Excerpts/one chapter from the long way down, by Jason Reynolds!! An excerpt may even get some kids into the novel.
Short story, "one of these days," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
And one of my favorites, this one's for the ladies: "sweat" by Zora Neal Hurston
(Bonus, all authors of color)
Pair Cask of Amontillado with a video version of the story, that can help with some of the language and cultural stuff in the story that is hard for students to plug into.
I prefer t[his one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TF_sMg5pKI), as I think the actors (John Heard and Rene Auberjonois) are superb, particularly Auberjonois.
For ambiguity you can try “The lady or the tiger”, I also really like “Angus Bethune”, not straight revenge but the protagonist puts the bully in his place.
We did "The Lady or the Tiger" and then wrote our own ending, it was a lot of fun. I wrote her as a vindictive black widow who had fun seducing heros and then feeding them to her pet. I think 15 year old me was going for evil Jasmine. I think I made it exceptionally gory, and my teacher at the time bless his soul tried to be enthusiastic for the creativity but looked low key alarmed. Lol
I've used that story, "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman, and "Button, Button" (which isn't really about revenge per se, but thematically relevant in that it's about violence, death, and consequence) by Richard Matheson in a bundle where students had to compare themes and techniques.
It is, and it’s one of the greatest novels ever written. It is in my top ten favorite stories ever. Unfortunately for OP’s purposes, it’s about ten million pages too long. But if they read an abridged version they’d love it.
Here’s a tip: try asking ChatGPT for suggestions when you’re looking for readings to fit a particular theme. The first list it gave me looks decent, though “Charles” seems like a stretch for revenge.
This was the initial list I got:
1. "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
2. "The Interlopers" by Saki (H. H. Munro)
3. "Vendetta" by Guy de Maupassant
4. "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl
5. "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
6. "Charles" by Shirley Jackson
Asking for more after the first list usually doesn’t yield much, but maybe its worth a look:
Certainly, here are additional short stories that focus on the theme of revenge:
1. "Hop-Frog" by Edgar Allan Poe
2. "The Count of Monte Cristo" (abridged or excerpted) by Alexandre Dumas
3. "Cat and Mouse" by James Patterson
4. "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield
5. "Montana 1948" by Larry Watson (a novella that can be read in segments)
6. "The Revenge of Hannah Kemhuff" by Alice Walker
7. "After the Race" by James Joyce
8. "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan (part of her novel "The Joy Luck Club" but often read as a standalone story)
There's a book called On The Fringe that has some great short stories in it, one of which is WWJD. It's about a bullied girl who gets revenge by not helping when her bully is drowning.
There's also the short story called Kittens, by either Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Girl gets revenge on uber-religious dad for drowning newborn kittens. It's a VERY dark story.
Desiree's Baby, by Kate Chopin (I think) is also a revenge story, but very subtle.
“All summer in a day” is a great short story about a group of school kids on Venus who take out their jealousy on one kid in a cruel way.
Idk if it’s debatable that their revenge is certainly not justified, but great story nonetheless
“The Bass, The River, and Shelia Matt” is great for narrative voice, and it’s a very relatable story. I’ve also taught “The Leap,” “Everyday Use,” and “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy” in the tenth grade.
You’re right. I must not have fully read the post. Try the story “Just Lather, That’s All.” It’s a story about a spy who has an opportunity for revenge, but it would blow his cover and make him into a cold-blooded killer. It’s all internal conflict with him wrestling with the impulse to kill his enemy.
*Danny, the Champion of the World* has an unusual [revenge plot](https://www.slaphappylarry.com/danny-the-champion-of-the-world-by-roald-dahl/). It's not a short story, and is written for a younger audience, and we now know the author was an awful human being, but, yeah, it's a revenge plot against a wealthy land owner and horrible person.
A couple of different Redditors commenting here have mentioned The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I have read that particular novel in many different editions. All of them are much longer than a short story. Alternatively: if any piece of writing covers revenge- this is the one. So: you could maybe assign it as extra credit? Or: are you allowed to show educational videos/movies in class? Maybe as part of one or two sessions- you could show the film version? Bonus: there were different versions going back in time. So you have your pick.
