What are some of the best world literature short stories?

One of the best is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a masterful short story that delves into the mind of a deranged narrator. Another great one is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry which has a beautiful and ironic plot about selfless love. And 'The Monkey's Paw' is also a classic British short story filled with suspense and a touch of the macabre.

One famous short story is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple who are very poor but sacrifice their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant. It's about a woman who borrows a diamond necklace for a party, loses it, and spends years in poverty trying to replace it. And 'A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings' by Gabriel García Márquez is also well - known. It has a unique blend of magical realism, with the strange figure of the old man with wings in a normal village setting.

'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County' by Mark Twain is often considered funny. It's full of lively characters and comical situations.

One of the great World War 2 short stories is 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K. Dick. It presents an alternate history where the Axis powers won the war. Another is 'A Piece of Cake' by Roald Dahl, which is based on Dahl's own experiences as a fighter pilot during the war. And 'The Wall' by John Hersey, which gives a poignant look at the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

The short story 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy (although it was also made into a novel). It depicts a father - son duo trying to survive in a desolate, post - apocalyptic world. The story is full of heart - wrenching moments and explores themes of hope and survival in the face of extreme adversity. The desolate landscapes and the constant threat of danger make it a powerful end - of - the - world story.

A really good World War 2 short story is 'The Man in the High Castle' by Philip K. Dick. Although it has elements of alternate history, it gives a great view of what life could have been like during and after the war. There's also 'The Yellow Birds' which is more about the psychological toll of war on soldiers. It's a harrowing tale of two soldiers trying to survive in the brutal theater of war.

One of the world's best short stories is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells a heartwarming story about a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. They each sacrifice their most precious possession to buy a gift for the other. Another great one is 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. It's a disturbing tale that uses a lottery in a small town to explore themes of tradition, mob mentality, and the dark side of human nature. 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' by Flannery O'Connor is also a remarkable short story. It features a family on a road trip that encounters a criminal, and through this encounter, O'Connor delves into complex themes of grace and redemption.

One characteristic is their diversity. They cover a wide range of themes from love and loss to moral dilemmas. Another is the high - quality writing. The authors use vivid language to bring the characters and settings to life. For example, they might use detailed descriptions of a landscape to set the mood.

One of the best is 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It's a classic that explores themes of love, class, and social expectations through the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Another great one is 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which delves into the American Dream and the decadence of the Jazz Age. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee is also a must - read, dealing with racism and moral growth in a small Southern town.

One of the well - known high school world literature short stories is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another is 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, which shows the consequences of vanity. And 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson is also popular, exploring the dark side of human nature through a seemingly ordinary lottery in a small town.