Short Story Reviews
In Flight by Sindiwe Magona we have the theme of connection, tradition, freedom, fear, desperation and determination. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman who is looking back on an incident when she was a child. The reader realises after reading the story that Magona may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator feels connected to her […]
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In Out of Darkness by Alex la Guma we have the theme of sympathy, alienation, happiness, letting go, loneliness and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed male the reader realises after reading the story that la Guma may be exploring the theme of sympathy. Through listening to Old Cockroach’s’ story the reader manages to feel sorry for […]
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In Uncle Ben’s Choice by Chinua Achebe we have the theme of fear, superstition, anxiety, alienation, control, change and acceptance. Taken from his Girls at War and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Ben and it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Achebe may be exploring the […]
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In The Journey by Barrie Hough we have the theme of friendship, fear, connection, helplessness, control, equality and perseverance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Hough may be exploring theme of friendship. Thembi and Johan have a very special connection with one another despite the fact […]
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In The Memsahib of Mandla by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of opportunity, independence, freedom, fear, control and mortality. Taken from his The Portrait of a Lady 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 Singh may be exploring the theme of […]
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In Teenage Wasteland by Anne Tyler we have the theme of blame, authority, fear, rebellion, trust and control. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tyler may be exploring the theme of blame. Daisy in many ways blames herself for the bad attitude that Donny has and the bad grades […]
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In A Love Affair in London by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of conflict, connection, loneliness and isolation. Taken from his The Portrait of a Lady 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 Singh may be exploring the theme of conflict. […]
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In An Angel in Disguise by T.S. Arthur we have the theme of kindness, gratitude, caring, change and happiness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Arthur may be exploring the theme of kindness. Both Joe and Jane take Maggie into their home though she is crippled and pitied by […]
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In The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick we have the theme of conflict, control, trust, innocence and struggle. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Ozick may be exploring the theme of conflict. Rosa is conflicted as she is walking towards the concentration camp. She wants to hand Magda to a […]
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In House Opposite by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of judgement, discomfort, connection, pity, selfishness and kindness. Taken from his Under the Banyan Tree 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 Narayan may be exploring the theme of judgement. The hermit […]
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In The Watchman by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of independence, tradition, desperation, loss, hope and connection. Taken from his Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that Narayan may be exploring the theme of independence. The watchman has no understanding as to why the girl would wish to study in […]
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In On Habits by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of routine, independence, anxiety, control, change and jealousy. Taken from his Windfalls collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of routine. Gardiner finds himself at a loss without his pencil. It is the tool he uses for writing and regardless of how […]
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In On Saying Please by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of courtesy, civility, morality, responsibility and control. Taken from his Many Furrows collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of courtesy and the benefits of being courteous to others. The story of the lift-man and his pushing of the man out […]
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In The Other Side of the Hedge by E.M. Forster we have the theme of acceptance, letting go, conflict and failure. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Forster may be exploring the theme of acceptance. The narrator does not accept the position he finds himself in. He has went […]
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In Sparrows by K.A. Abbas we have the theme of cruelty, fear, resentment, tradition, connection, redemption and change. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Abbas may be exploring the theme of cruelty. As Rahim is walking home his neighbours silently talk about how cruel he has been […]
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In The Dream by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of appearance, fear, uncertainty, trust, insecurity and infidelity. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of appearance. The narrator does not believe […]
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In Bread by Margaret Atwood we have the theme of perception, connection, control, greed and change. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Atwood may be exploring the theme of perception and change. It is as though by her continued use of the word ‘imagine’ in each paragraph that Atwood […]
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In Forbidden Love by Can Themba we have the theme of fear, love, apartheid, hypocrisy, defiance and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Themba may be exploring the theme of fear. Dora’s family live their life in fear. An irrational fear of having any involvement with […]
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In Like the Sun by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of honesty, conflict, anger, change and rejection. Taken from his Under the Banyan Tree and Other 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 Narayan may be exploring the theme of honesty. […]
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In A Job Well Done by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of connection, conflict, fear, control, freedom and revenge. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man who is looking back at a period in his life when he was eight years old. From the beginning of the story […]
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In Toba Tek Singh by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of confusion, identity, separation, change, control and ignorance. Taken from his Kingdom’s End 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 Manto may be exploring the theme of confusion. None of […]
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In The Dog of Tithwal by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of conflict, connection, ignorance, pride and struggle. Taken from his Kingdom’s End and Other 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 Manto through the setting may be exploring the […]
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In Africa Kills Her Sun by Ken Saro-Wiwa we have the theme of corruption, acceptance, connection, honour and love. Narrated in the first person in the form of an epistolary narrative the reader realises after reading the story that Saro-Wiwa may be exploring the theme of corruption. Throughout Bana’s letter to Zole he mentions the corruption that exists in not […]
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In The Parrot in the Cage by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of conflict, desperation, loneliness, hopelessness and struggle. Taken from his Selected 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 Anand may be exploring the theme of conflict. Rukmaniai […]
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In All Creatures Great and Small by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of connection, affection, friendship, anger, power and preservation. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring theme of connection. When the narrator was […]
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