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Существует множество коротких рассказов, с которыми мы тысячу раз сталкивались, читали детям в виде аудирования или задавали для чтения и помним их сами почти наизусть. А книжку или распечатку утеряли. Да и не очень они нам интересны: избиты, зачитаны. Но для детей не избиты. Поэтому посвятим одну рубрику на блоге коротким рассказам для учащихся. Если вы помните сборник или авторов рассказов, которые помещены в этой статье — напишите, пожалуйста, чтобы можно было сослаться на источник.
‘TEA LEAVES’
There was a time when drinking tea was almost unknown in European countries; many people had never even heard of tea. This anecdote is about an old woman and her son, who lived before tea-drinking became popular in England.
He was a sea captain, and every time he returned from a far-away country, he brought his mother a gift. He tried to bring something unusual, that she could show to her friends.
Once the young man came back from India with a box of tea for his mother. She didn’t know anything about tea, but she was proud of her son, and she invited all her friends to come and try what he had brought her. When her son came into the room, he saw cakes and fruit and jam on the table, and a big plate full of brown tea-leaves. His mother and her friends were sitting round the table, eating the leaves with butter and salt. Though they all smiled, it was clear that they didn’t enjoy eating the leaves.
«Where is the tea, Mother?» the captain asked.
His mother showed him the plate in the middle of the table.
«We are having tea for lunch», she said.
«No, no, those are only the tea-leaves», said the captain. «Where is the water?»
«The water!» his mother said. «I threw the water away, of course!»
‘ECONOMY WASTED TRIP’
An Englishman who was in France wanted to go back to England by sea. But he had very little money. He had so little money that he could pay only for the ticket. As he knew that the trip would last only two days, he decided not to eat during these days.
As he took a ticket and got on the ship the next morning he tried not to hear the bell for breakfast. When dinner time came, he was very hungry; but he didn’t go to the dining-room. In the evening he was still more hungry, but when the waiter came to invite him to have supper, the Englishman said that he was ill.
The next day the Englishman was half-dead and couldn’t stand the hunger any longer.
«I shall go and eat even if they kick me out into the sea», said he to himself.
So he went to the ship dining-room and had his dinner.
In the evening he had supper but was very much afraid of his future because he didn’t pay for the meals.
At last he addressed the waiter and said: «Bring me the bill, please».
«What bill?» asked the waiter.
«For the supper and dinner I had in your dining-room».
«Don’t trouble, Sir. You paid for your meals when you bought the ticket».
‘A GOOD LESSON’
One day a well-known singer was invited to the house of a rich lady to sing to her guests at a dinner-party. But instead of inviting the singer to dine with her guests, the lady ordered dinner for him in the servants’ room. The singer said nothing. He dined well and after dinner said to the servants: «Now, my good friends, I am going to sing to you».
The servants were very much surprised but said they were awfully glad to have a chance to hear the great singer. He sang a good many beautiful songs and the servants enjoyed listening to him.
Later the lady sent one of her servants to bring the singer up to the drawing-room, where all her guests were waiting for him.
«But I cannot sing twice in one evening, Madam», said the singer to the lady when she met him at the door leading into the drawing-room.
«What do you mean?» asked the lady.
«I mean I have already sung for about an hour to your servants, Madam», answered the singer, «it was a pity you were not there, for I always sing to the people with whom I dine». And with these words he left the house.
‘A HOT SUMMER WEEK-END’
It was a week-end in summer and all the down trains were overcrowded. An old man was walking along the platform, looking for a vacant seat. Suddenly he saw one in a non-smoker. The old man got in. A small bag was lying on the seat and a well-dressed gentleman was sitting beside it.
«Is this seat vacant?» asked the old man. «No, it is occupied by a man who has gone to buy a newspaper. He will soon come».
«Well», said the old man, «I’ll sit here until your man comes back». Ten minutes passed.
«There is only one minute left before the train starts. Your man will miss the train if he doesn’t hurry», said the old man.
The train started.
«Your man has missed the train», said the old man, «but let him not lose his bag».
With these words he took the bag and was about to throw it out of the window.
The well-dressed gentleman jumped up and cried out: «Don’t! It’s my bag».
‘A FUNNY STORY’
A nervous man, who lived in one of suburbs of a big town in England, was walking home from the railway station. The road was dark and lonely. Suddenly he heard footsteps approaching him from behind and thought he was being followed. He walked quickly. The footsteps continued to follow. The man started running. The footsteps still followed him. The man jumped over a wall and, running into an old cemetery, threw himself on the grass near one of the graves.
«If he comes here», he thought, «there will be no doubt he wants to rob me».
The man behind was following. He also got over the wall and came up to the grave. The nervous man stood up and asked:
«What do you want? Why are you following me?»
«I say», answered the other man, «do you always go home like this?
Or are you having some special sort of jumping, exercises tonight?
I am going to Mr. Robertson’s and the man I at the railway station told me to follow you, as you lived next door. Excuse my asking you, but will you have some more gymnastics or will you go straight home?»
«A SAD STORY»
Three men were spending their holiday in New York. They were living in a hotel which had forty-five floors and their room was on the last floor.
Returning to the hotel late one night, they were told by the lift man: «I am very sorry, but the lifts in our hotel aren’t running. They stop working at twelve o’clock. You must walk up to your room».
«We are still young», one of the men said. «I suppose we, can climb up to the forty-fifth floor». So the men took off their coats and put them in the coat-room. As they were walking past the tenth floor one of the men said: «I am becoming a little tired. I have an idea how to make the climb easier. I shall tell happy or funny stories the next five floors: then Bill will sing songs the next fifteen floors, and Tom will tell sad stories the last fifteen floors».
They continued climbing, and soon all of them were feeling very tired. But they did not want to show to each other that they were tired, so the first man told happy stories, and jokes and the second sang happy songs. When they arrived at the thirtieth floor, the first man said: «Now, Tom, you can begin telling sad stories».
«Yes», Tom said, «I must tell you a very sad story. The key to our room is lying in my coat pocket, in the coat-room!»
‘A FISH BONE’
One day, some Americans were having dinner at a hotel in London. When the fish was put on the table, a young man said: «Let’s examine the fish carefully. Perhaps we’ll find a diamond in it». Everybody began to laugh, but an old man said quietly: «Yes, I’m sure we have all heard such stories. Let me tell you what happened to me once».
«When I was a young man», he began, «I worked for a big company in New York: and I was sent to England to do some work there. I was in love with a beautiful girl, and before I left for England, we decided that we would be married when I returned home.»
I stayed in England for two months. I sent letters or postcards to the girl almost every day, but after the first two weeks I didn’t receive any answers. But I didn’t think anything was the matter, and before I left for home, I bought a beautiful diamond ring for her.
On the ship one morning, a telegram was brought to me. It was from a friend in New York, who told me that the girl had changed her mind and was going to be married to another man. I was so angry that I threw the diamond ring into the sea. My friend came to the port to meet me, and he invited me to dinner. When we were sitting down at the table and I was eating fish, I suddenly felt something hard in my mouth. What do you think it was?
«The diamond!» all the Americans cried.
«No», the old man answered. «It was a fish bone».
‘THE KING AND THE CRITIC’
There was a king who thought that he could paint very well. His pictures were bad, but the people to whom he showed them were afraid of the king. They all said that they liked his pictures very much.
One day the king showed his pictures to a great painter who lived in his country and asked:
«I want to know what you think of my pictures. Do you like them? Am I a good painter or not?»
The painter looked at the king’s pictures and said:
«My king, I think that your pictures are bad, and that you will never be a good painter.»
The king got very angry and sent the painter to prison.
After two years the king wanted to see the painter again.
«I was angry with you», he said, «because you did not like my pictures. Now forget all about it. You are a free man again and I am your friend.»
For many hours the king talked with the painter, and even asked him to dine. After dinner the king showed his pictures to the painter and asked: «Well, how do you like them now?»
The painter did not answer anything. He turned to the soldier who was standing near him and said:
«Take me back to prison.»
“ABOUT CONAN DOYLE”
There is probably no one among book-lovers who has not heard of Sherlock Holmes, the skilful and clever detective in the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sherlock Holmes’s method of analysing the most difficult problems was to notice the smallest facts, even if they seemed unimportant. His method never failed; the criminal always had to give up, and to become the prisoner of the great detective.
Conan Doyle once arrived in Paris, after spending a month in the south of France. There was a long row of cabs outside the gate of the railway station. Conan Doyle got into the first cab and ordered the driver to take him to a good hotel. The driver was silent all the way to the hotel, but when Conan Doyle paid him, he said, «Thank you, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle».
«How do you know who I am?» Conan Doyle asked in the greatest surprise.
