Can you give some examples of the characteristics of modern short fiction?

Sure. Unusual settings are a characteristic. Like in 'The Lord of the Rings', the Middle - earth is a very different world from ours, full of magic and strange races. It's a great example of how speculative fiction can create a whole new world.

One example could be 'The Little Prince'. The main character is small in stature compared to the adults he encounters, and his story is full of profound insights. Another might be some short stories where a short - statured detective uses his wits instead of physical strength to solve crimes.

One example is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller. It echoes the ancient Greek epic, the 'Iliad'. The story focuses on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, which was only hinted at in the original ancient text but is fully explored here. Another is 'Ulysses' by James Joyce. It draws on Homer's 'Odyssey' and mirrors many of its themes and structures in a modern Dublin setting.

Yes, for instance, some of the mass - produced thriller novels. They usually start with a big event like a kidnapping or a terrorist threat. Then the hero, who is often a tough - as - nails ex - military or police officer, goes on a hunt for the bad guys. The bad guys are always very one - dimensional and evil. And in the end, the hero saves the day. This kind of repetitive and predictable structure makes it straitjacket fiction. Also, some chick - lit novels where the main character is always a young, single woman in a big city dealing with career and relationship issues in a very typical way can be examples of straitjacket fiction.

Sure. 'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a great example. One of its characteristics is the exploration of moral guilt. The protagonist commits a crime and then is tortured by his conscience, which shows the complex nature of morality in philosophical fiction. Another example is 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra' by Friedrich Nietzsche. It has a characteristic of presenting unique philosophical ideas in a fictional form. Zarathustra's teachings about the Übermensch are both thought - provoking and a distinct feature of philosophical fiction.

Sure. One example is the use of period - specific vocabulary. In a historical fiction set in the Elizabethan era, words like 'thou' and 'thee' would be used. Another is the inclusion of historical landmarks as settings. For instance, a story might be centered around the building of the Great Wall in China. And characters' behaviors are often dictated by the social mores of the time, like in a story about the French Revolution, the different classes having distinct ways of dressing and interacting.

Sure. One example is that the characters' dialogue is natural. It sounds like how people really talk. For instance, in a story about a family, they might argue over small things like who takes out the trash, just like in real families.

Sure. One example is that soft science fiction often has a strong focus on the human experience within a science - fictional setting. For example, in a story about a post - apocalyptic world, it might be more about how people form new communities and relationships rather than the exact scientific cause of the apocalypse.

Examples of short fiction forms include the short story. Hemingway's 'Hills Like White Elephants' is a famous short story. Flash fiction is exemplified by works where the author quickly gets to the point in just a few lines. The vignette form can be found in some contemporary literature where the focus is on a very specific moment, such as a moment of realization or a brief encounter.

Sure. There could be a short fictional account of a boss who constantly undermines an employee's work in front of others for no good reason. Also, a story where a group of friends exclude one person from their activities just because they think they're different, which is a form of meanness.