Victoria's Presentation - Kincaid's "Girl"
Victoria will present Jamaica Kincaid's excellent and multilayered short-short story "Girl."
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Victoria will present Jamaica Kincaid's excellent and multilayered short-short story "Girl."
Continue reading "Victoria's Presentation - Kincaid's "Girl"" »
Fables: The Crimson Candle
By Ambrose Bierce
A man lying at the point of death called his wife to his bedside and said:
"I am about to leave you forever; give me, therefore, one last proof of your affection and fidelity, for, according to our holy religion, a married man seeking admittance at the gate of Heaven is required to swear that he has never defiled himself with an unworthy woman. In my desk you will find a crimson candle, which has been blessed by the High Priest and has a peculiar mystical significance. Swear to me that while it is in existence you will not remarry."
The Woman swore and the Man died. At the funeral the Woman stood at the head of the bier, holding a lighted crimson candle till it was wasted entirely away.
Tony will present a short-short story from the man who inspired Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Read it below.
Justin will present an Eggers story you can read below.
Continue reading "Justin's Presentation - For You Eggers Fans" »
Nick's presentation is on "Untitled (Gum)."
Jamie's going to teach us "How to Set a House on Fire."
Continue reading "Jamie's Presentation - "How to Set a House on Fire"" »
Ronnie will present on Benjamin Rosenbaum's "The Orange."
Kara will be presenting Barbara Greenburg's "Important Things."
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Mike will present Eva Marie Ginsburg's "The Kettle."
Artiera is presenting "The Bullfrog and His Shadows" by Bruce Holland Rogers.
Continue reading "Artiera's Presentation - "The Bullfrog and His Shadows"" »
Kamal is presenting an excerpt from The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, titled “The Tale of the Town on the River."
Continue reading "Kamal's Presentation - “The Tale of the Town on the River"" »
Lou's presenting "Accident," by Dave Eggers.
Sophie will be presenting "The Mesmerist," by Michael Knight. Read it below.
Erik is presenting “The Black City� by Leonardo Alishan.
If you don't remember your presentation date, you can check it below. Suggestions can be found in the flash fiction books, which I can lend you, or (occasionally) on the Internet. For instance, Jerome Stern's "Morning News." Additional flash-fiction collections are available at Wilson.
Continue reading "Call "Dibs" on a Short-Short Story to Present" »
The story Holly will present on September 20, "1951," is linked below. It takes just a moment to read.
Read the story Kellen has selected, "Sweet Sixteen" by Gary D. Wilson, below. He will present the story, and his questions about it, on September 18.
Stories
by John Edgar Wideman
A man walking in the rain eating a banana. Where is he coming from. Where is he going. Why is he eating the banana. How hard is the rain falling. Where did he get the banana. What is the banana’s name. How fast is the man walking. Does he mind the rain. What does he have on his mind. Who is asking all these questions. Who is supposed to answer them. Why. Does it matter. How many questions about a man walking in the rain eating a banana are there. Is the previous question one of them or is it another kind of question, not about the man or the walking or the rain. If not, what’s it a question about. Does each question raise another question. If so, what’s the point. If not, what will the final question be. Does the man know any of the answers. Does he enjoy bananas. Walking in the rain. Can the man feel the weight of eyes on him, the weight of questions. Why does the banana’s bright yellow seem the only color, the last possible color remaining in a gray world with a gray scrim of rain turning everything grayer. I know question after question after question. The only answer I know is this: all the stories I could make from this man walking in the rain eating a banana would be sad, unless I’m behind a window with you looking out at him.
I will "present" this story on the first day of class in the same manner you will later present a short-short story or part of a story. There is no need to join the discussion before the presentation.