A 'white elephant short story' could be about many things. Usually, a white elephant symbolizes something that is burdensome or unwanted. It might be a story where a character is given or finds a 'white elephant' - perhaps an object or a situation that seems valuable at first but turns out to be a problem. For example, it could be about a person who inherits a large, old mansion that is expensive to maintain and is hard to sell, like a white elephant.
Since we don't have a detailed version of 'the white elephant short story', it's hard to say exactly. However, it's common in such stories to have a protagonist who is directly affected by the white elephant. This could be a person who has received the white elephant as a gift or inheritance. There might also be secondary characters like neighbors or business partners who react to the protagonist's situation with the white elephant. They could either be sympathetic or critical, depending on the nature of the story.
The main idea often revolves around the concept of a white elephant, which is something of little or no value but difficult to get rid of. It might explore themes like the burden of unwanted possessions or the complex relationships that are affected by such things.
A 'White Elephant Game' short story could be about the relationships between the players as much as the game itself. Maybe it starts with a description of the gathering where the game is taking place, the anticipation in the air. As the game progresses, we see how different personalities interact. There could be a shy person who is nervous about choosing a gift, and a more assertive one who always tries to get the best deal. The story could explore themes of envy, generosity, and the unexpected nature of the game. Each gift could symbolize something deeper about the characters, and by the end of the story, we might learn more about the group dynamics and individual personalities through the white elephant game experience.
It depends on the specific 'white elephant short story'. It could be a poor farmer who is given a white elephant by a rich lord. The farmer then becomes the main character who has to deal with the consequences of having this unexpected and burdensome gift.
It could be a group of friends. For example, there might be Tom, who is always the joker in the group and tries to make the game more fun with his wild gift choices. Then there's Mary, who is very practical and brings a useful but not so exciting gift. And there could also be Jack, the competitive one who is always aiming to get the most valuable gift.
The rules of the white elephant gift game are fairly simple. Everyone participating brings a gift, which is often something they don't want or is just a bit of a joke item. Once the game starts, the first person selects a gift and unwraps it. Then the next person can either steal that gift or pick a new one from the remaining pile. If a gift is stolen, the person it was stolen from can then choose another gift from the pile. This continues until all the gifts have been distributed. It's a game full of surprises and laughter.
The story often involves a gift or possession that is burdensome or difficult to get rid of. It might be something expensive or impractical that no one really wants.
There was a Christmas white elephant game at the office. A colleague brought a book of bad Christmas jokes. The first person opened it and everyone groaned. Then another person stole it just to keep the fun going. Later, someone else got a box with a mini Christmas tree ornament that no one really wanted. It was a great way to break the ice and have some holiday cheer.