short story by W. D. MyersThere are two “dreams” in this inspirational story by W. D. Myers. The first is a father’s dream that his son follow in his footsteps and become a competitive basketball player; the second is the boy’s dream to be able to overcome his disability and return to the game. The “pushes” come when the boy is invited to join a wheelchair team, and the father overcomes his feelings of guilt and decides to help the team. Themes: guilt, courage, maintaining a positive attitude, family, father-son bonding, team spirit, how trying and doing one’s best is more important than winning.

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The Outsider

The Outsider: Short story by H. P. LovecraftH. P. Lovecraft was a pioneer of cosmic horror, a sub-genre in which gothic settings and “other-worldly” elements replace shock and gore. A feature of his writing is nightmare-like plot twists that defy logic or reason. Here, a man grows up alone in a decaying castle set among frightening woods. When he climbs the crumbling castle tower to look further afield, he finds a stone slab that leads to an earth-like world above the clouds. He is excited to encounter other people, but soon learns a frightening truth. Themes include alternative reality, isolation and loneliness, social rejection, alienation, self-discovery.

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The Challenge

The Challenge: Short story by Gary SotoIn Gary Soto’s The Challenge, a young boy looking for romance learns how NOT to impress girls. Rather than being himself, he tries to prove how good he is: first academically by acing a history quiz, and later through a boastful lie and ill-fated racquet ball game. His sexist opinion that winning against a girl should be easy sets him up for an embarrassing fall. Ironically, if he had been confident enough to talk a little more with the girl, he might have learned the origin of her nickname and spared himself some pain. Themes: shyness, being yourself, dishonesty, sexism.

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Papa, What Does that Spell?

Papa, What Does that Spell?: Short story by Vasily AksyonovIn this story by Vasily Aksyonov (Aksenov), a Russian factory worker reviews his life and relationships as he spends a day with his six-year-old daughter while his wife is at a “meeting”. He is growing apart from a once close-knit group of childhood friends, and faces a growing gap with his wife who is completing a doctoral degree and may be having an affair. In an epiphany, he realizes that being there for his daughter as she grows up is the most important thing in the world. Themes include childhood innocence, fatherhood, social relationships, marriage disconnect, deceit.

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Apollo

Apollo: Short story by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieThe major themes of this story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are aging, parent-child relationships, class, sexuality, jealousy and betrayal. A young Nigerian man is reminded of a time when, thanks to a shared interest in martial arts, he had bonded with one of his family’s houseboys (Raphael). Despite their differences in age and social class, the two spent hours practicing moves and mock fighting whenever his parents were away. For the boy, the relationship changes when Raphael contracts Apollo (conjunctivitis) and is confined to his room. Later, jealousy leads to betrayal with dire consequences for poor Raphael’s future.

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Counterfeit Bills

Counterfeit Bills: Short story by Richard MathesonRichard Matheson is renowned for his novels and traditional short stories in the fantasy, horror and science fiction genres. This is one of his few published flash stories, and the fact that it is a spoof of the science fiction cloning model makes it especially interesting. The story is based on the premise of how nice it would be to have a ‘double’ to carry out all the mundane tasks in your life, so you could spend all your time going out and having fun. Despite (or perhaps thanks to) the corny puns, it is a very enjoyable Quick Read.

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A Simple Heart / Soul

Seventh Grade: Short story by Gary SotoSet in nineteenth century France, this story by Gustav Flaubert portrays the life of an uneducated, simple-minded country girl who lives through fifty years of drudgery as house servant to a “disagreeable” woman who has fallen on hard times. The girl’s story evokes feelings of both admiration and sympathy: Admiration for her loyalty, piety, kindness and failure to give in to despair; Sympathy for her shameless exploitation, history of disappointment and loss, and misery and suffering approaching death. Themes: innocence; duty, faith and virtue; love and compassion; social class; wealth, poverty and exploitation; suffering, loss and death.

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