The Shortest Stories Ever

 

 

LEAD-IN: In pairs, discuss the following questions:

a)    What is the shortest story you have ever read?

b)    What was its approximate length?

c)    Can you imagine a story in fifty words?

 

BEFORE READING:

1) You’re going to listen to a story told in exactly fifty words. Listen carefully and try to guess the last two words:

 

H___________B___________!

Peter had just arrived home. It was late in the evening. The front door was open; everything was dark and quiet. “Where’s everybody?” he wondered. Panic-stricken, he run upstairs but found nobody. He came downstairs again and as he entered the living room he heard all them shouting H___________B__________!

 

2) This story is called “mini-saga”. Read the information about the history of mini-sagas and answer the questions below:

 

A mini-saga is a very short story and it was invented by the well-known science-fiction writer Brian Aldiss. He was working on a very long novel at the time (three volumes) and he suddenly had the idea that it might be fun as a complete contrast, to try to tell a whole story in only fifty words. From 1988 till 1999 British newspaper The Daily Telegraph organized a mini-saga competition. The best stories were published yearly in book form. The rules are simple: The text must be 50 words exactly and it must tell a story.

 

1.    What is a mini saga?

2.    Whose idea was it? What made him think of it?

3.    What are the rules?

 

 

 

WHILE READING (adapted from English File Upper Intermediate)

 

1) You’re going to read eight mini-sagas. Read them carefully with the glossary and guess the missing words:

 

Glossary of terms: Story 1: vanish (disappear). Story 2: laundry (clothes that need washing); Story 3: stab (push the knife into). Story 4: prefects (children at school that have special responsibilities), bully (tease, torment); chin up! (be brave!). Story 5: rip apart: break into pieces; vile (awful, horrible); grubby (dirty). Story 6: burglar (a person who steals from houses). Story 7: begging (ask for something intensely); stepped on board (took a step and entered a vessel). Story 8: snarled (made an angry face); slam (close with a loud noise); hissed (made a noise like a snake); “Just my luck!” (set expression meaning “I’m so unlucky”).

 

 

 

A moment in Venice They collided in St. Mark’s Square. As they apologized, in their different languages, he sensed that something had passed between them. His heart had been touched. In that second, something almost magical had occurred. He watched her vanish amongst the gathering of people and pigeons. She had _________his wallet.

Love among the laundry When Sally found a man’s sock curled among her clean clothes at the local launderette she returned it to the tall dark man with a shy smile. They met there every week for several months, then were seen no more. One of their wedding presents had been a _________.

3     Revenge is sweet They had been arguing bitterly the night before. He had come in from the garage with oil on his shoes. Fed up, desperate, she stabbed him. Horrified at what she had done, she drove away from the house along the cliff road. Suddenly, she realized that the brakes weren’t _________.

Like Mother, like son 1955 Dear Mummy I hate this boarding school.Food awful, prefects bully me. Please take me home.Love, David Dear David Nonsense! Chin up. Mother   1997 Dear David I hate this home. Food awful, nurses treat me like a child. Fetch me immediately. Mother Dear Mother _________! Chin up. David

Why she’s smiling An explosion ripped the Louvre apart. Many masterpieces were destroyed in the act of terrorism. “Who would profit from such a vile attack?” the newspapers demanded. But a small boy ran off with a trophy in his grubby hand. Now over his bed hangs the smile of the _______________.

Caught in the act Sergeant Boxwell knew he had caught the burglar at last. “You don’t have to say anything at all,” he told him, “but your footprints were found at the scene of eleven burglaries”. Then, triumphantly, “Have you got anything to say?” “Only this, “replied the suspect”. “Yesterday, I ____________those boots”.

Written in the cards She recognized the writing on the envelope immediately. The gypsy had warned her that she had no future with this man, yet here he was, five lonely years after their last meeting, begging her to join him in New York. She felt unbelievably happy as she stepped on board the ___________.

A disastrous holiday The vampire snarled, and folded his black silk cloak around him before slamming the coffin lid shut. “Just my luck”, he hissed. It had seemed a good idea to leave his castle for Greenland and lots of healthy unsuspecting Eskimos. Nobody at Transylvanian Tours Ltd. Had mentioned the midnight_____________.

 

2) Compare and discuss your predictions in pairs/groups. Once you check the answers discuss the following questions:

a) Which mini-saga did you like best? Why?

 

b) Apart from the number of words, what do the stories have in common?

 

AFTER READING: “Write a mini-saga!”

 

Your story must be 50 words exactly (not including the title). Hyphenated words can be counted as one word or two, at your discretion.) In addition, it must carry a title of no more than 15 words, which will, ideally, set the scene and illuminate or counterpoint the text.
Most important, your story must be a narrative text (you can include direct speech). Something must happen, preferably something which will keep the reader thinking. Fifty dazzlingly deployed words of description or reflection will not do.

 

1.    Think of a plot (and of a final twist!)

2.     Write a first draft without worrying about the number of words.

3.     Now count the words and try to cut or add words until the story has exactly 50 words.

4.   Bring it to class!

 

 

FOLLOW-UP:

 

Your mini-sagas can be published online. Visit the link below and submit your story!

 

-       http://minisagas.pbwiki.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEFORE READING: Happy Birthday!

 

WHILE READING:

1) stolen 2) washing machine 3) fixed 4) nonsense 5) Monalisa 6) bought 7) Titanic sun

 

 

 

 

 

MINI SAGA CONTEST

BASES

 

- All students of Intermediate 1 level can participate.

 

 

- Your story must be 50 words exactly (not including the title).

The title should have no more than 15 words, which will, ideally, set the scene and illuminate or counterpoint the story.

Most important, your story must have a beginning, a middle and an end. Something must happen, preferably something which will keep the reader thinking.

 

- Deadline: March, 20^th.

 

- Prize: It´s worth!!!! You´ll see!!

 

Good luck! Me and your own classmates will vote the best story which will be awarded .