These short stories often have a lot of action. There are horse chases, gunfights, and conflicts between different groups. Also, they can be quite character - driven. The characters' personalities and motives play a big role in the story, such as in 'The Luck of Roaring Camp' where the characters' relationships are complex and central to the plot.
They usually involve themes of survival and the struggle between good and evil. In stories like 'Riders of the Purple Sage', the cowboy hero has to fight against the evil forces that are trying to take over the land. And they also show the changing times in the west, like the coming of new settlers and the end of the wild west era as in 'The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky'.
Most of them have a strong sense of place. They are set in the western landscapes, with descriptions of deserts, mountains, and small western towns. The characters are often cowboys, outlaws, or settlers. For example, in 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat', the setting of the town is crucial to the story.
One characteristic is their ability to convey a powerful message in a short span. For example, many use concise language but still manage to explore deep themes like love, death, and society. Another is that they often have memorable characters, even if we only get a brief glimpse of them, like in 'The Necklace' where Mathilde's vanity and subsequent downfall are vividly portrayed.
Western short stories typically feature a lot of action. There's often a conflict, like a fight over land or a showdown between good and bad guys. The language used can be quite vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the rough western landscape. Also, they might include elements of frontier life such as horse - riding, gun - fighting, and living in small, isolated communities.
One characteristic is their concise nature. They often tell a complete story in a relatively short space, like just a few pages. Another is their focus on Western cultural elements such as Western values, settings like the frontier or small Western towns. Also, they usually have well - defined characters, even in a short span. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the two main characters' selfless love is quickly established.
Many of them often have complex characters. For example, in some stories, the characters may seem ordinary at first but as the story unfolds, their true natures are revealed, like in 'The Lady with the Dog'. Also, the settings are well - crafted, whether it's a dreary English countryside or a bustling city street. They also tend to deal with deep themes such as love, loss, and morality.
Well, many famous western short stories are known for their realistic portrayals. They show the real life situations and problems of the society at that time. For example, stories about the Great Depression showed the hardships people faced. Symbolism is also common. In 'The Scarlet Letter', the scarlet letter 'A' is a powerful symbol representing different things throughout the story. And the narrative style can be diverse, from first - person to omniscient, which helps to tell the story in different perspectives.
Funny western short stories often have a unique sense of humor that is related to the cultural context. They may play with the social norms of the time. For instance, the way people interact in small western towns or during the gold rush era. The language used can also be very colorful and full of slang. This adds to the humor as it gives a sense of authenticity. And many of them use situational humor. Take 'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' for example, the whole situation of the frog - jumping bet and the tricks involved is a great example of situational humor.
Often, they involve strong emotions. For example, in 'Romeo and Juliet', the love between the two is intense and all - consuming. They are willing to risk everything for their love.
They probably have engaging plots. Since they are short stories, they need to grab the reader's attention quickly. So, there could be unexpected twists and turns, like in a mystery - themed story where the solution is not what you initially expect. In addition, the use of vivid language is common. With limited space, the authors need to create a vivid world. They might use unique descriptions of settings and characters to make them come alive in the reader's mind. This helps to make the short story memorable despite its brevity.
The short stories in 'best 2019 short stories' may also be known for their ability to evoke strong emotions in a limited number of words. They can make you feel joy, sadness, or surprise in just a few pages. Take a story about a child's first encounter with loss. It can be so poignant that it stays with you long after you've finished reading, even though it's a short piece.