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Cumulative Plots and The Fifth Story by Clarice Lispector
“The Fifth Story” (1964) is a work of microfiction by Ukraine-born Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector (1920-1977). I tend to analyse short stories by looking at their dramatic arc, but what of a story like this? Surely “The Fifth Story” does not fit traditional ideas of what makes a complete narrative. I also love when I read a […]
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Talking About Story Pacing
Narratologists have come up with a variety of ways of talking about the pacing of a story.
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The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte Analysis
If you like playing Red Dead Redemption, if you enjoyed The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, I recommend “The Outcasts of Poker Flat”, a short story by Bret Harte, published in the late 1800s as the century was coming to a close.
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The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce Analysis
Hard to remember now, but ‘damned’ used to be a full on swear word. A teacher at high school once pounced on me for using it (though by the 1990s I think she was being ridiculous). ‘Damned’ was certainly shocking 100 years earlier than that, in 1893, when Ambrose Bierce published his horror short story […]
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What Is Remembered by Alice Munro Short Story Analysis
“What Is Remembered” by Alice Munro appears in the print edition of the February 19, 2001, issue of The New Yorker. It was also published in the collection Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage. Looking back as an old lady, this short story focuses on several days across one young woman’s life in which she hooks up […]
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Tobermory Short Story by Saki Analysis
“Tobermory” is a short story by Hector Hugh Munro, otherwise known as Saki. Anyone with a pet has probably wondered what that pet would say to you if it could talk. Many children’s stories have this premise, and this particular wish fulfilment fantasy. We imagine if our pets could talk they would say satisfying things. […]
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Old Man Minick by Edna Ferber Analysis
“Old Man Minick” is a short story by Edna Ferber, published 1922. A widower learns how to live contentedly after his wife dies unexpectedly before he does. WHAT HAPPENS IN “OLD MAN MINICK” Set in Chicago in the early 20th century, nearish the union stock yards, which were infamous for their stink. There’s mention of […]
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Humour in the Nancy Cartoons by Olivia Jaimes
I really like Scott Dikkers’ taxonomy of humour categories. Today I’m taking a closer look at why the new Nancy cartoons by the pseudonymous Olivia Jaimes work so well for so many. In short, why are these minimalist snapshots funny?
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Alice Munro, Queenie & Coercive Control
One remarkable thing about Alice Munro: her ability to see aspects of psychology which only drew public attention decades later. In “The Bear Came Over The Mountain” we have a beautiful character study of a philandering man and, his self-justification for wrong-doing and what has since been called sexual solipsism. In “Queenie” Munro paints a picture of what the authorities…
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Writing Activity: Describe A View From A Moving Vehicle
When conveying the movement of the vehicle, Lists and Repetition as Storytelling Technique may come in handy. Now on the streetcar going to Lena’s place I couldn’t stop the stupidity. I said, “Are we still downtown?’”The high buildings had been quickly left behind but I didn’t think you could call this area residential. The same […]
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The Bear Came Over The Mountain by Alice Munro Short Story Analysis
“The Bear Came Over The Mountain” is one of the 25 Alice Munro Stories You Can Read Online Right Now. (There’s a possible paywall.) Sarah Polley adapted this short story for film. The film is called Away From Her. This story was first published in The New Yorker (December 27, 1999 and January 3rd, 2000). THE TITLE OF […]
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The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Storytelling
So much has been said about Narnia already. Can I add a single thing to the corpus by blogging about storytelling techniques in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe? Probably not, but my 10-year-old is studying this novel at school. She’s home sick today. I know the rest of her class is watching the […]
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Notes On A Quiet Place Film
A Quiet Place is a suspenseful 2018 film directed by John Krasinski, also starring John Krasinski. John Kransinski shares a writing credit with two other guys. A Quiet Place is one of those films where if you see the trailer, you’ve seen the whole film. So don’t watch the trailer if you intend to see […]
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Champion by Ring Lardner Analysis
“Champion” is a short story about boxing by Ringgold Lardner, who was an American sports columnist as well as a short story writer. He had three main subjects: sports, marriage and theatre. The story was first published in October 1916, Metropolitan magazine. Lardner’s family was wealthy, he had to wear a brace on his foot […]
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The Wrestler Film Analysis: Appearance vs. Reality
The Wrestler (2008) directed by Darren Aronofsky remains one of the best, and also one of the saddest, films I’ve seen. Australia’s Margaret and David both gave the film five out of five stars. Logline: A faded professional wrestler must retire, but finds his quest for a new life outside the ring a dispiriting struggle. […]