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Doppelgangers These characters encounter their double or twin, usually in appearance and sometimes in behaviour. Or, the duality might be present in a single person as an alter-ego, or a character who lives a double life. They’re stories of doppelgangers, mirror images, “The Other”, or doubles. |
Apocalyptic, the End of the World, or Post-Apocalyptic. In each of these short stories the planet has suffered a major disaster or that threat is impending. Humanity is hurting or trying to avoid their imminent doom. In the post-apocalyptic worlds, society has broken down in some way. |
Coming of age These protagonists, usually an adolescent, experiences a significant event, a turning point or illuminating moment, which brings an adult understanding of the world. The incident causes a loss of innocence; the protagonist can no longer live completely sheltered as a child. |
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The Interlopers [Saki] The Open Window [Saki] An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge [Bierce] The Lottery [Jackson] The Necklace [de Maupassant] A Retrieved Reformation by [O'Henry] Goof Country People [O'Connor] The Story of an Hour [Chopin] Lambs to the Slaughter [Dahl] |
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Family The major interactions in these short stories are carried out by members of the same family. They deal with families coping with outside problems and with each other. They might also show the closeness of the family unit, the demands they place on each other, or the mistakes they make in dealing with each other. |
Morality & Ethics These stories feature characters who face moral quandaries or ethical dilemmas. |
Twist endings It’s hard to beat a twist ending for pure entertainment value. Even though a twist ending is supposed to give the reader a jolt, the best ones seem inevitable and seamless. Not all the twists in these stories are sudden, but they will all be surprising in some way. |
WASLA Teacher Librarian of the Year- 2017: Jo-Anne Urquhart
- 2016: Lise Legg