What are the characteristics of the short stories in 'Best American Literature Short Stories'?

One characteristic could be the diversity of themes. They might cover a wide range of topics from the human condition to social issues. Another is the variety of writing styles, as different authors over 100 years would bring their own unique voices. Also, they may show the evolution of American culture over time through the stories' settings and characters.

Well, they often have very vivid characters. The writers manage to create complex individuals in a short space. For example, in some stories, you can see a character's whole life philosophy and personality quirks in just a few pages.

They were also characterized by a sense of restlessness. After the war, people were eager to break free from the old norms. In short stories, this was shown through characters who were constantly on the move, both physically and in terms of their ideas. They were exploring new relationships, new ways of thinking, and new forms of entertainment.

One characteristic is the use of gloomy and often isolated settings like old mansions or desolate landscapes. These settings create an atmosphere of unease. Another is the presence of complex, often tormented characters. For example, in 'The Fall of the House of Usher', Roderick Usher is a highly neurotic and troubled individual. Also, there is often a sense of the supernatural or the uncanny, which blurs the line between reality and the unknown.

One characteristic is their diversity in themes. They can cover love like in 'The Gift of the Magi', or madness as in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. Another is the use of vivid language. American short story writers often use rich descriptions to bring their settings and characters to life. For instance, Poe's stories are full of detailed and often eerie descriptions.

One characteristic is the exploration of diverse themes such as the American Dream, identity, and social inequality. For example, in some stories, characters strive for the American Dream but face numerous obstacles that expose the hollowness of the concept at times. Another is the use of a wide range of narrative voices, from the first - person perspective of an immigrant trying to make sense of a new land, to the omniscient narrator observing the complex web of relationships in a small town. Also, modern American short stories often experiment with form, like using fragmented narratives to mirror the fragmented nature of modern life.

Many American short stories often have strong character development despite their short length. For example, in 'Rip Van Winkle', we can clearly see how Rip changes from a carefree man to someone who has to adapt to a new world. They also tend to reflect American society at the time they were written, whether it's the social norms, economic situations or cultural values.

They often had moral lessons. For example, many stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne were full of moral exploration. His 'The Scarlet Letter' short story version, if any, would also likely carry themes of sin and redemption.

Often, they explore themes of race, discrimination, and the search for identity. For example, in 'Sonny's Blues', the characters are constantly grappling with what it means to be African American in a society that has marginalized them. The use of vivid language to describe the African American experience, whether it's the streets of Harlem or the rural South, is also common. They also tend to have strong character development that shows the resilience of African American people in the face of adversity.