Momotarō

Momotarō: Japanese folktale from Yei Theodora OzakiIn this famous Japanese folktale, a childless couple’s prayers are answered when a giant peach splits open to reveal a baby boy. The boy grows up to be the strongest and wisest lad in the land and, at fifteen, decides to give his poor parents an easier life by traveling to an island off the Northeast coast of Japan, destroying a band of cannibalistic demons that are terrorizing the land, and bringing back their treasure. Along the way he gathers troupe of anthropomorphic animal friends who, in predictable folktale form, help him easily win the day.

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The Butler

The Butler: Short story by Roald DahlThis story by Roald Dahl is about a newly rich man who tries to buy his way up the social ladder. He employs an expensive butler and French chef and hosts many lavish dinner parties. To impress his guests, he buys some of the world’s best wines and learns a lot about them. What he doesn’t learn about are the things that should and shouldn’t be served with fine wine and how to enjoy it. The butler takes advantage of this, and in so doing puts an end to the rich man’s high society hopes.

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Broken Chain

Broken Chain: Short story by Gary SotoThe major lesson of this story from Gary Soto is that what someone is like on the inside is more important than his or her looks. An insecure seventh-grader is obsessed with his appearance (teeth, V-cut abs, hairstyle and clothes). His outlook on relationships changes when an act of kindness results in a bike-riding “date” with a girl. When his bicycle chain breaks, it looks like the date will be a disaster. Fortunately, his older brother comes to the rescue and the boy experiences his first touch of “love”. Themes: identity vs. appearance, sibling rivalry (jealousy) / brotherly love, courage.

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Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street

Bartleby the Scrivener, A Tale of Wall Street: Novelette by Herman MelvilleHerman Melville’s Bartleby the Scrivener is regarded as a classic of Modern Literature. A major theme is the depression that comes with being alone in the world and lacking a purpose in life. Other themes include exploitation, insensitivity and guilt (the Lawyer), conformity and coping with boring, repetitive work (Turkey and Nipper), alienation, apathy and passive resistance to one’s responsibilities (Bartleby), and loss of hope and the inevitability of death (symbolized by the Dead Letter Office). The Lawyer’s final words, Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!, reflect the irony of Bartleby finding himself in the two worst possible jobs for his disposition.

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The Tractor and the Corn Goddess

The Tractor and the Corn Goddess: Short story by Mulk Raj AnandRenowned Indian writer Mulk Raj Anand was well known for his socialist views. These come to the fore in this tongue-in cheek story about a landowner’s progressive son who returns from overseas with such revolutionary ideas as turning his farm into a villager-owned co-operative and importing a tractor to improve the lives of workers. The focus of the story is the tractor, and the landowner’s ingenious method of overcoming the villagers’ fears and indignation associated with the tractor’s “rape” of their Corn Goddess. Themes: social conscience, change, religious and cultural differences, suspicion, pride.

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La Grande Bretèche

La Grande Bretèche: Short story by Honoré de BalzacIn this story by Honoré de Balzac, an elderly French doctor entertains guests at a dinner party by relating how, by seducing a hotel maid to complete the puzzle, he was able to solve the mystery of a dilapidated, abandoned mansion. Upon completion of his narration the story continues: all the ladies rose from table … But there were some among them who had almost shivered at the last words. Themes include social class, marriage, betrayal, vengeance, and gallantry (on the part of the Spanish noble for the way he faced death without giving his lover away).

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Birthday Box

Birthday Box: Short story by Jane YolenThe main theme of Jane Yolen’s Birthday Box is the need to make the most of one’s life, no matter what happens. The protagonist (Katie) is puzzled by her dying mother’s final birthday gift – an elaborately wrapped empty box. She takes her mother’s mouthed words “It’s you” as meaning “It’s for you” or “It’s yours”. A year later, she realizes her mistake. The birthday box is a symbol of herself: beautiful on the outside, but still empty inside. Her mother’s challenge is to metaphorically fill the box. Not with things, but experiences and achievements. Other themes: compassion, thoughtfulness, motherhood, death.

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The Faith Cure Man

The Faith Cure Man: Short story by Paul DunbarIn this story from Paul Dunbar, a faith healer provides the last hope for a desperate woman who has been told that medical science can do nothing more for her seriously ill daughter. Despite the narrator’s skepticism, the tragic ending neither proves nor disproves the validity of faith healing. Although the mother certainly has the “faith”, the poor child is too young and/or sick to understand or even care about what is happening around her. The major theme of the story is that distraught people are easy prey to those offering false hope. Other themes: love, desperation, hope, faith, death.

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The Mesmerizer

The Mesmerizer: Short story by Mark TwainIn this story taken from the Autobiography of Mark Twain, the author reminisces about a childhood prank that still haunts him in adult life. When a traveling mesmerizer (hypnotist) came to town, young Twain volunteered as a subject to show off before the public … and make the people laugh and shout and admire. His performance was so convincing that he fooled everyone in town. Later in life he comes to regret the deception, but learns that it can sometimes prove very difficult to undo a lie. Themes include showmanship, deception, the temporary nature of fame, cruelty, gullibility.

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Flying Home

Flying-Home: Short story by Ralph EllisonIn this story by Ralph Ellison a young, idealistic black man survives when his plane crashes into a field while training to become an air-force pilot. He has been obsessed with flying since a child, and believes that as a pilot he can dispel common stereotypes about the intelligence and capability of African-Americans. Ironically, although he is angry about the condescending way the air force’s white training officers treat him, he also demonstrates a condescending attitude towards the old black farm hand comforting him while awaiting help. Themes include childhood dreams, racism, injustice, ambition/search for identity, failure, shame, humiliation, anger.

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