A short story like 'The Mysterious Clock' often contains a paradox. The way the clock behaves defies normal logic and creates a paradoxical scenario for the characters.
It's an allegory. The story uses symbols and events to represent larger ideas and social issues.
A baby ape in the zoo had an amazing day. He found an old army hat. He put it on his head and started to march around like a little soldier. All the other animals watched him in amusement. The ape's antics were so cute. He would salute to the monkeys and make them laugh. He even tried to give commands to the zebras. It was a really funny sight and everyone in the zoo that day had a great time watching this little ape's adventure with his new 'army' hat.
You might consider 'Best American Short Stories'. It typically showcases a diverse range of short tales curated by experts in the field.
One characteristic is the presence of contradictory elements. For example, in a story, a character may strive for freedom but in the process become more trapped. Another characteristic is that they often make the reader question assumptions. A story might present a situation where what seems like a good thing turns out to have negative consequences, making the reader re - evaluate what they thought was positive.
I think it could be in 'The Tent', but I'm not completely sure.
There was a girl, Lily. She received a letter from the future. The letter told her not to take a certain flight. She listened and didn't take it. But the strange thing was, if she didn't take the flight, how could the person in the future, who knew she took the flight in the original timeline, send her the letter? This time paradox shows how complicated time travel can be.
A great example is 'The Sound of Thunder' by Ray Bradbury. In this short story, a time traveler steps on a prehistoric butterfly during a safari in the past. This small action has huge consequences in the present, creating a butterfly - effect - like paradox that shows how even the tiniest change in the past can drastically alter the future.
You might come across the story of Sisyphus in 'Greek Myths and Legends' by several authors. This collection presents numerous Greek myths, among them the tale of Sisyphus, with detailed accounts and explanations.
The story of Job is found in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament.
I think the 'Harry Potter' companion books could potentially contain Grindelwald's story. They often expand on the wizarding world's history and characters.