A classic definition of a short story is that one should be able to read it in one sitting, a point most notably made in Edgar Allan Poe's essay ' The Philosophy of Composition' (1846). ĭetermining what exactly defines a short story has been recurrently problematic. The short story is sometimes referred to as a genre. While the short story is largely distinct from the novel or novella/short novel, authors generally draw from a common pool of literary techniques. Short stories make use of plot, resonance, and other dynamic components as in a novel, but typically to a lesser degree. The short story is a crafted form in its own right. The modern short story developed in the early 19th century. The short story is one of the oldest types of literature and has existed in the form of legends, mythic tales, folk tales, fairy tales, tall tales, fables and anecdotes in various ancient communities around the world. LiteratureĪ short story is a piece of prose fiction that can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. For other uses, see Short Stories and Short Story (disambiguation).