Modem Iranian Literature： The Historical and Present Development of the Short Story Genre

The following article is about the historical overview of the Persian literature and the emergence and development of the short story as a literary genre and its prominent role in the modem literature of Iran. It discusses the origin of the short story in general and preconditions for the popularity of the new genre the Iranian literature of the 20th century, and also about the first successful collection of short stories that introduced it to the public. Also the development process of the short story and principle factors in every stage of its emergence as an independent genre of prose, as well as the thematic range are the main aspects among others to be analyzed in the article. It is historically documented that the Islamic state was established in 1979 after the fall of the Shah. And the very event had big impact not only on the social and political life of the country, but also on the cultural and literary life of the Iranians of the time. The significance of the revolution was such that it divided the literature to be known as the ＂pre-revolution＂ and ＂post-revolution＂ periods. Therefore this article is aimed to observe how this historic event had influenced the short story in particular and the distinct features of the works created during the two periods. The next period which stands out in the development of the short story is during the late 90s and the beginning of the 2000, where the genre experienced aesthetic innovations and experiments with new forms and styles. The distinct feature of the period is mainly in its topics it deals, among other the effects of the globalization and popular culture brought forth, isolated individual, urbanization, climate change and its destructive outcome and the social conflicts resulting from them. Such global issues caused the established writers to look out of their borders and open up to the concerns of the planet, and by doing so establishing new schools of thought and style among the writers of short story in modem Iranian literature. Finally the article will overview the role of the Iranian contemporary female short story writers, children＇s literature and the works of the immigrant Iranian authors that continue the traditions of the Persian literature outside Irma.

Supernatural Elements in Kipling＇s ＂The Mark on the Beast＂, Conan Doyle＇s ＂Lot No. 249＂, and Wells＇ ＂The Truth About Peycraft＂： The Gothic Short Story as Voicing and Exorcising Late Victorian Crisis

The aim of this paper is the analysis of the supernatural elements in Kipling＇s ＂The Mark on The Beast＂ （1890） Conan Doyle＇s ＂Lot No. 249＂ （1892）, and Wells＇ ＂The Truth about Peycraft＂ （1903） conceived of as the expression of the revitalisation of the Gothic imagery which, through the short story, serve to voice and exorcise late Victorian crisis, de-Constructing late Victorian identity. First, the complex nature of late Victorian Britain crisis will be deepened. Second, the short story will be focused on as an independent genre from the novel which mostly epitomized Fin de Si6cle literary fantastic discourse. Finally, the short stories will be investigated as textual examples of what Brantlinger （1988） defined as Imperial Gothic, instrumental in voicing and exorcising the pressures of late Victorian crisis

Analysis on Democratic Consciousness ofLin Shu＇s Short Story

Lin Shu is a famous translator in the early period of China, and his translation opens up the road for Chinese intellectuals to understand the westem literature. In translating the western literature works, Lin Shu himself also began to engage in the creation of novels. Among them, the short story turns to be more complicated in the ideological tendency. Lin Shu＇ s simple democratic consciousness has been fully displayed in it, and it mainly reflects in the three aspects of exposing and criticizing of dark reality, gallant spirit publicity and free marriage praise.

A Comment on Frank O'Connor's Short Story "The Man of the House

This is moving story of a boy's growing up and of the deep love between Mother and

Enactments of Identity in the New Zealand Short Story

New Zealand, as a nation, has been in existence for less than two cen- turies-whether one dates its assumption of sovereignty to the 1835 Declaration of Independence by the Confederation of United Tribes, the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown, or its attainment of Dominion status in 1907. The question of a separate cultural identity for this post-colonial, multi-cultural country has therefore always been a complex one, and one which has had a strong influence on much of our artistic expression to date： particularly, perhaps because of its inherent tendency towards the self-analysis only really possible within language, literature. The fact that our most famous locally born writer to date, Katherine Mansfield, specialised in the short story has certainly helped to establish that as a vital genre here. This paper accordingly takes four successive anthologies of local short fiction--Frank Sargeson＇s Speaking for Ourselves （1945）, Michael Morris- sey＇s The New Fiction （1985）, Warwick Bennett and Patrick Hudson＇s Rutherford＇s Dreams （1995）, and Tina Shaw and Jack Ross＇s Myth of the twenty-firstCentury （2006）--and attempts to characterise their respective, overlapping visions of New Zealand identity by conducting a close reading of a representative story from each of them. The essay concludes with a call for a new anthology which might attempt to give expression to this series of gradual erosions of our initial cultural certainties into something more adequate to the realities of our place in the world, both geo- graphically and culturally.

