--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A short story is \"a short prose…" description: "\"A short story is \"a short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour, to one or two hours in its perusal...having conceived, with deliberate care, a c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/edgar-allan-poe-315_care_a-short-story-is-a-short-prose-narrative_1885874.jpg" --- # A short story is "a short prose narrative, requiring from… ![“A short story is "a short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour, to one or two hours in its perusal...having conceived, with deliberate care, a certain unique or single effect to be wrought out.” quote by Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/edgar-allan-poe-315_care_a-short-story-is-a-short-prose-narrative_1885874.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/edgar-allan-poe-315_care_a-short-story-is-a-short-prose-narrative_1885874.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/edgar-allan-poe-315_care_a-short-story-is-a-short-prose-narrative_1885874.jpg) > “A short story is "a short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour, to one or two hours in its perusal...having conceived, with deliberate care, a certain unique or single effect to be wrought out.” [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A short story is a concise prose narrative crafted with deliberate effect. **In simple terms:** Brief stories aim for specific impact. Key Takeaway Write with purposeful brevity. Themes literature craft conciseness Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational literary When to use this quote - creative writing - teaching literature - publishing Key Concepts narrative structure authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How to convey depth in limited words? - What effect does brevity achieve? A Different Perspective Length limits may restrict depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We allude to the short prose narrative, requiring from a half hour to one or two hours in its perusal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/we-allude-to-the-short-prose-narrative-requiring-from-a-half-hour-to/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [The novel is a prose narrative of some length that has something wrong with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/the-novel-is-a-prose-narrative-of-some-length-that-has-something/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [If you have a good story idea, don't assume it must form a prose narrative. 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Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [“From the dim regions beyond the mountains at the upper end of our encircled domain, there crept out a narrow and deep river, brighter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-the-dim-regions-beyond-the-mountains-at-the-upper-end-of-our/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [I was cautious in what I said before the young lady; for I could not be sure that she was sane; and, in fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/i-was-cautious-in-what-i-said-before-the-young-lady-for-i-could-not/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## More by Edgar Allan Poe > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [There is no passion in nature so demoniacally impatient, as that of him who, shuddering upon the edge of a precipice, thus meditates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/there-is-no-passion-in-nature-so-demoniacally-impatient-as-that-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/to-vilify-a-great-man-is-the-readiest-way-in-which-a-little-man-can/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“A skillful literary artist has constructed a tale. 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