Tea by H.H. Munro and Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen by O. Henry

https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/two-thanksgiving-day-gentlemen

https://americanliterature.com/author/hh-munro-saki/short-story/tea

After reading through these two dramatic short stories the formal/functional elements of a short stories are these: characters, setting,  plot, conflict, and theme. Each of of these stories contains characters, that take part in the action of the short story. Sometimes the stories have a main character that the story is based around.

The setting of those stories are times and places in which the story happens. Both of these authors use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting. Giving the reader an image of the short, allowing them to transport them selves into the eyes of the author.

The plot of the short stories is also prominent: it is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict of the story. Moving on to my next point the conflict, which one of the most vital parts of the short story. The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a short story and the main character is usually on one side of the central conflict. While on the other side, the main character may struggle against another important character, against the forces of nature, against society, or even against something inside himself or herself whether it be their feelings, emotions, and even illness.

Lastly is the theme is the belief  and or the central idea of a short story. Even though the short story needs to have each one of these elements, the order of them per story varies. The theme can be introduced in the beginning and you can learn about the character later in the story. The setting can be introduced in the middle of the story following the conflict and the plot of the story.

O. Henry short story was filled with twists and surprises. The twisty endings shows us that good intentions may have bad consequences. Indeed the ending seems to support the view of the narrator`s ironic and mocking tone expose the foolishness of gentlemanly generosity. Even with H.H Munro the romantic suddenness of the affair in some measure compensated James’s women- folk for the ruthless negation of all their patient effort and skilled diplomacy. Creating  a sudden twist at the end of the story with the complicated romance of the main character.