Fall is the perfect time to incorporate a short story unit into any high school class. So today I am sharing 11 short stories for fall that are also perfect for high school English classes.
Why use Short Stories in the Fall?
Starting the school year with a short story unit is a great way to make sure that all of your students have the same base of skills. You can use these stories to focus on reviewing skills and teaching the skills that are key to instruction during the year.
For more, read 5 Amazing Reasons to Teach Short Story Analysis at the Start of the Year.
5 Short Stories that take place during the Fall
1. “The Last Leaf” by O Henry
This is a touching story of sacrifice. Two young artists live in Greenwich Village artist colony. One has contracted tuberculosis and is convinced she will die when the last leaf falls from the vine outside her window.
2. “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov
In November of 1870, two men debate which is worse: solitary confinement or capital punishment. And they make a bet of two million dollars.
3. “Separating” by John Updike
The story of a family in turmoil as the parents have decided to separate after 20 or more years. It takes place during the summer, but there is something about it that feels autumnal.
4. “Autumntime” by Anthony Lentini
In a dystopian future, a boy sees a live tree for the first time.
5. “The Open Window” by Saki
Mr. Framton is calling upon a woman he doesn’t know and she is late, but her niece, the perfect hostess, spins a tale of an October afternoon just like this one…
6. “The October Game” by Ray Bradbury
This story begins “He put the guns back into the bureau drawer and shut the drawer.” Oh and the husband and wife are not really getting along.
5 Short Stories for Fall that are (not very) Scary
1. “Strawberry Spring” by Stephen King
“Strawberry Spring” does not take place in the autumn, it takes place in the spring as the title suggests; however, the foggy, creepy gothic nature of the story makes it perfect short story for fall.
2. “The Moonlit Road” by Ambrose Bierce
This story tells the story of murder from the three points of view including that of the murdered.
3. “A Wireless Message” by Ambrose Bierce
A message is brought to the main character through wireless means, but not in the conventional manner.
4. “A Haunted House” by Virginia Woolf
The house is haunted by a ghostly couple.
5. “The Hand” by Guy de Maupassant
The focus is on the mysterious death of an English man who was known for his love of hunting and his statement “I have also frequently been man-hunting.”
Short Stories for Fall that High School Students will Love
I have used most of these stories with my own students and can’t wait to try the ones that I found during my research for this post. If you have favorite short stories for fall in high school English class, leave them in the comments below.
Additional Resources
Gothic Short Stories for High School
Exploring Gothic Poetry in High School English (Smith Teaches 9 to 12)
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“The Last Leaf” paired with “The Faith Cure Man” for developing central idea or theme statements
“The Moonlit Road” close reading for AP Literature
Setting through “A Haunted House”
Syntax and plot through “A Wireless Message”