«I have never seen you before», the man answered, «so I can’t pretend that I recognized you. But I read in the newspapers that you were expected in Paris after your vacation in the south of France. The train you arrived on came from the south of France.
I could tell from your clothes, especially your hat, and also from the strange way you pronounce French words that you were English. These facts helped me to guess that you were probably Sir Arthur Conan Doyle».
«Fine work! Wonderful!» Conan Doyle cried. «You analysed the facts quite correctly. It’s a pity you aren’t a detective!»
«Of course», the driver added, «your name is on both your travelling bags. I can’t pretend that that fact didn’t help».
‘THE GREATEST POET OF SCOTLAND’
Robert Burns (1759—1796) is Scotland’s national poet and January 25 — the day of his birth — is always celebrated in his country and all over the world, with great excitment. The celebrations are going on in every big city and in a small village pub, in every remote cottage with workers and farmers dressed in kilts or in ordinary working clothes.
The love for Burns is indeed a unique phenomenon. Most nations consider political or military men as their national heroes. But Scotland, though she honours the memory of her two great national liberators, William Wallace and Robert Bruce, has adopted a poet as her true hero. Why is it so? I think because Burns’ poetry was very much consonant to people’s aspirations. It was closely connected with the national struggle of the Scottish people for their liberation from English oppression. Burns considered his literary work as his patriotic duty.
Burns wrote many poems in English, but his best verses are written in the dialect of his own country, Ay-shire. His best poems are The Jolly Beggars, Halloween, The Cotter’s Saturday Night, Holy Willie’s Prayer, To a Mouse, The Two Dogs and others.
Burns travelled a lot about Scotland collecting popular folk songs. Many of his own lyrical poems were put to music. All in all he contributed 2000 songs to the Scots Musical Museum. So Robert Burns is considered to be the creator of the Scottish song. His songs are memorable for extraordinary truthfulness passion and lovely melody. They reflect the people’s soul and national character. The Poet’s song Oh, My Love is Like a Red Red Rose is one of the most loved lyrical songs. Many of songs he devoted to his wife, the woman who had been the great love of all his life and the in spirator of his numerous verses.
Burns’ songs are the soul of music and it is not surprising that Beethoven, Schuman, Mendelssohn and others compose music to the poet’s verses. Russian composers have also set many of Burns’ verses to music. The best known cycle to Burns’ songs have been successfully written by Dmitri Shostakovich, Nikolai Myaskovsky, Juri Levitin, Mark Milman, Victor Oransky and a number of other composers. All songs are based on Marshak’s translations which are considered to be the best translations of Burns’ poetry into Russian
OBSERVING NATURE
If people carefully observe nature it can tell them many interesting and useful things.
Do you know that thanks to observing nature you can forecast weather? «How?» you may ask.
By watching birds and animals, insects and flowers. It is known that some insects become more troublesome before a change in the weather. Flies and mosquitoes, for example, begin to hum and bite before the rain. Big blue-black beetles fly only on evenings before nice weather.
You should know that the smell of flowers in the gardens and in the parks is very strong before it rains. Flowers have much sweet nectar before rain and the nectar is good food for insects. So if you see insects flying over flowers in large numbers you should know that it may rain soon.
Birds and animals also help to forecast weather. Birds fly lower than usual before it rains. If you happen to see a bird hiding its head under its wing, it means that soon it will become colder.
Even your cat can tell you what the weather will be like. The cat washing behind the ears is telling you about the coming rain. Look at the sky and it will tell you about the weather. A red evening sky tells of good weather the next day, to say nothing about a little yellow or green sky. A grey sunrise gives promise of a good day too. If you want to forecast weather, you must know something about winds too.
The South wind brings wet weather,
The North wind is wet and cold together,
The West wind always brings us rain,
The East wind blows it back again.
Study nature, observe it and you’ll understand that it needs your love and protection.
‘THE BLIND MAN AND THE GREAT ARTIST’
Every day in one of the streets of Vienna you could see a blind man playing the violin. His dog sat near him with a cap in his mouth. People, who were passing them, dropped coins into the cap.
One day, when the weather was very cold, the man was playing for a long time, but nobody wanted to give him anything. The poor man thought that he would have to go to bed without supper. He was so tired and so weak that he stopped playing.
At that moment a young man came uр to him and asked him why he stopped playing. The blind man said he had played for two hours but nobodyr had given him anything. «Give me your violin. I shall help you», said the man. And with these words he began to play. He played so well that people began to gather and soon there was a big crowd. Everybody was eager to listen to the fine music and to thank the young man for the pleasure.
Soon the cap was full of money.
«I don’t know how to thank you», said the blind man. «Who are you?»
«I am Paganini», was the answer.
“A STRANGE PICTURE”
A rich American went to Paris and bought a very strange picture painted by a fashionable modern artist. The American thought the picture was very fine because he had paid a lot of money for it. But when he came to his hotel and wanted to hang the picture up on the wall, he could not tell which was the top and which the bottom of the picture. The American turned the picture this way and that, but still could not decide which was the top and which was the bottom.
So he thought of a plan. He hung the painting in the dining-room and invited the artist to dinner. When the artist came, the American said nothing to him about the picture.
When the artist began to eat his soup, he looked at the picture many times. When he began to eat his fish, he put on his glasses and looked at the picture again. Before he began to eat his fruit, he got up and walked over to the picture to look at it more closely. At last when they began to drink their coffee, he understood that the picture was upside down.
«Why, my friend», he said, «my picture is hung upside down».
«Oh, is it?» said the American. «Why didn’t you tell me so at once?»
«Well, you see, I was not sure myself at first», said the artist.
“A SLAVE”
Murillo was a great painter in Spain. He painted beautiful pictures and he had many students.
Once he came to his studio and found a very beautiful picture there. He asked his students who had painted that picture but nobody answered. Then he asked his slave Sebastian if he had seen somebody in the studio the night before. The slave did not answer. When the night came and everybody went away Sebastian began to paint. He did not think of the time. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. When he turned round he saw Murillo and his students watch him quietly.
«Sebastian», cried Murillo, «you are a very good painter. How did you learn to paint?»
«You gave lessons to your students, and I heard them», answered the slave. Murillo understood that the slave was a very gifted painter, so he gave him freedom and began to work with his «slave» who was not a slave any longer.
‘A LACONIC ANSWER’
There was a time when the people of Greece were not united but instead there were several states each of which had its own ruler.
Some of the people in the southern part of the country were called Spartans and they were famous for their simple habits and their bravery.
The name of their land was Laconia, so they were sometimes called Lacons.
One of the strange rules which the Spartans had was that they should speak briefly and never use more words than were needed.
A short answer is often called laconic that is such an answer as a Lacon would give.
There was in the Northern part of Greece a land called Macedonia. This land was at one time ruled by a king named Philip. Philip of Macedonia wanted to become master of all Greece. So he raised a great army and made war upon the other states, until nearly all of them were forced to call him their king. Then he sent a letter to the Spartans in Laconia and said: «If I go down into your country, I will level your great city to the ground.»
In a few days an answer was brought back to him. When he opened the letter he found only one word written there.
That word was «If».
‘A BROKEN VASE’
The young man was going to marry a beautiful girl.
One day the girl said to him that the next day she would celebrate her birthday and invited him to her birthday party. The young man was eager to make her a present, so he went to a gift shop. There he saw many beautiful things. Of all the things he particularly liked the vases. But they were very expensive, and as he had very little money he had to leave the shop without buying anything.
Walking to the door he suddenly heard a noise: one of the vases fell on the floor and broke two pieces. A brilliant idea came to his mind. He came up to the counter and asked the salesman to wrap up the broken vase he wanted to buy.
The salesman got a little surprised but did what the young man had asked him to do.
The young man took the parcel and went straight to the girl’s place. By the time he entered the room the guests had already gathered. Everybody was enjoying the party.
Some of the people were dancing, others were talking, joking and laughing. Saying «Many happy returns of the day», the young man told the girl that he had bought a small present for her. With these words he began to unwrap the parcel.
Suddenly he got pale and said. «I am afraid, I have broken it. There were so many people in the bus…» But when he unwrapped the parcel, he saw that the salesman had wrapped up each piece of the vase separately.
‘A FUNNY STORY’
Once a man went to a shop and bought a pair of trousers. When he came home, he put the trousers on. Then he saw that they were too long for him.
So he went to his wife and said:
«Please make my trousers shorter, they are too long for me, I cannot put them on.»
But the wife said: «I have no time now. I must wash the plates. It is late now, I shall do it tomorrow.»
The man went to his daughter and asked her:
«Can you make my trousers shorter? I cannot put them on.»
