In Values in Life by Rudyard Kipling we have the theme of greed, honesty, conflict and acceptance. Taken from his A Book of Words collection the reader realises after reading the speech that Kipling may be exploring the theme of greed. Kipling states to the students in attendance that one should not be wealthy for wealth’s sake. In reality an […]

In Lispeth by Rudyard Kipling we have the theme of class, love, acceptance, determination, change and innocence. Taken from his Plain Tales from the Hills collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Kipling may be exploring the theme of class. Lispeth has never been accepted […]

In His Wedded Wife by Rudyard Kipling we have the theme of happiness, conformity, revenge, isolation, confidence, change, acceptance and respect. Taken from his Plain Tales from the Hills collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Kipling may be exploring […]

In Samuel by Grace Paley we have the theme of bravery, mortality, anger, connection, grief and loss. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Paley may be exploring the theme of bravery. All four boys are brave to be […]

In The Sea by Robert Lynd we have the theme of fear, superstition, freedom, prosperity, servitude and acceptance. Taken from his The Book of This and That collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Lynd may be exploring the theme of fear. Particularly the fear one can encounter when it comes to sailing. Though it is […]

In Back to the Desk by Robert Lynd we have the theme of exhaustion, guilt, work, change, control and happiness. Taken from his Essays by Robert Lynd (1959) collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Lynd may be exploring the theme of exhaustion. While many people may go on holiday in order to relax. Lynd finds himself unable […]

In The Pleasures of Ignorance by Robert Lynd we have the theme of discovery, learning, confusion, inquisitiveness and ignorance. Taken from his collection of the same name the reader realises after reading the essay that Lynd may be exploring the theme of confusion. When a person is ignorant though still prepared to learn they can easily become confused by the […]

In India—A Fable by Raja Rao we have the theme of colonialism, potential, control, change and independence. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Raja (assumed to be the author) and after reading the story the reader realises that Rao may be exploring the theme of colonization. Throughout the […]

In Sand by Tim Winton we have the theme of conflict, anger, revenge, innocence, coming of age, blame, jealousy and fear. Taken from his The Turning 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 Winton may be exploring the theme of conflict. Frank […]

In Reunion by Tim Winton we have the theme of connection, reconciliation, conflict, family, letting go and struggle. Taken from his The Turning and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Gail and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Winton may be exploring the theme of connection. Carol […]

In Going Out for a Walk by Max Beerbohm we have the theme of conformity, escape, conflict, social opinion and tradition. Taken from his And Even Now collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Beerbohm may be exploring the theme of conformity. Beerbohm does not believe in going for a walk for the simple purpose of […]

In Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut we have the theme of equality, control, independence, conflict, change and fear. Taken from his Welcome to the Monkey House collection the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Vonnegut may be exploring the theme of equality. The Handicap General ensures that everybody is equal. However rather than this being a euphoric […]

In The Sporting Spirit by George Orwell we have the theme of pride, nationalism, jealousy, hatred and passion. Taken from his Shooting an Elephant collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Orwell may be exploring the theme of pride and nationalism. Orwell argues that the sport played by either side may not necessarily be of the utmost importance. […]

In Like Mother, Like Son by Pauline Cartledge we have the theme of unhappiness, desperation, control, dependency and revenge. Narrated in the way of an epistolary narrative the story is only fifty words long and it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Cartledge may be exploring the theme of unhappiness. Taking the first section of the […]

In Death and the Compass by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of revenge, murder, mystery and deception. Taken from his Collected Fictions collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Borges is writing a mystery. One in whereby the police may not […]