Some excellent world literature short stories include 'The Lady with the Dog' by Anton Chekhov. It beautifully depicts an affair and the complex emotions involved. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is also a classic. It delves into the mental state of a woman in a patriarchal society. Then there's 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, which is a thrilling exploration of guilt and madness.
One of the best is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a masterful short story that delves into the mind of a deranged narrator. Another great one is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry which has a beautiful and ironic plot about selfless love. And 'The Monkey's Paw' is also a classic British short story filled with suspense and a touch of the macabre.
One famous short story is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. It's about a woman who borrows a diamond necklace for a party, loses it, and spends years in poverty trying to replace it. And 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' by Gabriel García Márquez is also well - known. It has a unique blend of magical realism, with the strange figure of the old man with wings in a normal village setting.
'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' by Mark Twain is often considered funny. It's full of lively characters and comical situations.
One of the great World War 2 short stories is 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K. Dick. It presents an alternate history where the Axis powers won the war. Another is 'A Piece of Cake' by Roald Dahl, which is based on Dahl's own experiences as a fighter pilot during the war. And 'The Wall' by John Hersey, which gives a poignant look at the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.
The short story 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy (although it was also made into a novel). It depicts a father - son duo trying to survive in a desolate, post - apocalyptic world. The story is full of heart - wrenching moments and explores themes of hope and survival in the face of extreme adversity. The desolate landscapes and the constant threat of danger make it a powerful end - of - the - world story.
A really good World War 2 short story is 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K. Dick. Although it has elements of alternate history, it gives a great view of what life could have been like during and after the war. There's also 'The Yellow Birds' which is more about the psychological toll of war on soldiers. It's a harrowing tale of two soldiers trying to survive in the brutal theater of war.
One of the world's best short stories is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells a heartwarming story about a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. They each sacrifice their most precious possession to buy a gift for the other. Another great one is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a disturbing tale that uses a lottery in a small town to explore themes of tradition, mob mentality, and the dark side of human nature. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also a remarkable short story. It features a family on a road trip that encounters a criminal, and through this encounter, O'Connor delves into complex themes of grace and redemption.
One characteristic is their diversity. They cover a wide range of themes from love and loss to moral dilemmas. Another is the high - quality writing. The authors use vivid language to bring the characters and settings to life. For example, they might use detailed descriptions of a landscape to set the mood.
Well, 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is among the world best short stories. It's known for its complex characters and exploration of morality. The grandmother in the story is a very interesting character with her own set of values that are challenged throughout. Also, 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It's a powerful story about a woman's descent into madness due to the restrictions placed on her by society, which was a very relevant topic at the time and still is in terms of women's rights and mental health.
One of the world best short stories is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's considered great because of its beautiful irony. The couple sacrifices their most precious possessions for each other, only to find out the gifts they bought are now useless, yet it shows their deep love. Another is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. It shows the consequences of vanity and false pride. Mathilde borrows a necklace to look rich at a party, loses it, and spends years in poverty to replace it, only to find out the original was fake.