There's 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' by Gabriel García Márquez. This story features a strange old man with wings who appears in a small village. People are both curious and cruel towards him. It's a magical realist story that makes you think about how we treat the different and the unknown. 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' by Frank R. Stockton is well - known too. A man is put in an arena and has to choose between two doors, behind one is a lady and behind the other a tiger. It leaves the ending up to the reader's imagination.
Well, 'Rip Van Winkle' by Washington Irving is a classic short story. Rip falls asleep for 20 years and wakes up to a very different world. It's a story about change and the passage of time. Also, 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. It tells the story of a man about to be hanged during the Civil War, and there's a twist at the end that makes you question what really happened.
One is 'The Monkey's Paw' by W. W. Jacobs. It's about a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes but with a terrible cost. Every wish brings unexpected and often horrifying consequences.
One well - known biblical short story is 'David and Goliath'. David, a young shepherd, defeated the giant Goliath with just a sling and a stone, showing great faith and courage. Another is 'The Good Samaritan'. It tells of a Samaritan who helped a man in need when others passed by, teaching about kindness and neighborly love. Also, 'Jonah and the Whale' is famous. Jonah was swallowed by a large whale after trying to avoid God's command, and it's a story about obedience.
Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis' is also a famous European short story. In it, Gregor Samsa wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a giant insect. It explores themes of alienation, family, and the human condition in a very unique and thought - provoking way.
One well - known kid short story is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. In this story, the hare is overconfident and takes a nap during a race against the tortoise. The slow - but - steady tortoise wins the race, teaching kids the value of perseverance.
One well - known short story is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a heartwarming tale about a young couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions for each other.
A famous one is 'The Masque of the Red Death' by Edgar Allan Poe. It tells of a prince who tries to avoid a deadly plague by hiding in his abbey with his noble friends, but death still finds them. It has a very eerie and foreboding atmosphere.
One of the well - known awards is the O. Henry Award. It has a long history of recognizing excellent short stories. Another is the Pushcart Prize, which honors not only short stories but also poetry and essays, yet it has a significant place in promoting short - story writing. And the Edgar Allan Poe Award also includes a category for short stories, especially those in the mystery genre.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Scandal in Bohemia' is also a great classic mystery short story. It features Sherlock Holmes being outwitted by the brilliant Irene Adler, which is a bit of a departure from the usual where Holmes is always in control. The story has a great plot with lots of twists and turns, and it gives an interesting look into Holmes' character and his relationships.
Well, 'Three Hermits' is a great short story. It has a simple yet deep narrative about three hermits learning to pray. 'The Snow Storm' is also among his short stories. It vividly describes the power of nature and how people are affected by it. 'Alyosha the Pot' is a story that shows Tolstoy's ability to depict the simple and humble lives of common people.
Then there's 'The Haunted Dolls' by various authors. It's a compilation of short stories all centered around, as the name suggests, haunted dolls. Dolls are often seen as creepy in horror, and these stories play on that fear, with tales of dolls that seem to have a life of their own, causing all sorts of strange and terrifying events.