Short Story Reviews
In Death and the Compass by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of revenge, murder, mystery and deception. Taken from his Collected Fictions collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Borges is writing a mystery. One in […]
Read moreIn A Rupee Goes a Long Way by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of hope, ingenuity, contentment and impatience. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Bond may be exploring the theme of impatience. Ranji is impatient about spending his rupee. He draws himself […]
Read moreIn The Book of Sand by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of curiosity, confusion, addiction, conflict, torment and obsession. Taken from his Collected Fictions collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Borges may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn Petrified Man by Eudora Welty we have the theme of appearance, connection, gossip, gender roles, revenge and empowerment. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that Welty is using the setting of the story (a beauty parlour) to explore the theme of appearance. Leota is prone to […]
Read moreIn The Key by Eudora Welty we have the theme of happiness, connection, love, insecurity, hope and arrogance. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that Welty may be exploring the theme of happiness. Neither Albert nor Ellie seem to be happy. Albert is hoping that by going […]
Read moreIn On Keyhole Morals by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of respect, appearance, privacy, acceptance and curiosity. Taken from his Windfalls collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of respect. The gentleman who talks to Gardiner about those in his neighbouring cabin does not […]
Read moreIn On Fear by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of fear, bravery, temptation, perception and control. Taken from his Leaves in the Wind collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of fear and bravery. For Gardiner the man who overcomes his fear is a […]
Read moreIn On Being Idle by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of idleness, perception, self-importance, acceptance, connection and honesty. Taken from his Windfalls collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Gardiner is exploring the theme of idleness. Gardiner himself knows that he prefers to be idle yet he is offended should […]
Read moreIn On Courage by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of selflessness, courage, control, shame and individualism. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of selflessness. The soldier on the Formidable by giving his seat away on the life boat […]
Read moreIn Big Brother by Munshi Premchand we have the theme of innocence, pride, experience, education, sacrifice and connection. The story itself is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man who is recalling an incident when he was a young boy. It also becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Premchand […]
Read moreIn The Law of Life by Jack London we have the theme of acceptance, mortality, connection, tradition, loneliness, struggle and selfishness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that London may be exploring the theme of acceptance. Koskoosh appears to be accepting of the fact that […]
Read moreIn Forbidden Clothes by Jamila Gavin we have the theme of freedom, obedience, conflict, identity, tradition, culture, rebellion, respect, friendship and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Gavin may be exploring the theme of freedom. Nasreen feels free when she is with Louise. […]
Read moreIn The Blue Bouquet by Octavio Paz we have the theme of conflict, fear, innocence, connection, love and self-importance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Paz may be exploring the theme of conflict. The narrator is in conflict with the owner of the boarding […]
Read moreIn Those People Next Door by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of ignorance, identity, criticism, selfishness, jealousy and tolerance. Taken from his Many Furrows collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of ignorance. Gardiner himself has no idea who his neighbour really is. Something that would […]
Read moreIn On the Philosophy of Hats by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of appearance, perception, class and character. Taken from his Pebbles on the Shore collection it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of appearance. For Gardiner and the hatter appearances seem […]
Read moreIn A Guardian Angel by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of connection, love, freedom, memories, separation and acceptance. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is a memory piece and is narrated by a man known only as Ladla. What is also clear to the reader is that Mariam has a close […]
Read moreIn Flight by Doris Lessing we have the theme of anger, acceptance, jealousy, conflict, change, independence, letting go and freedom. Taken from her African Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Lessing may be exploring the theme of anger. […]
Read moreIn Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell we have the theme of imperialism, control, appearance, trust, conflict, acceptance and values. Taken from his collection of the same name the reader realises after reading the essay that Orwell may be exploring the theme of imperialism. Orwell considers himself to be above the Burmese who he is […]
Read moreIn Growing Up by Joyce Cary we have the theme of rebellion, control, innocence, isolation, acceptance, change and freedom. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Cary may be exploring the theme of rebellion. Both Jenny and Kate while they are on top of Robert […]
Read moreIn Once Upon a Time by Nadine Gordimer we have the theme of apartheid, equality, racism, insecurity, freedom, innocence, control and fear. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator (writer) the reader realises after reading the story that Gordimer may be exploring the theme of apartheid. The couple and their son live in […]
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