Short Story Reviews
In The Richer, The Poorer by Dorothy West we have the theme of money, selfishness, awareness and change. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that West is exploring the theme of money. Lottie lives her life in order to save. She may consider herself to be frugal […]
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In Our Christmas Reunion by Edward Chinhanhu we have the theme of love, respect, connection, friendship, innocence and AIDS. Narrated in the first person by a young boy called Tawanda the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Chinhanhu may be exploring the theme of love. Tawanda is preparing a goat for his brother’s arrival. He is excited […]
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In One More Dead Body by Kartar Singh Duggal we have the theme of hopes, aspirations, infidelity, shame, trust and fear. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader from the being of the story that Duggal may be exploring the theme of hopes and aspiration. Malkani wishes to live in the Rawal […]
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In The Most Potent Medicine of All by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of dedication, sacrifice, trust, compassion, desperation and love. 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 Bond may be exploring the theme of dedication. Wang’s wife […]
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In The Story of Madhu by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of friendship, connection, innocence, loss, loneliness and acceptance. 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 Bond may be exploring the theme of friendship. The narrator despite the […]
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In Triumph in the Face of Adversity by Kedibone Seku we have the theme of hardship, struggle, fear, ambition and opportunity. Narrated in the first person by a young teenage girl called Thulisile the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Seku may be exploring the theme of struggle. Both Thulisile’s parents are dead and what is striking […]
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In Fear of Fear by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of determination, fear, resentment, independence and cruelty. 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 Anand may be exploring the theme of determination. Dev is determined not to […]
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In Small Fry by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of self-esteem, class, paralysis, struggle, control, hope, confidence and happiness. 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 self-esteem. Nevyrazimov has low […]
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In A Chameleon by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of identity, control, prejudice, class and corruption. 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 identity. No one appears to know who […]
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In The Town Week by Robert Lynd we have the theme of character, failure, struggle, change and restlessness. Taken from his Specially Selected, Essays of Choice collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Lynd has a preference for Monday. He believes that it is the proper start of the week. Things can be done before they fall into […]
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In Such a Sweet Old Lady by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of paralysis, unhappiness, gender roles, choice, control, loss and loneliness. Taken from her The Collected Stories 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 paralysis. Mrs […]
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In Carnation by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of boredom, sensuality, control, friendship, desire and temptation. Taken from her Something Childish 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of boredom. Each girl with the exception […]
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In An Indiscreet Journey by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of escape, adventure, excitement, innocence and fear. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of escape. The narrator […]
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In The Wrong House by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of fear, mortality, panic, necessity and gratitude. Taken from her Something Childish 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of fear. Mrs Bean opens up […]
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In Violet by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of escape, depression, embarrassment, secrecy, trust, fear, uncertainty, connection, guilt and shame. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed young woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of escape. […]
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In A Suburban Fairy Tale by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of domesticity, commitment, sacrifice, communication, love, happiness, and connection. Taken from her Something Childish 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of domesticity. The […]
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In Two Tuppenny Ones, Please by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of gossip, selfishness, trust, acceptance and poverty. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the narrative style of the story is unusual. It is written more as a play than a story. A play that has three characters and only two who speak. The Lady and […]
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In The Luft Bad by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of shame, appearance, dignity, insecurity, freedom, independence and acceptance. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of shame. The narrator is […]
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In Father and the Girls by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of fear, paralysis, appearance, class, innocence, conflict and freedom. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading section one of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of fear. […]
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In Germans at Meat by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of obsession, foolishness, conflict, patriotism, equality and tradition. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and the reader realises after reading the story that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of obsession. Every character in the […]
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In Susannah by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of excitement, responsibility, stubbornness, embarrassment, punishment and forgiveness. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that Mansfield is giving two versions of the same event. In the first version Susannah is excited and inquisitive about the exhibition. She can’t wait for the day to […]
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In A Bad Idea by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of helplessness, determination, ignorance, selfishness and guilt. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of helplessness. The narrator has gotten […]
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In Daphne by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of heartbreak, failure, control, confidence, letting go and love. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and the reader realises after reading the story that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of heartbreak. The narrator loves Daphne however […]
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In Bank Holiday by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of impatience, conflict, perfection, struggle, fear and connection. Taken from her The Garden Party and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield has managed to walk the reader around the park where […]
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In Superman and Paula Brown‘s New Snowsuit by Sylvia Plath we have the theme of conflict, escape, pride, innocence, freedom and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by a young unnamed woman the story is a memory piece and after reading the story the reader realises that Plath may be exploring the theme of conflict. The Second World […]
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