Short Story Reviews
In The German Refugee by Bernard Malamud we have the theme of language, letting go, expression, fear, love, insecurity, conflict and depression. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a twenty year old man called Martin Goldberg and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Malamud may […]
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In The Transformation of Martin Burney by O. Henry we have the theme of exploitation, control, addiction, struggle, desperation, change and satisfaction. Taken from his Selected 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 exploitation. Corrigan as the […]
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In A Home near the Sea by Kamala Das we have the theme of poverty, dreams, jealousy, generosity, loyalty and control. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Das may be exploring the theme of poverty. Arumugham and his wife are homeless and live on the streets. […]
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In The Bet by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of morality, integrity, isolation, materialism, change and desperation. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unknown narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of morality. The young man forfeits his bet […]
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In At the Barber’s by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of love, loss, misery and change. 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 love. Makar has feelings for Anna, which he […]
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In The Lion and the Sun by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of self-importance, appearance, selfishness and satisfaction. Taken from his Collected 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 self-importance. Stepan longs for […]
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In A Classical Student by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of fear, intelligence, discipline, selfishness and success. Taken from his Collected Story Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it is clear that Chekhov is exploring the theme of fear. Vanya’s exams are to take […]
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In The Pounding Room by Bentley Little we have the theme of fear, uncertainty, curiosity, trust and letting go. Narrated in the first person by a man called Charles Nichols it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Little may be exploring the theme of fear. Charles is afraid of the environment he finds himself in. This […]
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In Talent by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of freedom, love, happiness, selfishness, struggle, innocence, escape and failure. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and the reader realises after reading the story that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of freedom. Yegor has fanciful ideas about […]
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In Sixpence by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of freedom, control, bravery, forgiveness, guilt and uncertainty. Taken from her Something Childish 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of freedom. Dicky, though his […]
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In Widowed by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of love, loss, acceptance, happiness, freedom and simplicity. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of love. Geraldine is very much in love with Jimmie. In many simple ways she admires him to the point […]
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In Mr. and Mrs. Williams by Katherine Mansfield we have theme of happiness, innocence and love. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and form the beginning of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of happiness. Both Gwendolen and Gerald are happy […]
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In A Man and His Dog by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of appearance, acceptance and satisfaction. Taken from her The Collected 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of appearance. For the first paragraph […]
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In All Serene by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of appearance, doubt, trust, insecurity, escape, acceptance and freedom. Taken from her The Collected 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of appearance. […]
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In Drink by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of struggle, helplessness, perseverance, love and coming of age. 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 the reader realises that Anderson may be exploring the theme of struggle and helplessness. Tom’s grandmother has […]
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In This Flower by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of love, perception, secrecy and ambition. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and the reader realises after reading the story that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of secrecy. Roy and his lady friend are […]
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In Late at Night by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of pride, love, insecurity, class and acceptance. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Virginia and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of pride. The […]
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In The Black Cap by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of appearance, boredom, adultery, class, paralysis and love. Taken from her Something Childish and Other Stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that Mansfield may be exploring the theme of appearance. The lady does not like her lover wearing his black cap. If anything her perception of […]
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In The Tractor and the Corn Goddess by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of self-importance, generosity, failure, responsibility, modernity, change and suspicion. Taken from his The Tractor and the Corn Goddess 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 […]
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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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