Short Story Reviews
In Letter to Adolf Hitler by Mahatma Gandhi we have the theme of imperialism, aspirations, violence and independence. Taken from his Selected Letters collection the reader realises after reading the letter that Gandhi may be exploring the theme of imperialism. As he writes to Hitler, Gandhi reminds Hitler that the British have ruled over one-fifth of the world’s population. It […]
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In On Spendthrifts by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of generosity, sympathy, selfishness and control. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of generosity. Gardiner argues that those who are spendthrifts are generous to a fault. They will help friends and buy things for […]
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In On the Top Note by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of exaggeration, language, connection, alienation and control. Taken from his Many Furrows collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of exaggeration. Pamela appears to like exaggerating things when it comes to her use of words. Something that annoys Reginald who […]
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In On the Edge of a Plain by Henry Lawson we have the theme of happiness, freedom, connection, and independence. Taken from his While the Billy Boils collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Lawson may be exploring the theme of happiness. Mitchell’s […]
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In The Husband by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of escape, hope, happiness, paralysis, fear and control. Taken from his 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. The ladies in the town look […]
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In Art by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of control, glory, selfishness, triumph and fear. Taken from his 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 control. Seryozhka likes to control Matvey when it comes […]
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In The First Day of School by William Saroyan we have the theme of fear, pride, connection and happiness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Saroyan may be exploring the theme of fear. Jim is afraid to go to school. He does not want to go nor […]
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In the essay In Praise of Chess by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of satisfaction, happiness, enthusiasm, contentment, privilege, class and old-age. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of satisfaction. Gardiner considers a game of chess to be the most satisfying thing in […]
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In On Ignorance by Hilaire Belloc we have the theme of ignorance, passion, deflection, shame, appearance, tomfoolery and after reading the essay it becomes clear to the reader that Belloc is exploring the theme of passion. Should an individual find themselves ignorant of facts among an audience of others Belloc believes passion is a sure solution to any embarrassment that […]
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In All About a Dog by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of determination, class, resentment, control, power, defiance and change. Taken from his Leaves in the Wind collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of determination. […]
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In On Cats and Dogs by A.G. Gardiner we have theme of loyalty, friendship, trust, companionship and independence. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of loyalty. Gardiner believes that dogs are more loyal than any cat will ever be. They are always there for […]
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In Of Great Place by Francis Bacon we have the theme of social status, freedom, power, respect, identity and self-sacrifice. Taken from his Essays, Civil and Moral collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Bacon may be exploring the theme of social status. Bacon considers those who strive for a higher social status are thrice servants. […]
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In I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. we have the theme of freedom, hope, inequality, segregation, dignity and racism. Taken from his speech which was delivered at the Lincoln Monument, Washington D.C. on 28th August 1963 the reader realises after reading the speech that King may be exploring the theme of freedom. King with great enthusiasm decries […]
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In A Piece of Chalk by G. K. Chesterton we have the theme of desire, prudence, resilience, happiness, independence and ingenuity and very on in the essay the reader realises the Chesterton may be exploring the theme of desire. Chesterton wishes to walk out on the fields and do some drawing. Not the typical drawing of the animals in the […]
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In I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen we have the theme of helplessness, struggle, coming of age and confidence. Narrated in the first person by Emily’s mother it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Emily’s mother feels helpless. She has struggled in life with her first husband leaving her and forcing her to rear their […]
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In Punishment by Rabindranath Tagore we have the theme of conflict, power, control, trust, acceptance, sacrifice, loyalty and honesty. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story and right through to the end that Tagore may be exploring the theme of conflict. Chandara and Radha are unable to get along. […]
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In A Birthday by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of responsibility, selfishness, gender roles, appearance, suffering and paralysis. 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 responsibility. Andreas if anything thinks […]
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In Only the Dead Know Brooklyn by Thomas Wolfe we have the theme of connection, conflict, self-importance and identity. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Wolfe may be exploring the theme of connection or rather the lack […]
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In Playing the English Gentleman by Mahatma Gandhi we have the theme of identity, acceptance, change, perception and tradition. Taken from his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth the reader realises after reading the essay that Gandhi may be exploring the theme of identity. There is a sense that Gandhi while a student in England wishes to fit […]
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In A Child in the Dark, and a Foreign Father by Henry Lawson we have the theme of compassion, selfishness, trust, fear and struggle. Taken from his Triangles of Life and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed omniscient narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Lawson may be exploring […]
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In On Finding Things by E.V. Lucas we have the theme of happiness, good fortune, enthusiasm and deception. Taken from his Adventures and Enthusiasms collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Lucas may be exploring the theme of happiness. Lucas finds great joy in finding things. Particularly things that cannot be traced back to their owner. Things like […]
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In On Writing an Article by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of indecision, habit, confusion and insecurity. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of indecision. Gardiner is unable to pick a subject to write an article on. The problem isn’t that he can’t […]
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In A Night’s Lodging by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of struggle, dedication, enthusiasm, respect and frustration. Taken from his Many Furrows collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of struggle. Gardiner spends his entire evening trying to make himself comfortable in bed. No matter what he does (to the pillows […]
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In The Bird by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of control, freedom, selfishness, responsibility and change. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme of control. Serozha wants to use his gift from his uncle to control the lives of the birds that he […]
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In The Dead Man by Horacio Quiroga we have the theme of acceptance, mortality, fear, loneliness, helplessness and connection. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Quiroga may be exploring the theme of acceptance. The man lying by the wire fence has difficulty accepting that he is dying. His mind […]
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