These short stories are masterful in character development despite their brevity. They use just a few details to make characters memorable. For example, in 'The Necklace', Maupassant quickly makes the main character a symbol of vanity through her obsession with a piece of jewelry, all within a short space.
One famous one - page short story is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a heartwarming tale about a young couple who are very poor. The wife cuts off her long hair to buy a chain for her husband's precious watch, while the husband sells his watch to buy combs for his wife's beautiful hair. It shows the selfless love they have for each other.
One characteristic is their brevity. They convey a complete story in just one page, so every word counts. For example, they often have a single, clear plotline without too many sub - plots.
Ernest Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants' is also a great short story that could be around 2 pages. It's mainly a conversation between a man and a woman at a train station in Spain. They discuss an 'operation' which is hinted to be an abortion, but it's never directly stated. It shows the tension and unspoken things in their relationship.
One page long short stories often have a single, strong theme. Since there's limited space, they focus on one main idea. For instance, it could be about a moment of realization or a brief encounter that changes a character's perspective. They also tend to have a small number of characters, typically just one or two main characters, as it's difficult to develop a large cast in such a short space.
Most of them are concise. They can convey deep emotions or complex ideas in just one page. For example, they can show love, like in 'The Gift of the Magi', with just a few paragraphs.
A 2 - page famous short story is often concise yet impactful. It usually has a single, well - defined theme. For example, in 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, the theme of vanity and its consequences is clear. It doesn't have much room for complex sub - plots but still manages to create vivid characters in a short span.
Ernest Hemingway. His concise writing style was suitable for short stories of various lengths, including around 15 pages. 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' is one of his well - known short works.
They are concise. For example, they usually have a simple plot that can be easily understood by children. A story might focus on just one main event or a single problem and its solution.