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Kate Chopin: The Story of An Hour

Story of an Hour is a short story by Kate Chopin, published on December 6, 1894, in Vogue. It tells of a woman’s reaction to learning of her husband’s death in a train accident. Due to her fragile health, the news is communicated to her with great care by her sister and a family friend. After an initial moment of anguish, she isolates herself in her room, where she begins to experience a whirlwind of unexpected emotions. Through contemplation of the outside world, a new feeling grows within her, leading her to a profound revelation about her life and future.

Shirley Jackson: The Summer People

“The Summer People” is a disturbing story by the acclaimed American author Shirley Jackson, published in September 1950 in the magazine Charm. The story explores the story of an elderly couple, the Allisons, who, after years of spending their summers in a quiet country cottage, decide to extend their stay beyond the usual season. However, this harmless decision triggers a series of unexpected events.

Shirley Jackson: The Lottery

In “The Lottery,” a short story by Shirley Jackson published in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948, the residents of a small town participate in an annual lottery, which at first glance appears to be an innocent community tradition. However, a disturbing reality behind this entrenched practice is revealed as the narrative unfolds. The story delves into social conformity, the aversion to change, and the sinister nature that can lie in the traditions of a community. It is a disturbing story, controversial in its time, which has become one of the most relevant short stories in the history of the American narrative.

Ray Bradbury: The Dragon. Summary and analysis

The Dragon is a short story by Ray Bradbury, published in August 1955 in Esquire magazine. The story follows two medieval knights who, in the middle of a desolate wasteland shrouded in darkness, await the arrival of a fearsome dragon that devours solitary travelers. As the night progresses, one of them feels that time in that place is strange, as if the world were trapped in an eternal cycle. With their spears at the ready and fear in their hearts, the warriors prepare to face the creature, unaware of the truth that awaits them.

The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Read the best stories by Edgar Allan Poe, master of horror and mystery. Discover disturbing tales such as “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Black Cat”. Explore his literary genius with full stories available free of charge.

Ray Bradbury: The Playground. Summary and analysis

The Playground is a short story by Ray Bradbury, published in 1952 in the collection The Illustrated Man. The story follows Charles Underhill, a widowed man who, after the death of his wife, becomes obsessed with protecting his son Jim from the dangers of childhood. When his sister Carol decides to take the boy to a playground, Underhill visits him and is horrified by the brutality with which the children play. As his anxiety grows, he faces a disturbing decision that will lead him to question how far he is willing to go to save his son.