ABSTRACT
This reflective essay explores the intertextual discourses that manifest across different generations of South African short story writers as a way of illustrating the intersection between the past and the present. It redefines the composition and meaning of the short story and affirms its place in the history of the development of South African literature. Adopting a statement made by Andries Walter Oliphant, that the new emerges from the womb of the past, the chapter does more than just draw parallels between different writing epochs. It argues that the present is a direct consequence of the past, and further cites examples of intergenerational dialogue as well as intersections that manifest amongst the South African writers. It also draws parallels between oral narratives and the short story genre. While this might seem like an old argument, this chapter cites practical examples and illustrates how oral narratives have impacted on contemporary writing, including the narrative techniques and literary tropes that are adaptable from one form of storytelling to another. Using Can Themba’s classical short story, “The Suit” as the crucible for several contemporary narratives, the chapter demonstrates that there is continued intergenerational dialogue between writers from different eras. The dialogue between the past and present, and the intersection between the oral and the written form of literature, are elements that are clearly illustrated through a number of short stories told by old and contemporary short story writers alike.
