Below, there are 15 short stories for independent appreciation. For an exhausting and effective analysis, revise the information given in Units 1-7 (Part I) and add the following points to the suggested scheme of story analysis:
1. Tone What tone/atmosphere is created in the story?
Does it sound funny/amusing/sad/horrifying/lyrical/etc.? How do you feel it?
Are there any emotionally coloured words? What emotions do they convey?
Does the emotive key change as the story progresses? In what way?
How are the characters described/introduced in the story? Which characters are sympathetic to the author/the reader and which are not? Why?
2. Symbolism Are there any objects/details in the story that have a symbolic quality? What are they?
What is their significance in the story?
What ideas do the symbols help to reveal?
Do they help to characterize the personages? In what way?
3. Title What meanings of the word(s) used as the title do you know? Which meaning is relevant in the story under analysis?
Which function(s) does the title perform? Is it a symbol? Does it help to disclose a character? Does it focus on an important detail/event?
What does the author try to communicate through the title? How is it linked with the story’s themes and concerns?