top ten best short stories

Some of the well - known ones could be 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a heartwarming story about a young couple sacrificing for each other. Another might be 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson, which has a shocking ending that makes you think about society. And 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also great, exploring complex themes of morality and grace.

Most of them often have a sense of the unknown and the uncanny. For example, in 'The Call of Cthulhu', the existence of the ancient and powerful Cthulhu is something that defies human understanding. Another characteristic is a build - up of suspense. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's growing paranoia and the slow reveal of his plan to kill the old man keeps the reader on edge. And many use elements of the ordinary turned sinister, like in 'The Lottery' where a normal small - town event becomes a horror.

Sure. 'The Monkey's Paw' is a classic. It tells of a family who gets a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes but with terrible consequences. 'August Heat' is also among the top. In this story, an artist draws a portrait that seems to foretell his doom. And 'The Cask of Amontillado' by Poe again. It involves a man being walled up alive as revenge in the catacombs.

Some of the well - known short stories could be 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's a beautiful story about a couple sacrificing their most precious possessions for each other. Another could be 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant which shows the consequences of vanity. And 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner that has a rather dark and mysterious plot.

Sure. 'The Gift of the Magi' is a great choice for beginners. It's easy to understand and has a very touching and simple message about love and sacrifice. The plot is straightforward and the characters are relatable.

The stories in top best short stories usually have a clear theme. This theme can be about love, like in some romantic short stories, or it can be about society, such as in stories that critique social norms. They are also very good at creating an atmosphere. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the atmosphere of suspense and madness is palpable from the start. The language used is also very important. It's often precise and vivid, helping to bring the story to life.

One characteristic is that they can convey deep meanings in a limited space. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' for instance, makes a strong statement about women's oppression in just a short story. They also tend to have unique narrative styles. 'Hills Like White Elephants' has a very spare, dialogue - driven style that still manages to tell a full - fledged story with a lot of subtext.

One important keyword is 'courage'. It can make the characters in the short story more appealing as they face challenges. Another is 'curiosity'. It makes the readers wonder what will happen next. Also, 'loss' can be a powerful keyword as it can evoke deep emotions.

Some of the well - known ones are 'The Lady with the Dog', 'The Bet', 'Gooseberries'. 'The Lady with the Dog' is great as it delves into the complex nature of love and infidelity. The characters are very realistically portrayed and the emotions are palpable.

Some of the top-ranked short stories often include 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It's highly ranked because of its beautiful and ironic ending. The couple sacrifices their most precious possessions for each other, showing the depth of their love in a very simple yet powerful way.