Resading test - Italian MCQ

Determining the Definition of a Short Story:

1. The Short Story as a Crafted Form:
- Short stories are a distinct form of literature with their own unique characteristics.
- They utilize plot, resonance, and other dynamic components similar to novels but to a lesser degree.
- Authors draw from a common pool of literary techniques when writing short stories.

2. The Difficulty of Defining a Short Story:
- Defining a short story has been a recurring challenge for scholars and writers.
- Edgar Allan Poe famously stated that a short story should be able to be read in one sitting.
- H.G. Wells described the purpose of a short story as creating something bright, moving, and time-efficient to read aloud.
- William Faulkner believes that a short story is character-driven and the writer's role is to capture the characters' actions and words.

3. Different Views on the Structure of a Short Story:
- Some authors argue that a short story must have a strict form, including a plot with a point of departure, climax, and resolution.
- Somerset Maugham and Hugh Walpole both emphasize the importance of a well-designed plot in a short story.
- However, Anton Chekov believed that a short story should be a "slice of life" without a defined beginning or end, leaving interpretation to the readers.

4. Definitions of a Short Story:
- Sukumar Azhikode defines a short story as a brief prose narrative with an intense episodic or anecdotal effect.
- Flannery O'Connor highlights the need to consider the descriptor "short" in defining a short story.
- Short story writers may consider their works as personal and artistic expressions, resisting genre categorization and fixed formations.

5. William Boyd's Perspective:
- British author and short story writer William Boyd also offers his perspective on defining a short story.
- However, the text does not provide any information about his specific viewpoint on the matter.

In conclusion, the definition of a short story is a subject of ongoing debate. While there are various perspectives on its structure and characteristics, it is generally agreed that a short story is a distinct form of literature with its own unique elements.