Introduction Raymond Carver is said to be one of the most influential American short-story writer and poet in the second half of 20th century, a major force in the revival of the short story in the 1980s (Kennedy, X. J. and Gioia, Dana, 2005). In this essay, we aim to analyze the main characteristics of short story which can be found and applied in Carver's well-known short story Cathedral. The short story Cathedral was included in Best American Short Stories, 1982. It is the final story in Carver's collection Cathedral published in 1983. ...

• Word Count: 3978
• Approx Pages: 16
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The first publication of the short story "Cathedral" was in the March, 1981, issue of Atlantic Monthly. It was selected to appear in "The Best American Short Stories, 1982," and became the title story in the 1983 collection, Cathedral. This volume was very well-received by critics and readers alike, receiving nominations for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Many critics note a shift in Carver's work between the publication of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love and Cathedral, and many believe that Carver reached the zenith of his career with this co...

• Word Count: 11148
• Approx Pages: 45
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School