Short Story Reviews
In Snapshot of a Dog by James Thurber we have the theme of memories, loyalty, determination, love, connection and pride. Taken from his The Middle-Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Thurber may be exploring the theme […]
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In Nine Needles by James Thurber we have the theme of anger, control, fear, courage, patriarchy and embarrassment. Taken from his Let Your Mind Alone collection the story is narrated by Thurber himself and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Thurber may be exploring the theme of anger. Mr Albatross is angry about […]
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In Sugar Baby by Chinua Achebe we have the theme of addiction, friendship, control, frustration and anger. Taken from his Girls at War collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Mike and after reading the story the reader realises that Achebe is exploring the theme of addiction. Cletus is addicted to sugar. In fact […]
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In Georgia and Them There United States by Velma Pollard we have the theme of discontent, connection, pride, shame and the American Dream. Narrated in the first person by a young Jamaican girl called June the reader realises after reading the story that Pollard may be exploring the theme of discontent. Aunt Teach appears to be discontent with life in […]
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In Justice, a traditional Ethiopian tale, we have the theme of justice, mistaken identity, gratitude, disconnection, fear and anger. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that the story teller is exploring the theme of mistaken identity. The woman mistakenly believes that the old man knows where her […]
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In Different Values by Barbara Makhalisa we have the theme of patriarchy, control, connection, change, freedom, happiness and paralysis. Narrated in the first person by a woman called Liza it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Makhalisa may be exploring the theme of patriarchy. Liza is a maid whose entire life appears to be controlled by […]
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In The Girl With a Twisted Future by Mia Couto we have the theme of exploitation, control, anguish, paralysis, determination and happiness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Couto may be exploring the theme of exploitation. Joseldo is forcing his daughter, Filomeninha, to do things that she […]
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In While the Auto Waits by O. Henry we have the theme of identity, honesty, curiosity, independence and acceptance. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Henry may be exploring the theme of identity. Throughout the story the young […]
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In Let Me Tell a Story Now by Bessie Head we have the theme of writing, fear, self-belief and confidence. Taken from her Tales of Tenderness and Power collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Head may be exploring the theme of writing. The narrator […]
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In The Woman from America by Bessie Head we have the theme of fear, authority, control, male dominance, corruption, poverty and freedom. Taken from her Tales of Tenderness and Power collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Head may be exploring the theme […]
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In Chief Sekoto holds Court by Bessie Head we have the theme of optimism, logic, tradition, control, kindness and justice. Taken from her Tales of Tenderness and Power collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Head may be exploring the theme of optimism. […]
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In Snowball by Bessie Head we have the theme of friendship, control, dependency, confusion, acceptance, religion, identity and open-mindness. Taken from her Tales of Tenderness and Power collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed female narrator and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Head may be exploring the […]
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In the short story In a Strange Land by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of animosity, perfection, submission and commitment. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Chekhov is exploring the theme […]
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In The Insurance Agent by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of identity, uncertainty and sorrow. Taken from his The Collected Stories 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 Singh may be exploring the theme of identity. Nobody at the […]
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In The Red Tie by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of selfishness, appearance, acceptance, trust, jealousy and honesty . Narrated in both the first person (first section) and third person (second and third section) the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Singh may be exploring the theme of selfishness. Chisti’s positioning of himself by the fire, […]
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In Kusum by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of appearance, sadness, confidence and change. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it would appear as though Singh is exploring the theme of appearance. Singh details Kusum’s physical appearance and it is […]
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In Flight 303 by Suresh Chopra we have the theme of freedom, appearance, respect, temptation and desperation. Narrated in the first person by a man called Chopsy it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Chopra may be exploring the theme of freedom. Rummy has been caught for a robbery and is travelling back to the U.K […]
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In Maguni’s Bullock Cart by Godavarish Mohapatra we have the theme of loss, struggle, progress, loyalty and fear. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Mohapatra may be exploring the theme of loss. Maguni has died and those in the town who knew him, which is almost everyone, […]
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In The Blue Hills Where the Sun Never Sets by Hugh Gantzer we have the theme of imperialism, change, tradition, power and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Gantzer may be exploring the theme of imperialism. Life in the mountains has not changed despite India claiming […]
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In Boys by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of escape, fear, connection, adventure and love. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of escape and adventure. Volodya and Lentilov want to […]
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In Polinka by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of love, sadness, confusion and grief. 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 Chekhov may be exploring the theme of love. Nikolay is very much in love with Polinka […]
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In Darkness by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of struggle, compassion, responsibility, class, acceptance and authority. Taken from his The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of struggle. Kirila struggles to persuade the […]
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In A Blaze by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of friendship, trust, uncertainty, defeat and love. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of friendship. Victor and Max are close friends. […]
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In The Doctor by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of loss, love, compassion, grief, acceptance, responsibility, selfishness and honesty. Taken from his The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of […]
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In Bad Weather by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of restlessness, love, trust, adultery and loyalty. 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 Chekhov may be exploring that theme of restlessness. There is no need for Kvashin […]
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