Short Story Reviews
In Storm Petrel by Romesh Gunesekera we have the theme of aspirations, conflict, memories, enthusiasm, failure and friendship. Taken from his Monkfish Moon collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Gunesekera may be exploring the theme of aspirations and dreams. CK’s head is […]
Read more
In The End of the World by Mavis Gallant we have the theme of dislocation, alienation selfishness, infidelity, compassion, hopelessness, responsibility, loyalty and acceptance. Taken from her The End of the World and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Billy Apostolesco and the reader realises from the beginning of the story […]
Read more
In A Country Cottage by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of happiness, love, conflict, anger and acceptance. Taken from his The Complete Short 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 happiness. Sasha and Varya […]
Read more
In Gone Astray by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of mistaken identity, breaking-in, confusion and hopelessness. Taken from his The Complete Short 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 mistaken identity. Kozyavkin has mistaken […]
Read more
In The Head of the Family by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of depression, failure, domestic abuse, fear and paralysis. Taken from his The Complete Short 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 depression. […]
Read more
In the short story In A Hotel by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of hostility, powerlessness, class, marriage, appearance, change and redemption. Taken from his The Complete 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 may be […]
Read more
In Sorrow by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of desperation, struggle, guilt, cruelty, hope, loss and self-pity. Taken from his The Complete 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 may be exploring the theme of desperation. […]
Read more
In A Service of Love by O. Henry we have the theme of love, art, desperation, connection and honesty. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story it becomes clear to the reader that Henry may be exploring the theme of love. Joe and […]
Read more
In Tandy by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of belief, loneliness, self-image, influence, identity and hope. Taken from his Winesburg, Ohio collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Anderson may be exploring the theme of belief. Tom Hard is agnostic and tries to persuade […]
Read more
In A Man of Ideas by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of helplessness, fear, respect, trust, connection, pride and freedom. Taken from his Winesburg, Ohio 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 Anderson may be exploring the theme of […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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. […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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 […]
Read more
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, […]
Read more