The Bloomsbury Short Story

This article examines the importance of the short story form for the Bloomsbury writers and how their aesthetic theories influenced its composition, structure and content. Often overlooked in the history of the genre, the Bloomsbury short story has a claim to be an important aspect of the twentieth-century accounts of the short story form. Attention to Virginia and Leonard Woolf, Katherine Mansfield, Vita Sackville- West, E.M. Forster and others, such as Arnold Bennett and D.H. Lawrence, indicates their widespread engagement with the genre and the ways in which they treated it from fragmented conversation, as in Woolf s ＂The String Quartet,＂ to Foster＇s employment of linear narrative detail in ＂The Road from Colonus.＂ Formal experiments with syntax, imagery, and vocabulary and prose rhythm exhibit the seriousness of the short story for Bloomsbury authors. The influence of the Russians is particularly important with Che- kov dominating the reading and writing of Woolf, Mansfield, Lawrence and others. The very form of publication--mostly journals and magazines--is also crucial in shaping the length and structure of the short story. Attention to experimentation, as well as renewal, of the genre balances the impact of the short story on writers today and the question of a successor to the efforts and achievements of Bloomsbury＇s authors. A reading of the short stories of Julian Barnes explores this possibility.

A Future for the Short Story

An interview with short story writer Jiang Yitan对话短篇小说作家蒋一谈Publishing his annual story collections has garnered Jiang Yitan significant literary acclaim over the past five years.A decade ago it was his three full-length novels that drew readers’attention,but it is undeniably his recent career as a short story writer that has put him firmly in

A Survey of Major English Versions of Lu Xun’s Short Stories in the 20th Century

Lu Xun(1881-1936)has been acclaimed father of modern Chinese literature.He is the first writer to use the vernacular to write fiction.His stories have laid a solid foundation for the development of modern Chinese fiction.Call to Arms(1923)and Wandering(1926)represent the greatest achievement of Chinese story-writing at that time.His short stories are not only profound in thinking,but also worthy of admiration for their great value and innovation in art.Since the 1920’s,Lu Xun’s stories have been translated into various languages and published throughout the world,enjoying an international reputation.Only their English versions in the 20th century are discussed within this paper.These versions are different with various features,especially in dealing with Chinese traditional culture according to different purposes and towards different English readers.

A Study on Katherine Anne Porter’s Short Stories and Narrative Techniques

Katherine Anne Porter is a prominent figure in American literary history,particularly excelling in the realm of short stories as a novelist and stylist.This paper studies her short stories,combined with her growth and life experience,from the revolutionary independence of youth to middle-aged female consciousness to the old age of home-sick and miss to relatives,Katherine Anne Porter reveals a sense of loneliness and desire.Her exquisite writing style,agile language,psychological character portrait,gives a picture of the specific history and social changes under her thoughts and life insight.

A Survey of Feautures of Three English Versions of Lu Xun’s Short Stories

Lu Xun(1881-1936)has been acclaimed father of modern Chinese literature.He is the first writer to use the vernacular to write fiction.His stories have laid a solid foundation for the development of modern Chinese fiction.Call to Arms(1923)and Wandering(1926)represent the greatest achievement of Chinese story-writing at that time.Since the 1920’s,Lu Xun’s stories have been translated into various languages and published throughout the world,enjoying an international reputation.The three English versions chosen are different with various features,especially in dealing with Chinese traditional culture according to different purposes and towards different English readers.

Discussion of the Realistic Tendency in Contemporary American Short Fiction

In the post World War Ⅱ decades, there is a strong realistic trend in American Short stories. The great achievement made by the new realistic short stories has contributed much to the post war flourishing of American short fiction as a whole. In this essay, the mjaor works in this trend are brought under the discussion.

Characterization of Intellectuals in Short Stories ofNam Cao （Viemam） and Lu Xun （China）