«No, I cannot,» said the daughter. «I must do my lessons now. I shall do it tomorrow».
The man went to his sister, but she could not help him. She said: «I must make my dress now. I shall do it tomorrow».
So the man went to bed and left his new trousers on a chair near his bed.
His wife washed all the plates, came into the room, took the trousers, made them shorter and put them back on the chair. When his daughter did her lessons, she came into his room, took the trousers and made them shorter. Late in the evening his sister came too and made the trousers shorter.
The man got up at 7 o’clock in the morning. His wife told him, «I have made your trousers shorter; you can put them on». But when the man put them on, he saw that they were too short for him and he could not wear them.
‘HIS FIRST MONEY’
Somebody once asked Mark Twain whether he could remember the first money he ever earned. «I remember quite well», the famous writer answered.
«It happened at school. Schoolboys in those days had very little respect for their teachers and even less for their desks. The boys used pens and pencils and even knives to draw stars and faces, or to write their names on their desks.
At last, the school principal said: «The next time anybody does such a thing, he will have to pay five dollars, or he will receive a beating in front of the whole school».
«Soon after that, I had to go to my father and ask him to give me five dollars. I was honest enough to explain that I could agree to receive a beating instead, but he said: «No, I can’t allow you to connect our name with such things. So I’ll pay the five dollars. But you must suffer for what you have done. I’ll give you the beating here, at home».
«So he beat me, and then gave me the five dollars to take to school. But I decided that the beating didn’t hurt so much, and another beating at school wouldn’t be worse.
So I told them to give me a beating in front of the whole school, and I kept the five dollars. And that was the first money I ever earned».
‘ONE MORE FUNNY STORY’
One of Mark Twain’s hobbies was fishing. He went fishing whenever he had a chance, even in the closed season, when fishing was not allowed anywhere in lakes and rivers. Like all fishermen, he sometimes invented stories about the number of fish he caught.
One hot day during the closed season, Mark Twain was fishing as usual, under a low bridge. A man who was walking across the bridge happened to notice Mark Twain and began to watch him. At last he asked: «Have you. caught many fish?»
«Not yet», Mark Twain answered. «I have only just begun. But yesterday I caught thirty great big fish here».
«You were very lucky», the man said. «Do you know who I am?»
«No», Mark Twain said. «I don’t think I ever happened to meet you before».
«I’m the fishing inspector in this place. Do you know that this is the closed season?»
Mark Twain thought quickly. He understood how foolish he had been. «Do you know who I am?» he asked aloud.
«No, of course not», answered the inspector.» «I am the biggest liar on the Mississippi», Mark Twain told him.
“ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW”
Robin Hood was a legendary hero who was well known and loved by the poor people of England. He lived in a forest far from the towns, and when the poor were oppressed by the rich, he helped them by giving them food and shelter. The sheriffs tried to arrest him but they did not succeed in doing so.
Once the sheriff of N. decided to organize a shooting contest in order to catch him because he knew Robin Hood to be a very good shot and was sure that he would take part in the contest by all means. The prize was a golden arrow.
On learning about the forthcoming contest Robin Hood gathered his men and discussed whether they should take part in it. Finally it was decided that although the risk of participating in the contest was great, they should all go, Robin Hood among them.
The day of the contest was fine and clear. The town was decorated with flags, and field for the contest was full of people. The sheriff looked for Robin Hood and his men everywhere. He knew that they were always dressed in green. To his disappointment, however, he could not find anybody who looked like them. The contest was won by a fellow dressed in red, who had come from a village with a whole company of young men.
After receiving the prize the fellow left the town, and nobody ever thought that it was Robin Hood. While leaving the town Robin Hood shot an arrow through the sheriff’s open window. There was a paper attached to it with the following words: «Robin Hood thanks the sheriff for the Golden Arrow.»
Источник: Spoken English. Интенсивный курс английской разговорной речи
Год выпуска: 1991 Автор: Ханникова Л. Н.
Short story in English Free Download — Rich Man, Poor Man book PDF
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Rich Man, Poor Man
Chapter one: A Letter for Adam
Chapter two: Adam Goes to Darpur
Chapter three: An Identity Card
Chapter four: Photographs
Chapter five: Adam Changes his Money Order
Chapter one
A Letter for Adam
One day a postman came to my village. The postman brought me a letter from my son, Saul.
“Is your name Adam?“ the postman asked.
“Yes,“ I said.
“I have got a letter for you.” The postman read the envelope:
“Adam of the village of Minta.”
“A letter for me. Who is it from?” I asked.
The postman looked at the envelope again.
“From Saul,” he said.
He gave me the letter and walked away.
“Martha, Martha,” I called to my wife.
“Come here. We have a letter from our son, Saul.”
Martha came out and looked at the letter. She was excited but she was also worried.
“A letter from Saul,” she said. “Is he alive and well? I’m going to find the school teacher. He can read the letter.”
There was no school fifty years ago. So I cannot read or write. I live in a small village. The only work is farming. My only son, Saul left the village two years ago and my three daughters are married. Saul is making a lot of money in a foreign country.
Martha and the school teacher came back. A lot of other people came. Everyone wanted to hear my letter. The school teacher opened the envelope and read the letter.
20 Taylor Street, London E. 19, England 16 March
Dear Father,
I am living in London. I have a job in a factory. The work is very hard, I often work at night. But the pay is good.
I am well and I live with people from my country. I am sending you 100 pounds in this letter. This is for you and my mother.
Love to you and mother.
Saul.
“One hundred pounds!” I said to the school teacher. “You’re wrong. It’s a mistake.”
“No”, the school teacher said.
“I’m not wrong. It’s not a mistake. Here is the money.”
And he gave me a piece of paper.
“What is this?” I asked.
“A money order,” the school teacher said.
“Go to Darpur. Take this money order to the Post Office in Darpur.
The money order is worth one hundred pounds. The Post Office official will give you the money.”
“One hundred pounds!” I said again .
Everyone laughed and said, “ Adam, you are a rich man. You can buy many things for your farm and for your house.”
“And I can buy some good food and drink in Darpur. I am going to give a party for you all,” I told my friends.
Martha said, “ Saul is a good son.”
That evening, the village people talked about the money order and my money. Martha and I also talked about the money. We needed many things for the farm.
Chapter two
Adam Goes to Darpur
The next morning I got up very early. It was dark and everyone was asleep. But I was going to Darpur. I washed and dressed carefully. I put on my best clothes and I carried my best stick. I put the money order carefully in my pocket and I said goodbye to Martha.
I walked ten miles to the main road. I sat down at the main road and ate my breakfast.
I waited for the bus. I waited for two hours. Then the bus came and I got on.
It is a long way to Darpur. The bus takes three hours. I arrived in Darpur and walked to the Post Office immediately.
I do not often go to Darpur. I only know the market, and one shop. This is the shop of Rick. I buy things for my farm from Rick
There were a lot of people in the Post Office. I asked about money orders. A man showed me the queue. There was a long line of people and I waited at the back.
Finally it was my turn ; I was at the front of the queue. But the official did not serve me.
“Excuse me,” I said .
“It’s my turn. I’m next.”
“You are next? Old man, I’m very busy,” the official said. “Look at my papers. Look at all these people. I am very busy. And you must wait,”
So I waited. Finally the official looked at me.
“What do you want?” he asked.
I gave him my money order.
“This is my money order for one hundred pounds,” I replied.
The official held out his hand. “Identity Card,” he said.
“Excuse me. I don’t understand,” I replied
“Your Identity Card,” the official said again. “Give me your Identity Card.”
“What is an Identity Card?” I asked.
“I can’t give you any money for this money order. First I must see your Identity Card. Your Identity Card gives your name and your address. Your Identity Card describes you. There is a photograph of you in your Identity Card. I don’t know you. Who are you?” The official was a little angry.
But I was also angry. “Who am I?” I said.
“Everyone knows me. I am Adam of the village of Minta. I haven’t got an Identity Card and I don’t need an Identity Card.” “Old man, I’m very busy and you’re very stupid,” the official said. “ Who are you? Where is Minta?
“Give me my money. Give me my one hundred pounds,” I said.
The official looked angry and said, “Show me your Identity Card. I don’t know you.”
The official gave back my money order and he turned away.
“Where can I buy an Identity Card?” I asked the official. He did not speak to me. He did not answer.
“Go to the Ministry of the Interior,” a man said.
He was standing in the queue. And he told me the way.
Chapter three
An Identity Card
I walked to the Ministry of the Interior. I waited in another queue. I spoke to another official. I asked for an Identity Card.