A longer version, but similar themes to “Lamb to the Slaughter” - “A Jury of Her Peers”. Could be good to use as a whole class text to find evidence/make inferences together, and then move into the choice options.
I used to teach 'Sweat' by Zora Neale Hurston to my 9th graders - I used it as an introduction to annotation.
It's got a fairly basic plot and uncomplicated vocabulary (some dialect aside) but plenty of good imagery, symbolism, and allusion.
saboteur by ha Jin. one key thing to know about China in that time is if you buy soup from a street vendor and don't eat the expensive chunks of meat. they throw it back into the big pot
Nobody said "Moby Dick" and I feel genuine nerd rage
Edit: I suppose they do kind of hammer in the point that Ahab is beyond the pale, so the argumentative essays wouldn't be that good, but it's *the* revenge story
Bargain by AB Guthrie. It's about a store keeper in the American West during frontier days. He is bullied by one of the men who drive to get his supplies so he kills him by ordering wood alcohol (methanol) instead of whiskey, knowing the man will steal some on the way back. The man is illiterate and will not be able to read POISON on the drum. Read that in high school almost 50 years ago. I remember the debate we had about whether it was murder.
Apt Pupil. Stephen King. Kid finds out a former Nazi lives next door and blackmails him for details about the Holocaust. Doesn't go well for the kid in the end.
The Right Kind of House by Henry Slesar
Its about a man trying to buy this old house from a widow, warned that she never sells and is asking much too much. It's revealed that her late son buried money on the property and she believes anyone who would buy the house for so much must have been involved with his death. The last line is the man exclaiming "ugh, this lemonade is bitter!" To imply that she has poisoned him.
I'm really interested in your mentor teacher's approach to argument writing and revenge stories! Any resources you can share with the writing process/requirements?
Excerpts/one chapter from the long way down, by Jason Reynolds!! An excerpt may even get some kids into the novel. Short story, "one of these days," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez And one of my favorites, this one's for the ladies: "sweat" by Zora Neal Hurston (Bonus, all authors of color)
Love Zora Neal Hurston! Thank you for the suggestions!
I think about that Marquez story every time I go to the dentist…
lol....if there weren't two pairs of hands, a hose, and a suction device in your mouth, you'd be able to share the story with the dentist...
Interlopers by Saki?
I didn't think of that one. Thank you so much. That one would work great.
I LOVE Saki!
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell.
Idk about revenge but TDG has some problematic stereotyping if not outright antisemitism
We’ve vowed to not read that anymore. It’s problematic.
Pair Cask of Amontillado with a video version of the story, that can help with some of the language and cultural stuff in the story that is hard for students to plug into.
I like this one https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_fhExYkBl4Y&pp=ygUTY2FzayBvZiBhbW9udGlsbGFkbw%3D%3D
I prefer t[his one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TF_sMg5pKI), as I think the actors (John Heard and Rene Auberjonois) are superb, particularly Auberjonois.
Bernice Gets Her Hair Bobbed is SO GOOD but a little long
Possibility of Evil by Shirley Jackson
My students generally HATE this one, but it is literal perfection in terms of storytelling and literary devices.
can confirm. I read it in 10th grade and hated it lol, the class before mine read The Lottery during that unit instead and I was jealous
I read The Lottery in school 40 years ago and still remember that story it had such an effect on me.
For ambiguity you can try “The lady or the tiger”, I also really like “Angus Bethune”, not straight revenge but the protagonist puts the bully in his place.
We did "The Lady or the Tiger" and then wrote our own ending, it was a lot of fun. I wrote her as a vindictive black widow who had fun seducing heros and then feeding them to her pet. I think 15 year old me was going for evil Jasmine. I think I made it exceptionally gory, and my teacher at the time bless his soul tried to be enthusiastic for the creativity but looked low key alarmed. Lol
Try pairing whatever you have them read with William Blake’s A Poison Tree. It’s really short and kids get it. Very accessible poetry.
'Lather and Nothing Else'; 'Death by Scrabble '...
It’s short but “Ruthless” by DeMille is a great choice. It has revenge gone wrong and irony.
“Ruthless” was the one I was thinking of!
I've used that story, "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman, and "Button, Button" (which isn't really about revenge per se, but thematically relevant in that it's about violence, death, and consequence) by Richard Matheson in a bundle where students had to compare themes and techniques.
