In a digital age when communication forms have become briefer, more direct, and more immediate, the appeal of the short narrative is obvious. As opposed to lengthier genres like the epic poem or the novel, the short story can be easily read in a single sitting, giving the reader a satisfying sense of experiencing the narrative arc to its end without interruption. Rather than seeing the cultural ascendance of the short-form narrative as a troubling sign of our dwindling attention spans, this course focuses on the characteristics and the virtues of the compact narrative. In this course, students will read classic Scandinavian short stories?seeking to understand the formal qualities of this established literary genre?and also examine micronarratives of many kinds in different media, including prose poetry, mini essays, music videos, and short films.
Gopher Grades is maintained by Social Coding with data from Summer 2017 to Fall 2025 provided by the University in response to a public records request