This lesson is an introduction to the modern short story including defining the short story, how the modern short story differs from the classic short story, the elements of a short story, and what is to be expected in this unit.

This lesson focuses on the short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce. It discusses the use of literary techniques such as stream of consciousness, forshadowing, flashback and flash-forward, and offers a PDF of...

You will be able to analyze how flashback, foreshadowing, sub-plots, or parallel plot structures can be used in developing a plot in a short story.