History of Short Stories

Short stories found in the world's oldest palm leaf sheet is estimated dituis around the year 3000 BC. In addition it was also found that flash at the tombstones of old graves in Egypt. In Greece, the classic short story in the form of a fable is a story that the perpetrator of the humanized animals. This fable began circulating in the community about 500 BC but only neatly written in the second century. In the eighth century, was born the classic verbal serial short story of 1001 Nights. Themed Romanesque classic short story was first published in book form in 1704 in France.

Modern short stories emerged as their own genre in the early 19th century. Early examples of the short story collection includes tales Brothers Grimm (1824-1826), Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1831-1832) works of Nikolai Gogol, Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (1836), and the works of Edgar Allan Poe Twice Told Tales (1842) by Nathaniel Hawthorne. At the end of the 19th century, the growth of magazines and journals give birth to a strong market demand for short fiction between 3,000 and 15,000 words in length. Among the well-known short stories that appeared in this period is "No Room. 6" by Anton Chekhov.

In the first half of the 20th century, a number of leading magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Scribner's, and The Saturday Evening Post, all published short stories in each publication. Demand for short stories so great quality, and paid for the stories were so high that F. Scott Fitzgerald repeatedly turned to short story writing to pay his numerous debts.

Demand for short stories by the magazine reached its peak in the mid-20th century, when in 1952 Life magazine published Ernest Hemingway's long short story long (or novella) Old Man and the Sea. The issue containing this story sold 5,300,000 copies in just two days. Since then, the number of commercial magazines that publish short stories have been reduced, although some famous magazines like The New Yorker continues to load. Literary magazines also provide a place for short stories.

Since that's the short story and popularize modern short story was born. The work was published in various print media, especially the literary magazine. Short story evolved rapidly since the mid-nineteenth century, not only in Europe but also in the United States. Washington Irving (1783-1859), Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849) and Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was named as the father of the short story by critics the world.

In France, the birth stories spearheaded by Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893). Guy is also the father of the short story includes world. Guy who had studied at the seminary, known expert in arranging the plot written in a language that is very beautiful and gives the impression of softness. One short story titled The Neckale worldwide. The short stories collected in the book collection entitled Contes du jour et de la nuit (1885). In addition there are 11 other book of short stories, which were published only in a span of five years. Then he wrote the novel and the script drama.Ia very productive, in the midst of busy life in the political arena.

Anton Chekhov, the Russian writer, even a first author who wrote short stories are very short. Chekhov is known as a difficult writer emulate, except by Guy de Maupasssant. The greatness of the work lies in its short Chekov. But his most short was still intact, complete and beautiful. In addition, he also wrote novels, plays and film scripts. While touted as Edgar Allen Poe wrote a short story writer who is able to type well-made short-story is very beautiful and intact. Short story called The Cask of Amontillado extremely famed. Another with Washington Irving, the appeal lies in his short work of the theme that deemed capable of entertaining its readers. He raised social issues to be a short story spiced humor. The author diligently to study, especially the study of the history of Europe and America.

In Indonesia, the old Malay literature, the actual writing of this short story models have been initiated by Haji Ibrahim from the Sultanate Biting, Riau since 1865. However, when the genre is not got a meaningful response from the public especially literary circles, so it can not compete with the saga, poems and rhymes. Therefore, short stories are not experienced significant development. It was only when entering the 20th century, photographers began to progress very well that at the time of New Poet (1930) and developed rapidly since the time of independence. Short story writer figures in Indonesia, among others Sitor Situmorang, Abd Sani, Iwan Simatupang, Budi Darma, WS Rendra, Umar Kayam, Subagio Sastrowardoyo.