Please Note: Individual sessions of this course will be recorded and available to registered students outside of the actual course time.Â
What is the short story? How is the short story distinct from other genres of fiction, especially the novel? Why did certain writers, such as Edgar Allen Poe or Alice Munro, choose to write only short stories? In this course, students will explore the remarkable artistic variety and thematic richness of the short story. The course will take up a historically and thematically broad range of texts, from the brief, enigmatic tales of 13th century Zen masters, to the concentrated experiences of confusion and anxiety of 20th century modernism, and the often-wild narrative experimentation and playfulness of contemporary “post-modern” short stories. Along the way, the course will also discuss various theories of the short story and the ways in which it differs “philosophically” from other genres of fiction.
Instructor: Jared McGeough
Dr. Jared McGeough (PhD, Western) has taught a variety of courses in Canadian, Romantic, Victorian and Edwardian literature at Concordia (Montreal), the University of Regina and ELLA. His recent work includes co-editing a digital edition of 19th-century author William Godwin’s Juvenile History of England. In his spare time, Jared enjoys board games, as well as writing, recording and performing music.