Nam Cao and Lu Xun are among high-profile writers who gain wide appreciation. The movements of literary assert this over the latter half of recent century in our country. That reality persistently points us to an urgent need for researches on Nam Cao and Lu Xun. Tints of literary worldviews of Nam Cao and Lu Xun, though upon which numberless research works, both domestic and foreign, have provided multi-directional insights and exploration of artistic creativities, remain misevaluated. B ich Thu, the author of Nam Cao, His Life and Legacies, counted out 191 articles and books themed Nam Cao. They were edited by writers of Nam Cao＇s generation namely Nguyen Huy Tuong, Nguyen Dinh Thi, To Hoai and Nguyen Hong, and even distinguished scholars such as Ha Minh Duc, Phong Le and Nguyen Dang Manh, so on. Regarding Lu Xun, there is no denying the fact of his brilliant artistic ideology. Although Vietnamese readers have gained a late knowledge of him for just a half of century, his name is laid somewhere in the heart of our people, integrally and consistently. Vietnam＇s reader generations restlessly learn about and research on Lu Xun. A pioneering merit badge should be rewarded to the renowned literary critic Dang Thai Mai, for his introduction and translation of Lu Xun to Vietnamese readers since 1943. The most interesting coincidence of Nam Cao and Lu Xun is that their profiles are imbued with the characters in their compositions. Mentioning Lu Xun cannot help a reference to AQ, meanwhile the name ofNam Cao apparently recalls a Philistine Chi. AQ as well as Philistine Chi have become characters of the society＇s spiritual life and long live with the eternal brilliance of their two creators. That coincidence draws countless number of researchers. The ＂matching point＂, referring to the subject of farmers and intellectuals, between Nam Cao and Lu Xun＇s works has been explored to some certain extent. This elicitly invites us for deeper studies. The author of this article, in response to such invitation, delves into the subject with respect to characterization of intellectuals in Nam Cao and Lu Xun＇s short stories.

A Brief Discussion of Contemporary American Realistic Short Stories

On the contemporary scene of American literature, realism remains one of the main modes of expressions. Apart form realistic thematic concerns, the American post war realistic short fiction also exhibits its nature by successful portrayal of a whole gallery of typical characters. In this essay, some major works are brought under the discussion.

The Interpretation of Young Goodman Brown from the Perspective of Gothic Writing Style

Since the appearance of the Gothic novel in the late 18 th century, the usage of Gothic elements has been applied to the creation of literary works, and it has influenced many excellent writers. Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the outstanding representatives. His short story Young Goodman Brown was regarded as"one of the ten best stories written by an American"by Stephen King.Young Goodman Brown will be interpreted from the perspective of Gothic style to appreciate its unique Gothic beauty.Through the analysis of the Gothic elements reflected in Young Goodman Brown, more readers will pay attention to the charm of Hawthorne's short story, and show that Gothic novels with its terrifying atmosphere give readers a new visual experience, digging the hidden evil as well as calling for goodness of humanity.

How the Voices in Scenes Are Conveyed-Reading Ge Liang's Short Stories

The short stories written by Ge Liang are simple yet sophisticated,always revealing a slice of life through plain narration.His short stories not only allow one to trace the“pioneering”influence of Su Tong but also carry Su Tong's unique writing style and characteristics.It seems that Ge Liang is able to offer insight into the softest part of humanity,narrating fatalistic yet hardworking characters.His stories are written in a detailed and authentic style,exhibiting the literary memory of a young southern writer in a“more southern”region with a“southern imaginary”form linked to writers of Su Tong's generation.This form includes cultural,geographical,and daily life features.Every life detail and the aesthetic style contained has become the basic tone and color of Ge Liang's writing,forming a literary narrative with a distinct style.

Beyond the Voices We Hear:Diversified Focalization Modes in the Yueyue Xiaoshuo Short Stories,1906-9

The last two decades have revealed new significance in the late Qing fiction in the transformation of Chinese literature,which has convincingly challenged the long-held discourse that a group of writers associated with the May Fourth New Literature Movement in the late 1910s fundamentally broke with the literary tradition and became the forerunners of modern Chinese literature.This article studies the short stories published in the popular literary magazine Yueyue xiaoshuo(also known as All-Story Monthly,1906-9)and finds out that the narrative approaches adopted in the short stories are diverse and experimental,breaking from the preceding customs.While examining the narrative approaches in the short stories,this paper focuses on the aspect of focalization.Adopting the idea of focalization mode as an observatory point is particularly useful for discussing short stories in All-Story Monthly,because the diversified and flexible arrangement of observatory positions and the selection of the narrative information(such as a character’s appearance,action,and speech)to be presented are exactly crucial aspects in which the short stories display marked innovation or modification of the traditional narrative modes.

On the Art of Ouyang Qiansen's Short Stories

I came to know the works of Ouyang Qiansen for the first time through the TV series Madame Shexiang(Shexiang Furen)and Unbreakable Pass(Xiongguan Mandao),and his screenwriting skills immediately struck me.Later,I read many of his full-length and medium-length novels as well as his short stories.The short stories of his works certainly display the most devotion and exemplify his highest achievement.There is no doubt that the short story is a very difficult literary form.As Lu Xun,Shen Congwen,Wang Zengqi,Sun Li,Su Tong and many other great writers have made remarkable artistic achievements,the art of the short story has been pushed to the extreme,thus making it even more challenging to achieve success in the genre.Ouyang Qiansen,however,has done it by immersing himself in the art of the short story.This paper explores the artistic achievements within Ouyang Qiansen's short stories,providing some reference for enriching the artistic landscape of the short story.