1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Contemporary Literature

Short Story

By Mark Flanagan, About.com

Definition: A short story is a brief work of fiction. It usually contains one major conflict and often only one major character. Its brevity usually suggests concise narration and limited setting.
Examples:
"The Things They Carried" is a collection of short stories by Tim O'Brien that catalogs the variety of tangible and intangible things the soldiers of Alpha Company brought on their missions during the Vietnam War.

More Literary Terms Defined
 
 

Explore Contemporary Literature

About.com Special Features

The Best Top 40 Pop Songs

Is your favorite song on our list? More >

New TV Dramas

Get a jump on all the new dramas coming soon to your living room. More >

  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Contemporary Literature
  4. Literary Glossary
  5. Short Story>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.