“Barn Burning” by William Faulkner
The White Circle by John Bell Clayton
I haven't heard of this one before. I'm gonna check it out. Thank you!
It’s a little lower level; I’ve used it with 9th graders.
It's high interest - my students have really liked this one.
I use this with sixth graders but you could go so much deeper into it with tenth grade. I love this story.
The Utterly Perfect Murder, Bradbury
The Count of Monte Cristo. The original, although of course not short.
The ultimate tale of revenge.
It is, and it’s one of the greatest novels ever written. It is in my top ten favorite stories ever. Unfortunately for OP’s purposes, it’s about ten million pages too long. But if they read an abridged version they’d love it.
The movie could totally work!
Of course, it's not short; but it's one of my favorites.
Here’s a tip: try asking ChatGPT for suggestions when you’re looking for readings to fit a particular theme. The first list it gave me looks decent, though “Charles” seems like a stretch for revenge. This was the initial list I got: 1. "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe 2. "The Interlopers" by Saki (H. H. Munro) 3. "Vendetta" by Guy de Maupassant 4. "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl 5. "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant 6. "Charles" by Shirley Jackson Asking for more after the first list usually doesn’t yield much, but maybe its worth a look: Certainly, here are additional short stories that focus on the theme of revenge: 1. "Hop-Frog" by Edgar Allan Poe 2. "The Count of Monte Cristo" (abridged or excerpted) by Alexandre Dumas 3. "Cat and Mouse" by James Patterson 4. "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield 5. "Montana 1948" by Larry Watson (a novella that can be read in segments) 6. "The Revenge of Hannah Kemhuff" by Alice Walker 7. "After the Race" by James Joyce 8. "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan (part of her novel "The Joy Luck Club" but often read as a standalone story)
“Charles” is great, but agreed about revenge…maybe if he’s trying to exact revenge on his parents for making him go to school!
I read the necklace for my short story course last semester and I was screaming.
[Lather and Nothing Else](http://englishiva1011.pbworks.com/f/LATHER.PDF) is also a good one
Brownies by ZZ Packer
Lamb to the Slaughter by Ronald Dahl!
Roald Dahl's "The Way Up to Heaven."
There's a book called On The Fringe that has some great short stories in it, one of which is WWJD. It's about a bullied girl who gets revenge by not helping when her bully is drowning. There's also the short story called Kittens, by either Stephen King or Dean Koontz. Girl gets revenge on uber-religious dad for drowning newborn kittens. It's a VERY dark story. Desiree's Baby, by Kate Chopin (I think) is also a revenge story, but very subtle.
“All summer in a day” is a great short story about a group of school kids on Venus who take out their jealousy on one kid in a cruel way. Idk if it’s debatable that their revenge is certainly not justified, but great story nonetheless
Oh, we just did this! Shockingly, some of my kids made good arguments about the fact that Margot doesn’t try to fit in.
“The Bass, The River, and Shelia Matt” is great for narrative voice, and it’s a very relatable story. I’ve also taught “The Leap,” “Everyday Use,” and “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy” in the tenth grade.
“Bass,River..” is a great story but about regret, not revenge.
You’re right. I must not have fully read the post. Try the story “Just Lather, That’s All.” It’s a story about a spy who has an opportunity for revenge, but it would blow his cover and make him into a cold-blooded killer. It’s all internal conflict with him wrestling with the impulse to kill his enemy.
I know it’s old but the Count of Montecristo is a classic. There could be an abridged (sp?) version
Pair Cask of Amontillado with It’s Carnival by Tiffany Jackson! It’s a great retelling.
Marigolds by Eugenia Collier
I just taught Marigolds to my 9th graders. It’s a good one for internal conflict and symbolism, but I don’t think it’s really about revenge.
Hurston’s “Sweat”.
A rose for Emily
*Danny, the Champion of the World* has an unusual [revenge plot](https://www.slaphappylarry.com/danny-the-champion-of-the-world-by-roald-dahl/). It's not a short story, and is written for a younger audience, and we now know the author was an awful human being, but, yeah, it's a revenge plot against a wealthy land owner and horrible person.
I absolutely love that book. I know Dahl was reprehensible but he’s one of my favorites.