“Fill in this application from, the official said. “And bring the form and three photographs of yourself and two pounds. Come back tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I said. “Can I have an Identity Card today please ? I live in Minta. I live five hours’ journey from Darpur. I’m an old man.”
“Yes, come back tomorrow.” And the official turned away.
I walked away from the Ministry of the Interior, I walked to the market. At the market I looked at everyone. I was looking for a man from my village. But I could not find a villager. So then I walked to the shop of Rick. I spoke to Rick.
“I want an Identity Card,” I told him. “But I need three photographs of myself.”
“I see. You need some photographs.” And he showed me the way to a photographer.
I found the house. The photographer was asleep but he came to me quickly. The man’s clothes were dirty and he looked tired.
“I need an Identity Card,” I said. “I want three photographs of myself.”
“Yes, you want three photographs of yourself,” the photographer replied.
“And I take very good photographs. Come and see my camera.”
We walked into his room. In the middle of the room was a large camera. “This is the best camera in Darpur. This camera is very, very good,” the photographer said proudly.
“I’ve never seen a camera,” I said. “I don’t know about cameras. Hurry up and take a photograph of me.”
“Please do not hurry me, old man,” the photographer said. I am an artist. “And he gave me a mirror and a comb.
I don’t want a mirror, I don’t want a comb. Please take my photograph. I’m going to Minta this afternoon. And I’m in a hurry,” I said.
“Yes,“ he said. “ But first the price. This is the best camera in Darpur and I’m the best photographer. Three photographs will cost you two pounds fifty.”
“Two pounds fifty!” And I laughed.
“Two pounds fifty-and pay me now please,” the photographer answered.
I did not know the price of photographs. What could I do? Then the photographer said, “You are an old man. For you, the price is two pounds.”
So I gave him the money and he took the photographs. “Come back tomorrow morning,” he said.
“I want my three photographs now, immediately,” I said.
“Don’t be stupid,” the photographer said. Photographs take twenty-four hours. Come back tomorrow.”
What could I do? So I said, “Yes. Tomorrow morning.”
“Good,” said the photographer. “Now go. I have a lot of work. I’m very busy.”
I went back to the bus station. I sat on the bus for three hours. I walked ten miles back to my village.
It was night time and I was very tired. Martha and my friends were waiting for me. “Where is the money?” Martha asked.
“I have no money. I cannot change the money order. First I must an Identity Card.” And I told Martha everything.
“Tomorrow I am going to Darpur again,” I said.
Then I did not talk again. I was very tired and it was late at night. I lay on my bed and I slept.
Chapter four
No photographs
I woke up late the next morning. The sun was already high. I did not walk to the main road and catch a bus. All the buses go to Darpur early in the morning.
So I stayed at home on Wednesday. I was still very very tired. I rested and talked to the villagers about the money order. I told them about the Identity Card and the photographer.
The school teacher said, “Yes, the official is correct. In a Post Office, you always show your Identity Card.” The school teacher filled in my application from for an Identity Card.
Application from for Identity Card
Name: Adam Jamei
Address: Village of Minta
Age: 72 years
Place of birth: Village of Minta
Occupation: Farmer
Colour of eyes: Brown
On Thursday I travelled to Darpur again. I walked to the main road and I caught a bus. In Darpur , I walked to the house of the photographer.
I knocked on the door of the house. No one came to the door. I knocked again loudly with my stick. A woman opened the door.
“Who are you? What do you want?” she asked.
“Can I have my photographs, please?” I said.
“Your photographs? I have no photographs,” the woman replied.
“I came here on Tuesday. Where is the photographs?” I asked.
“He’s out. He’s not here.” And the woman closed the door.
I shouted at her, “I’m waiting here for him.”
After a long time the photographer came back. He looked tired and he smelt of beer. “Give me my photographs, “ I said. “I have waited a long time for you.”
The photographer looked at me and said, “I don’t know you, old man. What photographr are you talking about?”
“My three photographs for my Identity Card. I paid you two pounds for them on Tuesday. Give me my photographs immediately or my money.”
“Your photographs? Your money? What are you talking about?” the photographer said.
“Show me the paper. Show me the receipt for your money.”
“My receipt? I asked.
“Yes. Where is your receipt?” the photographer asked.
“You didn’t give me a receipt,” I shouted. “Give me my photographer or my money immediately.” And I hit the photographer hard with my stick. I am old , But still strong.
The photographer fell on the ground. He shouted, “Help! Help! This old man is killing me.” And I hit him hard again.
Lots of people ran out of their houses. I hit the photographer again and two men held me.
I could not get away from the two men.
The photographer was very angry and I was very angry. Lots of people were shouting. Then a policeman came. The photographer shouted to the policeman, “This old man hit me three times with his stick. He’s a thief and a murderer. He wants my money.”
The policeman held my arm and said “Come with me to the police station.” I did not say anything. We walked to the police station. At the police station, the policemen asked me “Did you hit that man three times?”
“Yes,” I said, “he didn’t give me my photographs.”
“Show me your Identity Card,” said the policeman.
“ I am Adam of Minta village, “ I replied, “ and I haven’t got an Identity Card.”
“Old man,” said the policeman. “Go back to your village. Don’t come here and fight. Keep our of Darpur.”
And he pushed me into the street. I went back to my village. I was tired and angry.
Chapter five
Adam Changes his Money Order
Next day I told my story to all the villagers. The villagers were angry. Martha was very unhappy.
She said,” Saul is working very hard. He is sending money and we can’t have the money.
What are we going to do?”
I did not know. Then in the evening the school teacher came to my house again.
“Adam. Perhaps I can help you, “ the school teacher said. “Here is a letter to Mr Sheth.” “Mr?” I said, “Who is he?”
“He’s an important man in Darpur and he’s a friend of my wife’s cousin,” replied the school teacher. “This letter is to Mr Sheth. The letter is about your money order. Perhaps he can help you.”
I took the letter and thanked the school teacher.
So I travelled to Darpur again on Saturday, for the third time. After a long time, I found Mr Sheth’s house.
The door was opened by a tall man. “Can I see Mr Sheth?” I asked.
“And who are you ?” the tall man asked. I have a letter for Mr Sheth ,” I replied. “I see. Can I have the letter, please?” And the tall man held out his hand.
“The letter is here,” I said. And I took the letter out of my pocket. “But I must see Mr Sheth.”
“Many people want to see Mr Sheth ,” the tall man told me. “He is a very busy man and a very important man. Mr Sheth is not here at the moment. But give me your letter, and Mr Sheth will read it later.”
I gave the tall man the letter. Then I waited. Later, a large black car came and a men went into the house. A long time later, the tall man opened the door again.
“Come in now, please, and follow me,” he said.
I followed the tall man. We went into a large room with fine carpets and big chairs. Another man was in the room. He was drinking.
“This is Mr Sheth,” said the tall man. “I am Adam of Minta village,” I replied.
“Yes, I know,” said Mr Sheth. “Thank you for the letter. I hope I can help you. I like to help people. Please, sit down.” Mr Sheth smiled. His clothes were new and smart.
“Thank you, “ I said.
“Can I see the money order, please?” Mr Sheth asked.
I took the money order out of my pocket.
By now, the money order was dirty and looked very old. I gave it to Mr Sheth.
“This money order is for one hundred pounds,” I said.” My son sent it from a foreign country.”
Mr Sheth unfolded the money order and looked at it. “You can’t change this money order,” he said. “This money order is not worth one hundred pounds. This money is worth nothing
“Worth nothing! Worthless?“ I asked.
Then Mr Sheth looked at the money order again. “Yes, worthless. Your son does not understand about money orders. This money order is not correct for our country,”
Mr Sheth said. Then he looked at the money order again and said, “And this money order is also old. It is out-of-date.”.
I said nothing. Mr Sheth gave me the money order back. Then Mr Sheth smiled and said, I am very sorry. You are an old man. You came a long way from your village. What can I give you to eat and drink?”
I was not hungry. But Mr Sheth went out of the room. Then he brought me some coffee and some cakes. I drank my coffee.
“Old man,” said Mr Sheth, “ I like to help people. I am a rich man. Give me your money order.”
I gave my money order to Mr Sheth. “Yes, this money order is worthless,” he said again.
“But I am going to help you. I am going to change this money order for you. I am going to give you some money.”
Mr Sheth went out of the room. I felt very happy again. After a few minutes, the tall man came into the room. He gave me an envelope. “This is from Mr Sheth. You can go now,” the tall man said.
I went out of the house. I walked along the road to the bus station. I opened the envelope and I took out my money.
I counted the money. It was ten pounds. I thought about my only son, Saul.
My son, Saul, had sent me a money order for one hundred pounds. Mr Sheth had given me ten pounds. I felt old and I felt poor again.
