What are the characteristics of famous first person short stories?
Another characteristic is that they can create a sense of mystery or unreliability. In some first - person short stories, the narrator may not be entirely trustworthy. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Poe, the narrator tries to convince us of his sanity while his actions and his over - sensitivity to the old man's eye suggest otherwise, which adds a layer of intrigue to the story.
They often have a subjective view of the events. The narrator's biases and personal experiences shape how the story is told. In 'The Great Gatsby' (although it's more of a novel but has elements of short - story - like intensity in parts), Nick's first - person account is colored by his own moral compass and his relationship with the other characters.
One characteristic is the intense sense of intimacy. Since the story is told from the first - person perspective, the reader gets a closer look into the narrator's thoughts and feelings. For example, in 'The Bell Jar' by Sylvia Plath, we are right there with the narrator as she battles her mental health issues.
