Final answer:
Short stories impart an overall effect and aim to convey a specific mood or emotion to the reader. The setting can vary, but is not limited to rural areas. Hidden plot twists and morals are not defining characteristics of short stories.
Step-by-step explanation:
A characteristic of short stories is that they impart an overall effect. Short stories are brief narratives that aim to convey a specific mood or emotion to the reader. While the setting can vary, it is not limited to rural areas.
For example, Edgar Allan Poe's short stories often have a dark and mysterious atmosphere, leaving the reader with a sense of unease. The overall effect is an essential element of short stories, as it helps create a specific tone and engage the reader's emotions.
However, not all short stories have a hidden plot twist or impart a moral. These elements can be present in some short stories, but they are not defining characteristics of the genre as a whole.
Learn more about Characteristics of short stories