— THE END –
Source: vocab.today
Short story in English Free Download — Rich Man, Poor Man book PDF
Short story in English TOP SITES
- themanual.com — short story in english
It’s been argued by many writers that penning a good short story is much harder than writing an entire novel. With the latter, there’s plenty of space to unpack character, theme, and plot. With a short story, however, every word counts. The best short stories speak volumes within a few slim pages.CONTENTS
- The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
- The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
- The Dead by James Joyce
To that end, there are a smattering of short stories that stand out from the crowd. Admittedly, it is difficult to call them the best short stories because quality is subjective. But rest assured that those you’ll find recommended here are almost universally considered some of the most important little works of literature ever thanks to some combination of their revolutionary style, timeless storytelling, or influence on nearly all writers to follow.
Some of these are classic tales that have been beloved for decades while others are from current authors who are still breaking literary ground today, but they are truly great short stories one and all.
2. reedsy.com
Short story in english Best Short Stories and Collections Everyone Should Read
short story in english If you are on the lookout for great storytelling but don’t want to commit to a full-length novel, then short story collections are the answer. Whether it’s just before bed, during your commute, or waiting to see your doctor, small chunks of time are perfect for reading short stories.
Here we have gathered thirty-one of the best short stories and collections, from all sorts of backgrounds and sources, to help you grow your “To Be Read” pile short story in english.
For your convenience, we’ve divided this post into two parts: 1. the ten best free short stories to read right now, and 2. best short story collections. Feel free to jump to the section that you prefer!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of great short stories out there, you can also take our short story in english 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized short story recommendation 😉
Free Short Stories to Read Right Now
These individual short stories are the best of the best — and the even better news is that they’re available for free online for you to peruse. From classics published in the 1900s to a short story that exploded in late 2017, here are ten of the greatest free short stories for you to read.
Short story in english pdf free download
1. “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl-short story in english
While not exactly a philosophical or political tale like our first two examples, this twisty short story from Dahl does delve into some shady moral territory. We are introduced to Mary Maloney: a loving wife and dedicated homemaker. In just a few short paragraphs describing how she welcomes her husband home, Dahl makes us sympathize with Mary — before a rash act turns her life upside down and takes the reader with her on a dark journey.
short story in english For those who haven’t read it, we won’t spoil the rest. However, it’s safe to say that Dahl serves up a fiendish twist on a platter.
Short stories in English for beginners pdf
2. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
A perennial feature in many a high school syllabus, Shirley Jackson’s best-known short story clinically details an unusual ritual that takes place in a small town. There’s not exactly a lot of plot to spoil in The Lottery — but within a few short pages, Jackson manages to represent the mob mentality that can drive reasonable people to short story in english commit heinous acts.
3. “How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore
Told in the second person point of view, this story from Moore’s debut anthology Self-Help takes an honest look at the inner life of a struggling artist. Through the use of an unusual POV, the author manages to turn her reader into a confidante — making short story in english it abundantly clear that the ‘you’ the narrator is speaking about is actually herself.
This story is a standout, but the entire collection is well worth a read for its insight, humor, and disregard for literary norms.
4. “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian
In the Social Media Age, no short story has gone viral the way this New Yorker contribution from Roupenian has. Arriving at the height of #MeToo, it begins with 20-year-old Margot embarking on the early stages of flirtation with an older man, Robert. As she gets to know more about this man (as well as filling in the gaps with her short story in english imagination), the power dynamic in their relationship starts to fluctuate.
Lauded for its portrayal of Margot’s inner life and the fears many modern women face when it comes to dating, it also has its fair share of detractors — many are critical of the central character, some are downright outraged by the story’s success. Still, this story undeniably struck a chord with the reading public, and will likely short story in english remain relevant for some time.
Short story in english for intermediate
5. “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver
First published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1981, “Cathedral” is today known as one of Raymond Carver’s finest works. When it opens, we meet a narrator whose wife is expecting a visit from an old friend, a blind man. Dissatisfied and distrusting of people not like him, our narrator struggles to connect until the blind man asks him to describe a cathedral to him.
“Cathedral” is one of Carver’s own personal favorites, and deservedly so. His characteristic minimalist style is devastating as the story builds up to a shattering moment of emotional truth — short story in english an ultimate reminder that no-one else can capture the quiet sadness of working-class people like him.
Short stories in English for students
6. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
Innocuously titled, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is nevertheless Flannery O’Connor’s bleakest — and most famous — work. It begins unassumingly with a Southern family who’s planning to go on a road trip. Yet the journey is rudely interrupted when their short story in english car overturns on an abandoned dirt road — and they are met by an enigmatic group of three men, coming up over the far hill.
This short story inspired some strong reactions from the public upon publication — and the conversation continues today as to its frank depiction of the nature of good and evil. Again, we won’t spoil anything for you, except to say that “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is well worth your time.
short stories in english pdf
7. “Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov
The famous author of Lolita wrote “Signs and Symbols” in 1948. Its premise is seemingly simple: an elderly short story in english couple visits their mentally ill son in the sanatorium in America. Yet their background and trials come into sharp focus as the story develops, until an explosive ending disrupts everyone’s peace of mind.
As you might expect, the somber “Symbols and Signs” diverges sharply from Lolita in terms of both tone and subject — but its ending will keep you awake at night thinking about its implications.
BEST Short story in english
8. “Sticks” by George Saunders
Not so much a short story as it is flash fiction, “Sticks” is written from the perspective of a young man whose father has an unusual habit: dressing up a crucifix that’s built of out a metal pole in the yard. One of America’s greatest living short story writers, George short story in english Saunders explained: «For two years I’d been driving past a house like the one in the story, imagining the owner as a man more joyful and self-possessed and less self-conscious than myself. Then one day I got sick of him and invented his opposite, and there was the story.»
The result is a masterful piece of fiction that builds something out of seemingly nothing — all in the space of only two paragraphs.
BEST Short story in english
9. “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury
If there’s anyone who you can trust to deliver thought-provoking, terrifying science fiction on the regular, it’s Ray Bradbury. In “The Veldt,” George and Lydia Hadley have bought an automated house that comes with a “nursey,” or a virtual reality room. Worried about the nursery’s effect on the kids, George and Lydia think about turning off the nursey — but the problem is that their children are obsessed with it.
As an ominously prescient short story in english prediction of the downside of technology, “The Veldt” is a short and shining example of how Ray Bradbury was an author before his time.
BEST Short story in english
10. “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
In this classic short story, we are privy to the journals of Charlie Gordon, a cleaner with an IQ of 68. («I reely wantd to lern I wantid it more even then pepul who are smarter even then me. All my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb.”) Charlie’s luck changes when he is selected for an experiment that purports to turn him into a genius — but everything that goes up must come down in the end.
“Flowers for Algernon” won the Hugo Award in short story in english 1960 for its groundbreaking presentation. Heartbreaking and rich with subtle poignance, it is likely to remain a staple for centuries to come.
3. wealthygorilla.com— short story in english
Stories that have morals and messages behind them are always powerful. In fact, it’s crazy just how powerful a 200 word story can be.
Our last article of short stories became so popular, that we decided to create another list, in which every story has a simple moral behind it.
4. theguardian.com— short story in english
- “The Tribute” by Jane Gardam (1980)
John McGahern and Annie Proulx are among my favourite authors, but to dispel gloom I choose this story from Jane Gardam’s 1980 collection The Sidmouth Letters. Reading this gleeful story in my expatriate days, I recognised the cast of “diplomatic wives”, trailing inebriate husbands through the ruins of empire. Mostly dialogue, it is a deft, witty tale in which a small kindness – though not by a diplomatic wife – pays off 40 years later. I must have read it a dozen times, to see how its note is sustained and the surprise is sprung; every time it makes me smile with delight. Hilary Mantel
“The Stone Boy” by Gina Berriault (1957)
This great and underrated masterpiece is a meditation on good and evil and especially about the way that people’s expectations and assumptions about us may wear us down and eventually force us into compliance with their view. But it is a much deeper and more biblical story than that and, like any great work of art, resists reduction. Berriault, who died in 1999, is known as a San Francisco writer. A wonderful sampling of her stories is available in Women in Their Beds: New & Selected Stories. George Saunders
“The Love of a Good Woman” by Alice Munro (1998)
Among the handful of short stories closest to my heart, I’ve chosen “The Love of a Good Woman” by Canadian writer Munro, from her 1998 collection of that name. It’s about a murder – probably it’s a murder, because nothing is certain – and a love match that depends on keeping that murder secret. Like so many of Munro’s stories, this one has the scope of a novel yet never feels hurried or crowded. The sociology of a small town in rural Ontario is caught on the wing in the loose weave of her narration; the story takes in whole lifetimes, and yet its pace is also exquisitely slow, carrying us deep inside particular moments. A woman moves among the willows beside a river at night, making up her mind. Tessa Hadley
5. owlcation.com-short story in english
Howard is an avid short story reader who likes to help others find and understand stories.
