Flash Fiction

 Flash fiction is a new genre of literature, which can be defined as an extremely short story. It is also known as, microfiction, postcard fiction, napkin fiction, microstories, nano tales, sudden fiction. Though this genre is relatively new in literature, it has its origin in fables, parables, Zen stories which were in vogue from the 7th to 13th century. Brevity is the most required characteristic of this genre. Though there is no standard word limit for Flash fiction, generally, it is supposed to range from six words to 1000 words. The soul of Flash fiction is the twisted ending that comes as a surprise to the reader and urges him to interpret the true meaning concealed within the text.

The given Flash fiction is a classic example of this genre. Franz Kafka’s Give it up qualifies as flash fiction for its brevity which is one of the important features of this genre. It is indeed a condensed short story. The brilliant use of language is also commendable. The scene of the lonely streets of the early morning can be visualized easily by the readers. With his careful choice of words, he made the scene alive. He restricted the story to one particular moment and only one scene, which is also an essential trait of Flash Fiction. He intentionally used first-person narrative as the genre mostly requires it. Only two characters are introduced in the fiction, the narrator and the Policeman. The narrator’s state of desperation to find a way and confusion for being unsure of the way has been described efficiently by Kafka.  The title is suitable to the content of the story and it is apparently connected to the twisted ending or surprise of the story. The Final Words of the Policeman, ‘Give it up’ encapsulate the essence of the story. Simultaneously, those words serve the purpose of the element of surprise that shocks the reader.

The purpose of the fiction is to accentuate the harsh reality of the insignificance of human existence. The story reflects the writer’s strong pessimistic view of life with a commentary on the existential crisis of a human being in the society, where more or less everyone is floating like a rudderless ship, and the writer suggests, instead of struggling to find a way to reach their destination, people should abandon all hopes and accept the dark truth that there is no way out.

 

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