The Repentant Sinner by Leo Tolstoy

In The Repentant Sinner by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of mercy, weakness, sin, connection, faith, hope and happiness. Taken from his Walk in the Light collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme […]

Read more

The Empty Drum by Leo Tolstoy

In The Empty Drum by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of jealousy, class, control, fear, happiness and power. Taken from his Walk in the Light collection it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme of jealousy. The King is jealous of Emelyan because his wife […]

Read more

The Family Business by Benjamin Law

In The Family Business by Benjamin Law we have the theme of connection, identity, loss, success, respect and isolation. Taken from his The Family Law collection the story is narrated in the first person by Law himself and after reading the story it becomes clear to the reader that Law may be exploring the theme […]

Read more

The First Day by Edward P. Jones

In The First Day by Edward P. Jones we have the theme of connection, desperation, love, pride, authority and fear. Narrated in the first person by a young five year old black girl the reader realizes after reading the story that Jones may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator’s mother longs to bring […]

Read more

Septimus by John Wickham

In Septimus by John Wickham we have the theme of sorrow, poverty, struggle, responsibility, happiness, selflessness and kindness. Narrated in the first person by a female narrator (Septimus’ sister) the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Wickham may be exploring the theme of sorrow. Septimus’ mother is crying because Septimus is happy […]

Read more

The Special One by Bessie Head

In The Special One by Bessie Head we have the theme of injustice, inequality, letting go, patriarchy, abandonment, gossip and happiness. Taken from her The Collector of Treasures collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Head may […]

Read more
1 2 3 4 58