Here is a selection of some of the best, most anthologized short stories ever. No doubt you’ll find many familiar titles here, but I hope you also discover something new.
These narratives are sterling examples of the short story form. They have endured, bringing enjoyment to readers for many years.
Most of them are part of the literary canon. You’ll have no trouble finding explanatory notes and analysis for these titles if you want to go deeper. But if that’s not for you, don’t let it put you off reading these stories. They can be enjoyed on their own.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
Della, a young married woman, has managed to save a dollar and eighty-seven cents. It’s Christmas tomorrow; she wants to get her husband a nice present. She’s distraught, knowing that she’s well short of the amount she needs. Before going out, she looks at her long, beautiful hair in the mirror.
This story can be read in the preview of The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories. (37% into preview)
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
A small village is preparing for its annual summer tradition—a lottery. It’s a very important event, done to ensure a good harvest. The children gather excitedly, followed by the adults. When everyone is present, the village’s civic leader, Mr. Summers, gets things started.
This story can be read in the preview of Brave New Worlds: Dystopian Stories. (10% in)
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
A man claims that a disease had sharpened his senses and that he isn’t mad. He was seized with a desire to kill an old man. The man hadn’t wronged him in any way, nor was material gain his motive. It was the old man’s eye—pale blue with a film over it—that drove him to act.
Read The Tell-Tale Heart
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A woman going through some difficulties is confined to a room in a colonial mansion. Both her husband and brother are physicians, and they agree on the diagnosis—nervous depression and a slight hysterical tendency. She’s to have no excitement and do no work until she’s better. She disagrees, but all she can do is a little secret writing.
When it comes to learning English, what if you can understand big ideas with just a little bit of text?
I’m talking about award-winning short stories in English.
Stories are all about going beyond reality, and these will not only improve your English reading but also open your mind to different worlds.
Contents
- 1. “The Bogey Beast” by Flora Annie Steel
- 2. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop
- 3. “The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse” by Beatrix Potter
- 4. “The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond
- 5. “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
- 6. “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco
- 7. “Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu
- 8. “The Missing Mail” by R.K. Narayan
- 9. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
- 10. “The School” by Donald Barthelme
- 11. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
- 12. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” by Rudyard Kipling
- 13. Excerpt from “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens
- 14. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
- 15. “Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal
- 16. “The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce
- 17. “The Zero Meter Diving Team” by Jim Shepherd
- 18. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
- 19. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
- 20. “Little Red Riding Hood” by The Brothers Grimm
- 21. “A Tiny Feast” by Chris Adrian
- 22. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
- 23. “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
- 24. “Paul Bunyan,” adapted by George Grow
- 25. “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde
- 26. “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault
- 27. “The Friday Everything Changed” by Anne Hart
- 28. “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
- How to Use Short Stories to Improve Your English
-
- Use Illustrations to Enhance Your Experience
- Listen to Recordings of Stories
- Explore Stories Related to a Theme
- Choose the Right Reading Level
- Practice “Active Reading”
- Choose Only a Few Words to Look Up
- Make Your Own Summary
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1. “The Bogey Beast” by Flora Annie Steel
A woman finds a pot of treasure on the road while she is returning from work.
Delighted (very happy) with her luck, she decides to keep it. As she is taking it home, it keeps changing.
However, her enthusiasm refuses to fade away (disappear or faint slowly).
What Is Great About It: The old lady in this story is one of the most cheerful characters anyone can encounter in English fiction.
Her positive disposition (personality) tries to make every negative situation seem like a gift, and she helps us look at luck as a matter of our view rather than events.
2. “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Aesop
This classic fable (story) tells the story of a very slow tortoise (turtle) and a speedy hare (rabbit).
The tortoise challenges the hare to a race. The hare laughs at the idea that a tortoise could run faster than he, but the race leads to surprising results.
What Is Great About It: Have you ever heard the English expression, “Slow and steady wins the race”? This story is the basis for that common phrase.
This timeless (classic) short story teaches a lesson that we all know but can sometimes forget: Natural talent is no substitute for hard work, and overconfidence often leads to failure.
3. “The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse” by Beatrix Potter
Timmie Willie is a country mouse who is accidentally taken to a city in a vegetable basket. When he wakes up, he finds himself at a party and makes a friend.
When he is unable to bear (tolerate or experience) the city life, he returns to his home but invites his friend to the village.
When his friend visits him, something similar happens.
What Is Great About It: Humans have been living without cities or villages for most of history.
That means that both village and city life are recent inventions. And just like every other invention, we need to decide their costs and benefits.
The story is precisely (exactly) about this debate. It is divided into short paragraphs and has illustrations for each scene. This is best for beginners who want to start reading immediately.
4. “The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond used to spend his summer at his grandmother’s house in Dehradun.
While taking the train, he always had to pass through a small station called Deoli. No one used to get down at the station and nothing happened there.
Until one day he sees a girl selling fruit and he is unable to forget her.
What Is Great About It: Ruskin Bond is a writer who can communicate deep feelings in a simple way.
This story is about our attachment to strangers and why we cherish (value or appreciate deeply) them even though we do not meet them ever again.
5. “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury
Earth has been destroyed by war and no one lives on it anymore.
The robots and the machines continue to function and serve human beings who have long ago died.
What Is Great About It: The title is taken from a poem that describes how nature will continue its work long after humanity is gone.
But in this story, we see that nature plays a supporting role and the machines are the ones who have taken its place.
They continue their work without any human or natural assistance. This shows how technology has replaced nature in our lives and how it can both destroy us and carry on without humanity itself.
6. “Orientation” by Daniel Orozco
This is a humorous story where the speaker explains the office policies, as well as gossip about the staff, to a new employee.
It is extremely easy to read as the sentences are short and without any overly difficult words.
Many working English learners will relate to it as it explains the absurdities (silly moments) of modern office life and how so little of it makes sense.
What Is Great About It: Modern workplaces often feel like theaters where we pretend to work rather than get actual work done. The speaker exposes this reality that nobody will ever admit to.
He over-explains everything from the view out the office window to the intimate details of everyone’s life—from the overweight loner to the secret serial killer.
It talks about the things that go unsaid; how people at the office know about the deep secrets of our home life, but do not talk about it.
7. “Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu
Jack’s mother can make paper animals come to life.
In the beginning, Jack loves them and spends hours with his mom. But as soon as he grows up, he stops talking to her since she is unable to speak in English.
When his mother tries to talk to him through her creations, he kills them and collects them in a box.
After a tragic loss, he finally gets to know her story through a hidden message that he should have read a long time ago.
What Is Great About It: The story is a simple narration that touches on complex issues. It is about leaving your own country with the promise of a better life.
It is also about the conflicts that can occur between families when different cultures and languages collide. In this case, the tension is so high that it destroys the relationship between a mother and her son.
It also has a moving message about never taking your loved ones for granted.
8. “The Missing Mail” by R.K. Narayan
This story is part of R.K. Narayan’s “Malgudi Days” short story collection.
Thanappa is the village mailman who is good friends with Ramanujam and his family. He learns about a failed marriage and helps Ramanujam’s daughter get engaged to a suitable match.
Just before the wedding, Thanappa receives a tragic letter about Ramanujam’s brother. He decides not to deliver it.
What Is Great About It: Despite the best of intentions, our actions can cause more harm to our loved ones than we ever intended.
The story is about the complicated relationships and feelings which are always present in our social circles, but we are often ignorant of them.
9. “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
The year is 2081, and everyone has been made equal by force.
Every person who is superior in any way has been handicapped (something that prevents a person’s full use of their abilities) by the government.
Intelligent people are distracted by disturbing noises. Good dancers have to wear weights so that they do not dance too well.
Attractive people wear ugly masks so they do not look better than anyone else.
However, one day there is a rebellion, and everything changes for a brief instant.
What Is Great About It: Technology is always supposed to make us better. But in this case, we see that it can be used to disable our talents.
Moreover, the writer shows us how the mindless use of a single value like equality can create more suffering for everyone.
10. “The School” by Donald Barthelme
A school teacher is narrating all the recent incidents that have happened on campus.
First, they mention a garden where all the trees died. Pretty soon deaths of all kinds begin to occur.
What Is Great About It: Most of the adults do not know how to deal with death, even though they want to teach children about it.
It makes us realize how weak our education systems are because they can not help us deal with life’s most basic issues.
