Short Story Reviews
In Noorjehan by Ahmed Essop we have the theme of tradition, marriage, fear, desperation, hope and paralysis. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed male teacher the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Essop may be exploring the theme of tradition. Though the story is set in the late twentieth century […]
Read moreIn Old Age by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of change, loss, renewal, memories, guilt and despair. Taken from his The Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and very early on in the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn The Unkindest Blow by Saki we have the theme of unity, ego, privacy and gossip. 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 Saki may be exploring the theme of unity. […]
Read moreIn The Guests by Saki we have the theme of boredom, tension, animosity, gratitude, arrogance and respect. 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 Saki is exploring the […]
Read moreIn Field Trip by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of forgiveness, connection, innocence, and closure. Taken from his The Things We Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of forgiveness. O’Brien […]
Read moreIn Night Life by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of tension, desperation, respect, connection and change. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of tension. […]
Read moreIn Church by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of friendship, conflict, religious practice and innocence. Taken from his The Thing They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of friendship. The […]
Read moreIn Good Form by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of honesty, writing, responsibility, acceptance and ego. Taken from his The Things They Carried Collection the story is narrated by O’Brien himself and after reading the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of honesty. O’Brien admits that he has not […]
Read moreIn Ambush by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of honesty, regret, forgiveness, acceptance and conflict. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and after reading the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of honesty. O’Brien’s daughter, when […]
Read moreIn The Man I Killed by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of letting go, tradition, time, rationality and acceptance. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and after reading the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn The Dentist by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of ego, connection, appearance, fear, masculinity and embarrassment. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and after reading the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of ego. Curt […]
Read moreIn On the Rainy River by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of responsibility, fear, connection, bravery and guilt. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and after reading the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of responsibility. […]
Read moreIn Friends by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of trust, friendship, connection and desperation. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of trust. Jensen and […]
Read moreIn Enemies by Tim O’Brien we have the theme of conflict, stress, fear and revenge. Taken from his The Things They Carried collection the story is narrated in the first person by O’Brien himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that O’Brien may be exploring the theme of conflict. Jensen and […]
Read moreIn the short story In Passion Week by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of order, fear, escape, connection, innocence and conflict. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an eight year old boy called Fedya and from the beginning of the story it becomes […]
Read moreIn The Album by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of authority, ego, corruption, appearance, selfishness, respect and ignorance. 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 […]
Read moreIn Mr Sumarsono by Roxana Robinson we have the theme of dislocation, absenteeism, happiness, escape, tradition and change. Taken from her Asking for Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young girl called Susan. Susan without her knowing it is the main character in the story. It is through her […]
Read moreIn The Distant Past by William Trevor we have the theme of loyalty, identity, prejudice, conflict, fear and alienation. Taken from his Angels at the Ritz 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 Trevor may be exploring […]
Read moreIn Bella Makes Life by Lorna Goodison we have the theme of liberation, change, control, conflict, selfishness and fear. Taken from her Baby Mother and the King of Swords 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 Goodison […]
Read moreIn The Ultimate Safari by Nadine Gordimer we have the theme of loss, fear, displacement, struggle and hope. Taken from her Jump and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young black girl and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Gordimer is […]
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