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 takes place in “the graveyard shift at WorldMart” and follows the protagonist as they find a zombie while working in the store (Yu 35). The entire story unfolds consecutively in the store, without any skips in time. The plot of “First Person Shooter” is also simple enough – finding a zombie lady within the store and escorting her out in what seems to be a post-apocalyptic world. This simple plot is fitting for a short story because of the brief nature of the text style itself. “First Person Shooter” definitely seems to conform to the writing style of short stories.

Another feature of short stories is that they do not always tell the entire story, either jumping directly into an action scene or by cutting off abruptly on a cliffhanger. “First Person Shooter” incorporated the former feature in the story, beginning with “Janine is on line four. ‘There is a finger in Housewares.’” (Yu 35). From this abrupt opening, the reader is immediately brought into the plot of the story, and the use of dialogue helps Yu open the story perfectly. The story then continues following the plot, never really providing much background. Readers are left wondering what the context behind the “WorldMart” is, and how or why there are zombies that roam the store. However, the story concludes with a sense of closure, where Yu writes “Janine and I stand and watch … be on the inside” (Yu 40). By the end of the story, the zombie lady has left, the plot is resolved, and the narrator and Janine return to their jobs. Alternatively, in longer forms of writing, there would likely be more of a buildup before an introduction into the main plotline. For example, characters could be introduced first, or even given some backstory before the story progresses. 

Another common feature many short stories share are themes. For example, stories we’ve read like “The Machine Stops” by E.M. Forster warns of the overreliance on technology, or how “The Comet” by W.E.B. DuBois demonstrates the role of racism in a post-apocalyptic world. However, I think that “First Person Shooter” actually lacks a common theme. I wasn’t able to identify an overall theme from the story, and it seemed to just follow a silly plotline. The story’s purpose seemed to be solely for entertainment, rather than to display a message. Although I think “First Person Shooter” lacks a common theme, it can still be classified as a short story, since it still does include many other features that are typically found within short stories.

Overall, the genre of short stories typically follows a few general guidelines, including few characters, a simple plot, and a setting that often lacks context. “First Person Shooter” includes many of these literary components, and is a great example of a short story.