In Love Letters by Kate Walker we have the theme of romance, love, honesty, vulnerability and selfishness. Narrated in the first person by a young man called Nick the reader realises after reading the story that Walker may be exploring the theme of romance. Fleur wants some romance in her life. Just like Helen has. She wants Nick to write […]

In University Days by James Thurber we have the theme of hardship, control, frustration and struggle. Taken from his My Life and Hard Times collection the story is narrated in the first person by Thurber himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Thurber may be exploring the theme of hardship. Thurber is woeful when it […]

In Everything in the Right Place by Hans Christian Andersen we have the theme of cruelty, arrogance, paralysis, kindness and selfishness. Taken from his The Complete Fairy Tales collection the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Anderson may be exploring the theme of cruelty. The baron attempts to push the goose girl into the river because he […]

In The Green Tree by Zakariyya Tamir we have the theme of innocence, imagination, control, escape, friendship and coming of age. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tamir may be exploring the theme of innocence. Rhanda is upset yet Talal through his actions is able to alleviate her fears […]

In The Case of The Lower Case Letter by Jack Delany we have the theme of control, greed, honesty, murder and commitment. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed detective the reader realises after reading the story that Delany may be exploring the theme of control. Edgar likes to control Edith, particularly how she looks. This may be significant […]

In The House of Asterion by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of isolation, loneliness, connection, fear, escape, mortality and freedom. Taken from his Labyrinths collection the reader realises after reading the story that Borges is using the myth of the Minator as a template. Though rather than others being the primary narrator Asterion, who is a minatour, is […]

In The Wedge-Tailed Eagle by Geoffrey Dutton we have the theme of respect, revenge, control, skill and remorse. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that Dutton may be exploring the theme of respect. Both pilots when they are talking to the farmer scorn the farmer […]

The theme of love is self-evident in the story and there is no disputing that the laundress loved the mayor’s brother. However due to the opinion of the mayor’s mother the laundress was not allowed to marry the brother. She believed that the laundress was not the equal of her son. This too is significant as the mayor’s mother appears […]

In Father Wakes Up the Village by Clarence Day we have the theme of determination, satisfaction, pride, control and efficiency. Taken from his Life with Father collection the story is narrated in the first person by Day himself and after reading the story the reader realises that Day may be exploring the theme of determination. Day’s father when he finds […]

In Uncle Podger Hangs a Picture by Jerome K. Jerome we have the theme of gender roles, responsibility, inequality, control, ignorance and independence. Taken from his Three Men in a Boat collection the reader realises after reading the story that Jerome may be exploring the theme of gender roles. There does not appear to be anybody in the house, especially […]

In April Showers by Edith Wharton we have the theme of connection, responsibilities, struggle, identity, loss, determination, disappointment and jealousy. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Wharton may be exploring the theme of connection. Though Theodora has much work to do she remains connected to her family and her […]