The Tender and the Tragic: Exploring Childhood Innocence and Pain in Selected Short Stories

Abstract Children are full of innocence. In a way they are blessed that they do not have to carry the burden of worldly pain and worries. But what happens when such innocent children face horrible reality of death or loss of the loved ones. This paper examines how children face the harsh reality of the death of their near and dear by studying three short stories, first story is Let’s Go Home by Kewlian Sio, second story is A Shadow by R.K. Narayan and the third is The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh. In these short stories, the emotions of children in the face of the reality of death are expressed in a wonderful manner. Their innocence about the pain they are going to face in future due to the death of their loved ones is presented in such a way that makes these stories all the more tragic. Key Words: Children, Innocence, Death, Parents, grief.