One example is 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. The story seems to end where it begins, with the main character about to be hanged. Another is 'The Circular Ruins' by Jorge Luis Borges, which has a circular structure with the main character creating a man in his dreams, only to later discover he might be a creation himself. Also, 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry can be seen as circular in a sense. The couple sacrifices their most precious possessions for each other, but in the end, they are right back to a place of mutual love and selflessness, as if the cycle of giving and sacrifice is complete.
The 'The Circular Ruins' is a very thought - provoking short story. It often blurs the lines between reality and illusion. One key aspect is the idea of creation and self - discovery within the circular ruins. The protagonist seems to be on a journey of creating something, perhaps a form of life or a new reality.
Well, circular short stories can be really engaging. They make you think about time and causality in different ways. Take 'The Circular Ruins' for instance. The circular structure blurs the lines between reality and dreams, creator and creation. As a reader, you are constantly trying to figure out how the pieces fit together. You start at one point, follow the story, and then find yourself back at the start, but with a whole new perspective. It's not a linear journey like in most stories, and that's what makes it special. You keep going over the details in your mind, trying to find hidden meanings and connections. And this process of re - examination and discovery is what gives circular short stories their unique allure.
They usually have a feeling of irony. Take a story where a person is always looking for happiness outside. He travels the world, meets different people, and has various experiences. But in the end, he realizes that the source of his happiness was at his own home all along, which he had overlooked. This kind of circular ending creates an ironic situation where the character's long search was unnecessary. Also, circular ending stories often make the reader re - evaluate the whole story from the start once they reach the end, as the ending changes the perspective of the entire narrative.
The main character in 'The Circular Ruins' is an unnamed man. He is the central figure in the story, who undertakes a strange and mysterious task within the circular ruins.
In a fanfic about a magical school, a student is told that a particular spell is the most powerful because all the great wizards use it. But when you ask why all the great wizards use it, the answer is that it's the most powerful spell. This circular reasoning within the fanfic can add an element of tradition and unquestioned belief to the fictional magic system.
Sure. One example is 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' by Ambrose Bierce. In this story, it starts with a man about to be hanged on a bridge. As the story progresses, his mind begins to wander and he imagines escaping. The narrative then seems to go in a linear way of his 'escape', but in the end, it circles back to the reality that he actually died on the bridge all along. It creates a sense of irony and a complex reading experience.
One key element is a clear starting point that can also be the ending point. For example, a character in a specific place or situation at the start which is revisited at the end. Another is the use of foreshadowing. If you want the story to loop back effectively, you need to drop hints along the way about what's to come. And the theme should be consistent throughout. So if it's about self - discovery, all the events in the circular narrative should relate to that in some way.
The anime 'Baccano!' also features a circular story. With multiple storylines and characters, the events are presented in a non - linear fashion. Eventually, all the different plot threads come together in a way that shows how everything is connected in a circular loop. It's a complex and engaging anime that rewards careful watching.
One success story is Interface, a carpet company. They started using recycled materials in their carpets. This not only reduced waste but also cut down on their raw material costs. They also developed a take - back program where they collect old carpets for recycling, closing the loop in the product life cycle.