Eventually, the students start to lose faith in everything, and the adults have to put on a show of love to make themselves less frightened.
It shows how adults can fail to explain and understand death, and so they just pretend that they do. In this way, the cycle of misunderstanding and avoiding life’s issues continues.
11. “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
A mother is telling her daughter how to live her life properly. The daughter does not seem to have any say in it.
What Is Great About It: This may not be technically a story since there is no plot. “Girl” talks about how girls are taught to live restricted lives since childhood.
The mother instructs (tells) her to do all the household chores, indicating that it is her sole purpose (only aim or duty).
Sometimes the mother tells her to not attract attention, to not talk to boys and to always keep away from men.
On the other hand, she hints that she will have to be attractive to bakers and other suitable males in society to live a good life.
This story is about these conflicting ideas that girls face when growing up.
12. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” by Rudyard Kipling
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is about a Mongoose who regularly visits a family in India.
The family feeds him and lets him explore their house, but they worry that he might bite their son, Teddy.
One day a snake is about to attack him when the Mongoose kills it. Eventually, he becomes a part of the family forever.
What Is Great About It: This is a simple story about humans and animals living together as friends. It is old, but the language is fairly easy to understand.
It reminds us that animals can also experience feelings of love and, like humans, they will also protect the ones they love.
“Rikki-Tikki-Tavi” is part of Kipling’s short story collection “The Jungle Book,” which was famously made into a movie by Disney.
If you enjoy the story but need a break from reading, check out this captivating trailer for Disney’s newer version of the movie.
13. Excerpt from “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens
Dorrit is a child whose father has been in prison ever since she could remember. Unable to pay their debts, the whole family is forced to spend their days in a cell.
Dorrit thinks about the outside world and longs to see it (wishes to see it).
This excerpt introduces you to the family and their life in prison.
The novel is about how they manage to get out and how Dorrit never forgets the kindness of the people who helped her.
What Is Great About It: Injustice in law is often reserved for the poor. “Little Dorrit” shows clearly how it works in society.
It is about the government jailing people for not being able to return their loans, a historical practice the writer hated since his own father was punished in a similar way.
The story reveals how the rich cheat the poor and then put them into prisons instead of facing punishment.
14. “To Build a Fire” by Jack London
A man travels to a freezing, isolated place called Yukon. He only has his dog with him for company.
Throughout his journey, he ignores the advice other people had given him and takes his life for granted.
Finally, he realizes the real power of nature and how delicate (easily broken) human life actually is.
What Is Great About It: The classic fight between life and death has always fascinated us. Nature is often seen as a powerful force that should be feared and respected.
The man in this story is careless and, despite having helpful information, makes silly mistakes. He takes the power of natural forces too lightly.
The animal is the one who is cautious and sensible in this dangerous situation. By the end, readers wonder who is really intelligent—the man who could not deal with nature or the dog who could survive?
15. “Evil Robot Monkey” by Mary Robinette Kowal
Sly is a chimpanzee who is much smarter than the other chimpanzees. He loves to play with clay on a potter’s wheel all day and likes to keep to himself.
But one day when the school kids bully him, he loses his temper and acts out in anger. Seeing this, the teacher punishes him and takes away his clay.
What Is Great About It: Sly is a character who does not fit into society. He is too smart for the other chimps, but humans do not accept him. He is punished for acting out his natural emotions.
But the way he handles his rage, in the end, makes him look more mature than most human beings. Nominated for the Hugo award, many readers have connected with Sly since they can see similarities in their own lives.
16. “The Boarded Window” by Ambrose Bierce
“The Boarded Window” is a horror story about a man who has to deal with his wife’s death. The setting is a remote cabin in the wilderness in Cincinnati, and he feels helpless as she gets sick.
There’s an interesting twist to this story, and the ending will get you thinking (and maybe feeling a bit disturbed!).
What is Great About It: If you enjoy older stories with a little suspense, this would be a good challenge for you–in fact, until now, it’s still included in a lot of horror story compilations.
It talks about the event that made a hermit decide to live alone for decades, with a mysterious window boarded up in his cabin.
Aside from what actually happens in the story, there’s also a lot of emphasis on psychology and symbolism.
17. “The Zero Meter Diving Team” by Jim Shepherd
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was one of the most deadly accidents in the twentieth century.
This is a story about that event through the eyes of a father and his sons. The family was unfortunate enough to be close to the disaster area.
The story exposes the whole system of corruption that led to a massive explosion taking innocent lives and poisoning multiple generations.
The technical vocabulary and foreign words make this text a little more difficult. However, the story is relatively easy to follow.
What Is Great About It: It is no secret that governments lie to their own people. But sometimes these lies can cost lives.
Very often we accept this as normal, but this tale opens our eyes to the cost of our indifference (lack of concern).
The story is divided into small parts that make it both easy and exciting to read.
The various events are about life in general in what was then known as the Soviet Union. And just like any other good story, it is also about human relationships and how they change due to historic events.
18. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
A man brings a magical monkey’s paw from India, which grants three wishes to three people.
When the White family buys it from him, they realize that sometimes you do not want your wishes to come true.
What Is Great About It: Sometimes we wish for things, but we do not think about their consequences.
In this story, the characters immediately regret when their wishes come true because either someone dies or something worse happens.
They realize that they never thought about the ways their wishes could destroy people and their lives.
19. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Mrs. Mallard has heart troubles that could kill her.
When her husband dies, the people who come to give her this news try to do so gently. When she is finally informed, she bursts into tears.
Eventually, she goes to her room and locks herself in.
However, while thinking about the future, she is excited by the idea of freedom that could come after her husband’s death.
After an hour, the doorbell rings and her husband is standing there alive and well. When she sees him, she has a heart attack and dies.
What Is Great About It: Marriages can be like prisons for women. The one in this tale definitely seems like a heavy burden. Despite her grief, Mrs. Mallard is able to keep herself healthy with the hope of freedom from her husband.
But as soon as she realizes that she will have to go back to her old life, her body is unable to take it.
The story explores the conflicting range of human emotions of grief and hope in a short span, and the impact it can have on a person’s mind and body.
20. “Little Red Riding Hood” by The Brothers Grimm
This is a story that every English-speaking child knows. It’s about a little girl who meets a wolf in the forest while going to see her sick grandmother.
The wolf pretends to be her grandmother in order to trick the little girl. There are actually different versions of it, with different endings–the one I’ve linked above is the most popular.
What Is Great About It: “Little Red Riding Hood” is a fairy tale, which is a story for kids that has been traditionally told through generations.
It’s often used to teach children that it’s bad to talk to strangers, since the image of being eaten by a wolf can be very scary.
It has been adapted into different movies and media, and you’ll still hear mentioned in pop culture a lot.
21. “A Tiny Feast” by Chris Adrian
The basic characters are taken from Shakespeare’s famous play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
However, in this story, the plot and the concept are entirely different.
Titania and Oberon are the rulers of fairies who have been dealing with problems in their marriage.
One day they find a human child and decide to adopt him. They hope that this child will help them save their relationship.
However, the child develops a deadly disease and the fairies have no idea what to do since they have never known illness or death.
This is a tragic tale about how they try to understand something they have never seen before and their deep love for a stranger who is so unlike them.
What Is Great About It: The story is able to explore human relationships through imaginary creatures. It explores the grief of parenthood and also the uncertainty of knowing whether your child will ever even know you.
It also beautifully captures the sense of the unknown and the helplessness which every human being faces when faced with it.
22. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
Every year, a small town holds an event known as “the lottery” that everyone attends.
During this event, someone from the community is randomly chosen…but for what reason?
What Is Great About It: The story makes you wonder about human behavior, particularly within a group of people.
Perhaps you may have heard of the term “mob mentality” and how it can allow for some pretty surprising things to happen.
This short story is considered to be one of the most famous short stories in American literature.
It shows an example of what is known as a dystopian society, where people live in a frightening way. To learn more, check out this TED-Ed video that tells you how to recognize a dystopia.
23. “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
A simple, stuffed rabbit toy is given to a young boy as a Christmas present.
At first, the rabbit isn’t noticed, as the boy is distracted by much fancier gifts. While being ignored, the rabbit begins to wonder what it means to be “real.”
One day, a certain event brings the rabbit into contact with the boy. After that, the toy’s life changes dramatically (a lot).
What Is Great About It: Have you ever loved a toy or doll so much, that you treated it as if it were alive? This story shows the power of love from a very unexpected viewpoint: that of a fluffy stuffed rabbit.
The velveteen rabbit toy is loved dearly by its owner, regardless of how worn out he becomes.
Although this story was made for children, its message is for anyone of any age. The rabbit’s quest (journey) of becoming “real” can be understood in a very human way.
