The Short Story as Genre

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the various definitions of short stories that have been put forth over time by authors and experts in the field of literature and considers whether these definitions adequately prove that the short story can be considered a genre. The paper discusses the features of a short story that these authors and experts describe but concludes that, after all is said and done, there is no definitive feature of a short story that puts it in a genre by itself.

From the Paper:

"A standard definition would allow readers to distinguish the short-story genre from a multiplicity of other genres. Additionally, the definition would enable readers to recognize similarities between genres: tragedy, the essay, the sonnet, but also verse narratives, so-called natural narratives, myths, jokes, anecdotes, or news stories, novels, short novels, annals, long stories, scientific reports, and plot summaries. Still, no such definition seems to exist."

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