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“The Middle Years” is a short story written by Henry James in 1893. It tells the story of Dencombe, a novelist who is convalescing in Bournemouth after a serious illness. The story explores themes of artistic achievement, aging, and mortality. It is also an allegory, a narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas …

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On Discovery is a short story written by Maxine Hong Kingston that explores the themes of identity, culture, and personal discovery. The story follows a Chinese explorer named Tang Ao who journeys across an ocean in search of the Gold Mountain, which is what Chinese immigrants called the United States because of the gold discovered …

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“The Story of the Lizard Who Had a Habit of Dining on His Wives” is a fable that tells the story of a lizard who consumed many of his wives until he met his true love. Written by Uruguayan essayist, journalist, and historian Eduardo Galeano, the story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of …

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“The Miracle of the Birds” is a short story written by Jorge Amado, a Brazilian author and activist. The story is an allegory that explores themes of power, sexuality, and transformation. It tells the story of a group of birds that are transformed into women and become the objects of desire for the men of …

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Celestial Railroad” is a satirical allegory that was first published in 1843. The story is a parody of John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” a Christian allegory that was published in 1678. Hawthorne’s story takes place in a fictional world where a railroad has been built that leads to heaven. The story is …

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