Studying the Short-Story
Reading edition
SIXTEEN SHORT-STORY CLASSICS WITH INTRODUCTIONS, NOTES AND A NEW LABORATORY STUDY METHOD FOR INDIVIDUAL READING AND USE IN COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS
BY
J. BERG ESENWEIN, A.M., Lit.D.
EDITOR OF THE WRITER’S MONTHLY
REVISED EDITION
THE WRITER’S LIBRARY EDITED BY J. BERG ESENWEIN
HINDS, HAYDEN & ELDREDGE, Inc. NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO
Copyright 1912 By J. Berg Esenwein
Copyright 1918 By J. Berg Esenwein
TO MOTHER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS vii
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE xi
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE SHORT-STORY xiii
I. STORIES OF ACTION AND ADVENTURE 1
Mérimée and His Writings 4
“Mateo Falcone,” Prosper Mérimée 8
Stevenson and His Writings 29
“A Lodging for the Night,” Robert Louis Stevenson 34
Suggestive Questions for Study 67
Ten Representative Stories of Action and Adventure 68
II. STORIES OF MYSTERY AND FANTASY 69
Poe and His Writings 72
“The Purloined Letter,” Edgar Allan Poe 76
Jacobs and His Writings 108
“The Monkey’s Paw,” W. W. Jacobs 111
Suggestive Questions for Study 129
Ten Representative Stories of Mystery and Fantasy 130
III. STORIES OF EMOTION 131
Daudet and His Writings 135
“The Last Class,” Alphonse Daudet 139
Kipling and His Writings 147
“Without Benefit of Clergy,” Rudyard Kipling 151
Suggestive Questions for Study 189
Ten Representative Stories of Emotion or Sentiment 190
IV. HUMOROUS STORIES 191
Henry and His Writings 194
“The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry 198
Barrie and His Writings 215
“The Courting of T’Nowhead’s Bell,” James M. Barrie 219
Suggestive Questions for Study 249
Ten Representative Humorous Stories 250
V. STORIES OF SETTING 251
Harte and His Writings 255
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” Bret Harte 259
Maupassant and His Writings 277
“Moonlight,” Guy de Maupassant 281
Suggestive Questions for Study 290
Ten Representative Stories of Setting 290
VI. IMPRESSIONISTIC STORIES 291
Hawthorne and His Writings 297
“The White Old Maid,” Nathaniel Hawthorne 302
“The Fall of the House of Usher,” Edgar Allan Poe 320
Suggestive Questions for Study 351
Ten Representative Impressionistic Stories 352
VII. CHARACTER STUDIES 353
“The Piece of String,” Guy de Maupassant 356
Coppée and His Writings 368
“The Substitute,” François Coppée 371
Suggestive Questions for Study 388
Ten Representative Character Studies 389
VIII. PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES 390
“Markheim,” Robert Louis Stevenson 394
Morrison and His Writings 422
“On the Stairs,” Arthur Morrison 425
Suggestive Questions for Study 431
Ten Representative Psychological Studies 432
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 433
INDEX 437