Well, perhaps the 111 boys and some of the 125 girls are in a competition. It's a talent show. Each of them has different talents. Some boys are good at sports - based acts, while the girls shine in art - related performances. In the end, they all learn to appreciate each other's skills and come together as friends.
Symbols in short stories are often used to represent deeper meanings. For example, a red rose might symbolize love. Irony, on the other hand, can be situational or verbal. In a short story, a character might say one thing but mean another, which is verbal irony. Situational irony could be when the outcome is the opposite of what is expected. For instance, a man spends his whole life saving for retirement but then passes away just before he can enjoy it.
The big irony in the story is that Mathilde's efforts to restore a necklace she thought was valuable were in vain because it wasn't actually. Her striving for something that didn't matter much in the end is the core irony.
Perhaps it's a third-person omniscient narrator, knowing everything about the characters and the situation. This type of narrator can offer a broad perspective.
One way to introduce the characters is to describe their common traits at first. Since there are 111 boys and 125 girls, you might say something like 'The boys, a total of 111, were mostly into sports and outdoor activities. The 125 girls, on the other hand, were more interested in arts and literature. Then you can pick out a few individual characters from each group to highlight.
Symbol and irony are great tools in short story writing. Symbols are like little clues left by the author. They can be cultural symbols too. For instance, a dove can symbolize peace. Irony can turn the story on its head. In a short story about a lottery, everyone expects the lottery to be a good thing, but it turns out to be a sacrifice. This is ironic. The use of symbol and irony helps to make the short story more than just a simple narrative. It adds depth, meaning, and often a touch of the unexpected.
Irony in a short story is when the outcome is contrary to what's anticipated. It can make the story more engaging. Like if a character brags about never getting lost, but then gets hopelessly lost. It shows that life doesn't always go as planned and keeps the readers on their toes.
Well, one instance could be when the character expects one thing to happen but the opposite occurs. Like if they think they'll succeed but end up failing spectacularly.