Short Blog about a Short Story
At its core, short stories are those that can be read within one sitting. However, there are many other subcomponents that characterize short stories. Some of these pieces include a small number of characters, few major events, and a minimal or underdeveloped setting. In addition, short stories can have more abrupt introductions and conclusions than other forms of writing may have. Another characteristic many short stories have is some sort of concrete theme or takeaway for the readers. Many short stories include these general ‘criteria’ that comprise the short story genre, and “First Person Shooter” by Charles Yu is no different. The story fits most of these qualities but also deviates from some components as well. Starting with the story setting, Brander Matthews characterized a short story as one that “shows one action, in one place, on one day”. While all of these qualities may not be present in every short story, they are certainly present within “First Person Shooter”. The story ...