The difference is clear, and you need to make your ones in the first category. True short stories can be awesome to read and they can be boring to read. Add the word “true” to the whole thing and you might as well have a story which is impossible to write… but if you do write it well, then you have a winner. A short story has a number of characters, including the main character.Writing a short story is easy, but writing a powerful short story is difficult.A short story has action, as the characters engage in various behavior and contribute towards the development of the plot.In an essay, you cannot see any action.A short story has a plot around which the story has been built.On the contrary, a short story does not explore a topic but more of an experience of an individual.An essay provides a lengthy account on a specific subject as it explores the varied dimensions of the topic and provides the reader with factual information.A short story can be defined as a narrative, shorter in length in comparison to a novel.An essay can be defined as a piece of writing on a particular subject.Sleeping beauty, the fairy tale, is a short story What is the difference between Essay and Short Story? This feature cannot be observed in an essay. Another feature in a story, which also highlights a significant difference between a story and essay, is that a story has action in it. In a short story, the writer can use a variety of literary devices such as irony and satire with the intention of creating specific effects. However, though a short story is short in length, the writer can create a powerful impact on the reader. The thoughts, feelings, and ideas of the character will allow the reader to comprehend the nature of the character. There can be other minor characters with whom the main character interacts, but the focus will be mainly on the main character. For example, a short story may revolve around a single day of an individual who is considered as the main character. It does not consist of a number of plots and a large scope, but is limited. It consists of a single plot around which the story or incident is based on and has a less number of characters. Essays allow the students to articulate their ideas and present them with clarity.Ī short story can be defined as a narrative, shorter in length in comparison to a novel. However, if the students are much more advanced, the teachers would provide topics such as capital punishment, the modern teenager vs. If the students are in a lower grade, the teachers will ask them to write on topics such as environmental pollution, the first day in school, a person that I admire, so on and so forth. The difficulty and the standard of the topic depend on the maturity of the student. In schools, teachers encourage students to write essays on various topics. The writer usually presents factual information, various perspectives, attitudes, and even the opinion of the writer. Through an essay, the reader can gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject. In every essay, there is a simple structure, which contains an introduction, body, and conclusion. The writer explores the different dimensions of the topic and presents an analysis. It provides the reader with a very methodical account of the subject. What is an Essay?Īn essay can be defined as a piece of writing on a particular subject. This article attempts to highlight the differences between an essay and short story. This is the main difference between an essay and a short story. A short story, on the other hand, can be viewed as an artistic composition, which consists of a plot and unfold a story. Essays provide the readers with an account on a specific subject. There are various types of essays such as academic essays, personal essays, etc. Can essays be viewed as stories or do they belong to a completely different genre? An essay can be defined as a piece of writing. Is there any difference between an essay and a short story? In fact, in schools and various educational institutions, we engage in the process of writing essays and sometimes short stories.