# Short Fiction — Chapters explained > Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Herman Melville. - [Bartleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/bartleby.md): The elderly lawyer-narrator introduces himself, his chambers, and his employees before recounting the arrival and strange behavior of Bartleby, a scrivener who gradually refuses all work and ultimately refuses to leave t - [Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/cock-a-doodle-doo.md): The narrator, oppressed by personal debts, the deaths of friends in accidents, and the general misery of the world, is lifted from his despair by the triumphant crowing of a magnificent Shanghai cock. He resolves to find - [The Encantadas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-encantadas.md): A descriptive and narrative exploration of the Galápagos Islands (the Encantadas), blending natural history with tales of human suffering and isolation, including the story of the Chola widow Hunilla and the hermit Oberl - [Sketch First: The Isles at Large](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-first-the-isles-at-large.md): This opening sketch presents the Encantadas (Enchanted Isles) as a desolate, volcanic archipelago that appears cursed and unchanging. The narrator describes the barren landscape, the absence of seasons, the harsh climate - [Sketch Second: Two Sides to a Tortoise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-second-two-sides-to-a-tortoise.md): The narrator reflects on the dual nature of the Encantadas tortoises, which are both dark and bright, and describes his first encounter with three giant tortoises brought aboard his ship. He marvels at their ancient, alm > 57 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=short_fiction_28_se_798kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest. - [Sketch Third: Rock Rodondo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-third-rock-rodondo.md) - [Sketch Fourth: A Pisgah View from the Rock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-fourth-a-pisgah-view-from-the-rock.md) - [Sketch Fifth: The Frigate, and Ship Flyaway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-fifth-the-frigate-and-ship-flyaway.md) - [Sketch Sixth: Barrington Isle and the Buccaneers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-sixth-barrington-isle-and-the-buccaneers.md) - [Sketch Seventh: Charles's Isle and the Dog-King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-seventh-charles-s-isle-and-the-dog-king.md) - [Sketch Eighth: Norfolk Isle and the Chola Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-eighth-norfolk-isle-and-the-chola-widow.md) - [Sketch Ninth: Hood's Isle and the Hermit Oberlus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-ninth-hood-s-isle-and-the-hermit-oberlus.md) - [Sketch Tenth: Runaways, Castaways, Solitaries, Gravestones, etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/sketch-tenth-runaways-castaways-solitaries-gravestones-etc.md) - [Poor Man’s Pudding and Rich Man’s Crumbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/poor-man-s-pudding-and-rich-man-s-crumbs.md) - [Picture First: Poor Man's Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/picture-first-poor-man-s-pudding.md) - [Picture Second: Rich Man's Crumbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/picture-second-rich-man-s-crumbs.md) - [The Happy Failure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-happy-failure.md) - [The Lightning-Rod Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-lightning-rod-man.md) - [The Fiddler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-fiddler.md) - [The Paradise of Bachelors and the Tartarus of Maids](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-paradise-of-bachelors-and-the-tartarus-of-maids.md) - [The Paradise of Bachelors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-paradise-of-bachelors.md) - [The Tartarus of Maids](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-tarturus-of-maids.md) - [The Bell-Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-bell-tower.md) - [Benito Cereno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/benito-cereno.md) - [Jimmy Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/jimmy-rose.md) - [The 'Gees](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-gees.md) - [I and My Chimney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/i-and-my-chimney.md) - [The Apple-Tree Table](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-apple-tree-table.md) - [The Piazza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-piazza.md) - [Billy Budd, Foretopman 3: What Befell Him in the Year of the Great Mutiny, etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/billy-budd-foretopman.md) - [I: (An Inside Narrative)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/i-an-inside-narrative.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/vii.md) - [Life in the Foretop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/viii.md) - [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/ix.md) - [The Enigma of Claggart's Antipathy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/x.md) - [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xi.md) - [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xii.md) - [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xiii.md) - [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xiv.md) - [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xv.md) - [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xvi.md) - [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xvii.md) - [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xviii.md) - [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xix.md) - [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xx.md) - [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxi.md) - [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxii.md) - [A Digression](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/a-digression.md) - [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxiii.md) - [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxiv.md) - [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxv.md) - [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/xxvi.md) - [Daniel Orme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/daniel-orme.md) - [The Two Temples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/the-two-temples.md) - [Temple First](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/temple-first.md) - [Temple Second](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/temple-second.md) - [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters/endnotes.md) HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_28_se/chapters