In A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury we have the theme of fear, conflict, ignorance, control, naivety and change. Taken from his The Golden Apples of the Sun and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bradbury may be exploring the theme […]

In The Flying Machine by Ray Bradbury we have the theme of fear, conflict, control, change, selfishness and paralysis. Taken from his The Golden Apples of the Sun and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bradbury may be exploring the theme of […]

In A Handful of Dates by Tayeb Salih we have the theme of connection, control, greed, selfishness, rejection, injustice, conflict and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by a man looking back at an incident when he was a child the reader realises after reading the story that Salih may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator […]

In The Voice of God by Premchand we have the theme of conflict, friendship, tradition, connection, independence and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Premchand may be exploring the theme of conflict and friendship. Despite their friendship Jumman and Algu fall out over Algu’s decision while he is […]

In The Toilet by Gcina Mhlophe we have the theme of identity, conflict, freedom, escape, change and independence. Narrated in the first person by a young girl called Mholo the reader realises after reading the story that Mhlophe may be exploring the theme of identity. The narrator is at a crossroad in her life and really doesn’t know how she […]

In Half and Half by Amy Tan we have the theme of connection, control, insecurity, fear, responsibility, acceptance, letting go, tradition and loss. Narrated in the first person by a woman called Rose Hsu Jordan the reader realises after reading the story that Tan may be exploring the theme of connection. Despite being from two separate and individual backgrounds the […]

In Bhuto by Satyajit Ray we have the theme of hope, aspirations, disappointment, failure, revenge, respect, control and fear. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Ray may be exploring the theme of hope. Naveen wishes to become […]

In Khagam by Satyajit Ray we have the theme of tradition, modernity, kindness, trust, curiosity, control, change, arrogance and power. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Ray may be exploring the theme of tradition. Babu has […]

In The Refugee by K.A. Abbas we have the theme of conflict, independence, loyalty, pride, resilience and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Abbas may be exploring the theme of conflict. Maanji is forced to leave her home in Rawalpindi even though she would rather stay where she […]

In Upper Division Love by Manohar Malgonkar we have the theme of aspirations, escape, disillusion, love, self-importance and revenge. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Malgonkar may be exploring the theme of escape. The narrator is exceptionally fond of Sunderbala. So much so that he has pictures of her […]

In The New Constitution by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of imperialism, hope, freedom, change, arrogance and optimism. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Manto may be exploring the theme of imperialism. Mangu takes the utmost displeasure in the fact that India is ruled by the British. […]

In Cargo from Singapore by Manohar Malgonkar we have the theme of revenge, trust, betrayal, greed, control, freedom, loyalty, appearance and power. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Malgonkar may be exploring the theme of revenge. The narrator is upset over how he has been treated by customs on […]

In Berry by Langston Hughes we have the theme of connection, racism, dishonesty, greed, acceptance, compassion and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Hughes may be exploring the theme of connection. Milberry through his efforts at the Home manages to connect with the young disabled children. It is […]

In You Should Have Seen the Mess by Muriel Spark we have the theme of obsession, appearance, isolation, modernity, independence, change and acceptance. Taken from her The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young seventeen year old girl called Lorna and after reading the story the reader realises that Spark may be […]

In Blackout by Roger Mais we have the theme of conflict, race, equality, connection, fear, class and pride. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Mais may be exploring the theme of conflict. The woman at the bus stop is hesitant to give the man a light from her cigarette. […]

In Blood Brothers by John Wickham we have the theme of hate, discontent, connection, jealousy, fear, independence and confidence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Wickham may be exploring the theme of hate. Paul is uncomfortable with his relationship with his twin brother Benjy. He dislikes the fact that […]

In Mom Luby and the Social Worker by Kristin Hunter we have the theme of love, responsibility, kindness, bureaucracy, connection, innocence and change. Narrated in the first person by a young thirteen year old boy called Elijah the reader realises after reading the story that Hunter may be exploring the theme of love. Mom Luby puts both Elijah and his […]

In Emma by Carolyn Cole we have the theme of connection, independence, innocence, infidelity, desire, respect and change. Narrated in the first person by a young girl called Dory the reader realises after reading the story that Cole may be exploring the world of connection. Though Dory is still young she prefers the world of the adults around her. This […]

In The Dube Train by Can Themba we have the theme of indifference, bravery, apartheid, control and unity. Narrated in the first person by a young male narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Themba may be exploring the theme of indifference. Despite the young woman being hassled by the tsotsi there is really nobody to help her. […]

In They Sold My Sister by Leteipa Ole Sunkuli we have the theme of marriage, discontent, control, independence, tradition, freedom and equality. Narrated in the first person by a young twelve year old girl called Naliki the reader realises after reading the story that Sunkuli may be exploring the theme of marriage, particularly forced or arranged marriages. The narrator’s sister […]