Well, the choice between quotes and italicized for short stories can vary. Different publishing houses and writing styles have their own preferences. Sometimes, it's based on the specific genre or the context of the publication.
Short stories are usually in quotes in MLA. This helps to distinguish them from longer works. It's a standard formatting rule in MLA for clarity and consistency.
Most of the time, short stories are put in quotes. Underlining is not the common practice for them. It's a standard convention in writing and publishing.
Well, quotes from short stories can serve various purposes. They might be used to create a mood. Take Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. A quote like 'Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, / Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before' from 'The Raven' sets a very spooky and mysterious mood which is characteristic of Poe's writing. These quotes can also act as a sort of summary of the story's main theme or a character's key trait.