The story shows the importance of self-value, being true to yourself and finding strength in those who love you.
24. “Paul Bunyan,” adapted by George Grow
The story of Paul Bunyan has been around in the United States for many years. He’s the symbol of American frontier life, showing the ideal strength, work ethic and good morality that Americans work hard to imitate.
Some sources break down his story into even shorter versions.
What is Great About It: Paul Bunyan is considered a legend, so stories about him are full of unusual details, such as eating fifty eggs in one day and being so big that he caused an earthquake.
It can be a pretty funny read, with characters such as a blue ox and a dog that’s reversible.
This version of the story is also meant to be read out loud, so it’s fast-paced and entertaining.
25. “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde
In the middle of a city is a very fancy, decorated statue of a prince, and it is known as the Happy Prince.
One day, a swallow bird decides to rest on the statue, only to get wet by the tears of the crying statue.
The Prince, as it turns out, is not happy at all. When he was alive and living in his palace, he had no idea how much suffering was happening outside his home.
Now as a statue that stands high above the city, he can finally see the many injustices happening to the people.
At the Prince’s request, the swallow begins to take off pieces of the statue and give them away to the poor. Together, the two work to try and give what aid they can to the less fortunate.
What Is Great About It: It can be easy to ignore people who are struggling and having a hard time. However, it is not good to always “turn a blind eye” and pretend not to notice.
Sometimes, even one good deed (action) can make a big impact on both the person doing it and the person receiving it.
“The Happy Prince” is a story that shows the importance of charity and empathy. These two things can come with a lot of sacrifices, but you can gain a lot in other ways.
The story also points out that you should judge a person not by what they have, but by what they give.
26. “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault
You may already know the story of Cinderella; many people saw the Disney movie or read a children’s book of it.
However, there are actually many different versions of “Cinderella.”
This one by Charles Perrault is the most well-known one and is often the version told to children.
What Is Great About It: “Cinderella” is a loved story because it describes how a kind and hard-working person was able to get a happy ending.
Even though Cinderella’s stepsisters treated her awfully, Cinderella herself remained gentle and humble. It goes to show that even though you may experience hardships, it is important to stay kind, forgiving and mindful.
27. “The Friday Everything Changed” by Anne Hart
Because only “strong boys” are allowed to do this, the girls are teased for being “weaker.”
Not only that, but the boys also get more privileges than the girls, such as being the first to get magazines.
One Friday, a girl asks the classroom teacher why girls are not allowed to get water as well. This one question causes a big reaction.
What Is Great About It: One brave act, from one brave person, can cause a big change for the better. In this story, a single girl speaks out against what she thinks is wrong.
Her courage surprises everyone, but she inspires the girls to stand up for themselves against the boys who mistreat them.
The story reflects on gender equality and how important it is to fight for fairness. Just because something is accepted as “normal” does not mean it is right.
28. “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway
At a Spanish train station, an American man and a young woman wait for a train that would take them to the city of Madrid.
The woman sees some faraway hills and compares them to “white elephants.”
This starts a conversation between the two of them, but what they discuss seems to have a deeper meaning.
What Is Great About It: This story is very well-known as a text that makes you “read between the lines”—in other words, you have to try to find a hidden meaning behind what you read.
Much of the story is a back-and-forth dialogue between two people, but you can tell a lot about them just from what they say to each other.
There is a lot of symbolism that you can analyze in this story, along with context clues. Once you realize what the real topic of the characters’ conversation is about, you can figure out the quiet, sadder meaning behind it.
How to Use Short Stories to Improve Your English
Short stories are effective in helping English learners to practice all four aspects of language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Here’s how you can make the most out of short stories as an English learner:
Use Illustrations to Enhance Your Experience
Some short stories come with illustrations. If you find a short story with illustrations, look at the pictures first to guess what the story is about.
What are they doing in the illustration? What part of the story is illustrated? The illustrations will help you to understand the meaning of the story.
You can even write your own caption or description of the picture. It can be a sentence or one word.
When you look at the story, go back to your image description. How do they relate?
Listen to Recordings of Stories
In our fantastic digital age, it is possible to find wonderful short stories online in audio or video form.
If you find a video with English-language subtitles, you can read while also listening to how a native speaker pronounces words.
Some of the short stories above are available in video format on FluentU, which is an online English immersion program.
In addition to short story video tellings, the program has many types of authentic videos like movie clips, music videos and inspirational talks.
These can help you work on your listening comprehension and pronunciation alongside your reading skills. Each video has interactive subtitles and a video dictionary for unfamiliar words.
For example, here’s a video retelling of “The Tortoise and the Hare”:
If you’re doing a review quiz for the content, you have the option of speaking in the answers for some speaking practice.
Explore Stories Related to a Theme
Like novels, short stories can be in any genre you can imagine. Do you like ghost stories? Science fiction? Romance?
You can find short stories, old and new, on the subject that you want. Some short stories teach a lesson, like fables do. Other short stories use a lot of metaphors or symbolism.
If you’re learning about hobbies, find a short story about something that you like to do. Are you learning about food? Find a short story with a lot of food vocabulary. The list goes on.
Choose the Right Reading Level
First, some short stories are over 5,000 words long while others can be as short as 50. When you’re selecting the right short story for you, you have many different types and lengths to choose from.
If you choose a story that’s too difficult, you’ll spend too much time looking up vocabulary, missing the whole point of the story. If you choose a story that’s too easy, you’ll learn little to no new vocabulary and you may become bored.
Make sure that you always challenge yourself, even if you’re only learning a few new words.
Here’s an easy way to determine if the reading level is right for you.
Choose a paragraph in the story that you want to read. How many words can you identify?
Try the “five-finger test.” Hold up your fist while you read over the paragraph. Put up one finger for each word you don’t know. If you have all five fingers up before the end of the paragraph, try to find an easier text.
What if you really want to read a story, but the level is too hard? Try to read the story anyway. If the subject interests you, you’ll be motivated to learn the vocabulary you need to understand the story.
Bring the story to your English teacher. He or she will be happy to help you understand the words you don’t know so you’ll be able to enjoy the story on your own.
Practice “Active Reading”
Your reading will only help you learn if you read actively. You are reading actively when you’re paying very close attention to the story, its words and its meanings. Think about the vocabulary and grammar.
Start by looking over the text to get an idea of what the story is about. Read the text. Try to remember some of the things you read about. Finally, review the text again to get the best understanding.
Afterwards, discuss the story with your teacher and your classmates. If there’s something you don’t understand, write down your questions to ask during the discussion.
Talk about the stories and share your own opinions about the language, culture and messages within the story.
Choose Only a Few Words to Look Up
You don’t need to look up every single word you don’t know. Choose to look up only those words that will help you understand what the paragraph is about.
If there’s a word you don’t know but you know everything else in the sentence, try to guess what the word is about by looking at the whole sentence. You can look this word up later to see if you guessed correctly.
For stories longer than 500 words, take breaks while you’re reading, especially if the vocabulary gets overwhelming. Don’t make yourself too tired, or you’ll become frustrated and give up.
If you find things are getting to be too difficult, walk away for about 15 minutes and come back and try again.
Make Your Own Summary
When you’ve finished reading the story, review it again. Do this later in the same day or the next day to let your reading really sink in. Take notes while you’re reading.
Retell the story or make a summary of the story to get even more practice.
You can make this more challenging by actually using the story as a model for writing your own English story. By writing your own stories, you get more practice in the use of vocabulary and creating your own sentences.
Why Short Stories Are Best for English Learning
Short stories are amazing resources for any English learner. That’s because:
- You can read a whole story in one sitting. Attention spans are very important for learning, and short stories are designed to give you maximum information with minimal effort.
- You get more time to focus on individual words. When a text is short, you can spend more time learning how every single word is used and what importance it has in the piece.
- It is best for consistency. It is far easier to read one story every day than trying to read a big novel that never seems to end.
- You can share them easily in a group. Since short stories can be read in a single sitting, they are ideal for book clubs and learning circles.
Most of the time these groups do not work because members have no time to read. Short stories are the perfect solution.
- You can focus more on ideas and concepts. Language is less about words and more about the meaning behind them.
If you spend all your time learning vocabulary and grammar, you will never be able to fluently speak a language because you will have little to talk about.
These short stories give you the opportunity to understand big ideas in context.
You can choose almost any short story and get something useful out of it. Each story has its own special features that you can appreciate.
The best kind of story will be one that is interesting, has a strong message and, of course, helps you to both practice and learn English.
It will be one that leaves an impact, both in your English education and in your imagination.
I hope you have fun with these stories while improving your English.
Happy reading!
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