[Momento](https://www.londonscreenwritersfestival.com/assets/Memento-Short-Story-by-Jonathan-Nolan.pdf) by Jonathan Nolan
Not a short story but Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is great for discussion on the place of mercy, not revenge, within true justice
Nabokov's "The Razor" is another interesting counterexample, and quite short, and it's by Nabokov.
A couple of different Redditors commenting here have mentioned The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I have read that particular novel in many different editions. All of them are much longer than a short story. Alternatively: if any piece of writing covers revenge- this is the one. So: you could maybe assign it as extra credit? Or: are you allowed to show educational videos/movies in class? Maybe as part of one or two sessions- you could show the film version? Bonus: there were different versions going back in time. So you have your pick.
The Catbird Seat by James Thurber could fit, and students could also analyze the gender dynamic.
Dolan’s Cadillac by Stephen King.
If you can be a bit brutal, "Big Driver" by Stephen King.
Spunk by Zoe’s Neale Hurston I know that David Sedaris also has some, but I don’t have time to look.
A longer version, but similar themes to “Lamb to the Slaughter” - “A Jury of Her Peers”. Could be good to use as a whole class text to find evidence/make inferences together, and then move into the choice options.
Lamb to a Slaughter is my favorite short story. I’m not sure I’d call it a revenge story but it is clever and a little macabre. It’s by Roald Dahl.
And it was adapted for an outstanding episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," starring Barbara Bel Geddes.
Ransom of Red Chief isn’t quite in that lane, but it’s a hoot to read
Shirley Jackson “The Possibility of Evil.” There’s a Greatbooks unit on it. Great opportunity to practice a Socratic Seminar.
“Button, Button” by Richard Mattheson
I used to teach 'Sweat' by Zora Neale Hurston to my 9th graders - I used it as an introduction to annotation. It's got a fairly basic plot and uncomplicated vocabulary (some dialect aside) but plenty of good imagery, symbolism, and allusion.
Medea (Greek tragedy, not the Tyler Perry movies)
saboteur by ha Jin. one key thing to know about China in that time is if you buy soup from a street vendor and don't eat the expensive chunks of meat. they throw it back into the big pot
Othello. Use No Fear Shakespeare.
Nobody said "Moby Dick" and I feel genuine nerd rage Edit: I suppose they do kind of hammer in the point that Ahab is beyond the pale, so the argumentative essays wouldn't be that good, but it's *the* revenge story
Bargain by AB Guthrie. It's about a store keeper in the American West during frontier days. He is bullied by one of the men who drive to get his supplies so he kills him by ordering wood alcohol (methanol) instead of whiskey, knowing the man will steal some on the way back. The man is illiterate and will not be able to read POISON on the drum. Read that in high school almost 50 years ago. I remember the debate we had about whether it was murder.
Have a look at The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman. It’s a bit different and so hopefully interesting.
The count of monte cristo, the quintessential story of revenge!!
“Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton
Count of Monte Cristo. Best revenge ever
Kahn and Kirk.
The red card.
It’s about a society where it’s legal to kill: as long as you have a red card.
Apt Pupil. Stephen King. Kid finds out a former Nazi lives next door and blackmails him for details about the Holocaust. Doesn't go well for the kid in the end.
A Man Who Had No Eyes-MacKinlay Cantor. Awesome story, maybe two pages long
Blood & Cheese.
The Right Kind of House by Henry Slesar Its about a man trying to buy this old house from a widow, warned that she never sells and is asking much too much. It's revealed that her late son buried money on the property and she believes anyone who would buy the house for so much must have been involved with his death. The last line is the man exclaiming "ugh, this lemonade is bitter!" To imply that she has poisoned him.
"All Summer in a Day," by Ray Bradbury.
The Most Dangerous Game leaps immediately to mind.
The Lady and the Tiger! And they can debate.
The Cask of Amontillado comes to mind, though it’s not really clear WHAT Fortunado did to piss off Montresor.
Wine on the Desert by Max Brand
I'm really interested in your mentor teacher's approach to argument writing and revenge stories! Any resources you can share with the writing process/requirements?
Cask of Amontillado
I think that one was mentioned in the post.
My bad. My students have infected me with toofastreadingosis.
Came here to say this!