The American Short Story: from Edgar Allan Poe to Flannery O'Connor

About this course

The course examines the development of the American short story, from Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain through writers including Dorothy Parker, O. Henry, Carson McCullers and Flannery O’Connor. It considers genres such as Gothic, detective, science fiction, realism, satire and modernism, alongside the influence of the magazine market. Teaching combines tutor presentations with small-group and whole-class discussion. Learners will closely study passages and consider genre, character, setting, structure, plotting, representations of consciousness and the relationship between texts and their social, political and literary contexts.

What you'll learn

• Explain key stages in the origins and development of the American short story.
• Examine how magazine publishing influenced the range and circulation of short stories.
• Identify narrative techniques used to represent society, customs and politics.
• Compare how Gothic, realism, satire and modernism depict individual and collective experience.
• Assess different interpretations in relation to the production and reception of literary texts.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for Improver-level learners, with some previous experience of studying literature described as useful rather than required. Participation includes reading, close analysis and discussion in small groups and with the whole class. Learners should be willing to consider differing approaches to interpretation and listen to other views.

• Includes independent reading between classes.
• Requires engagement with differing literary interpretations.
• Combines individual textual study with group discussion.

Before you go

• An anthology and supporting extracts will be provided by the tutor.
• Learners are expected to read the texts in full and use guided reading materials to support independent study.
• Key extracts will be provided in advance of the class.