Short Story Reviews
In Swami and Friends by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of disobedience, conflict, control, authority, power, rebellion and independence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Narayan may be exploring the theme of disobedience. Swaminathan has burnt his school cap in support of Gandhi […]
Read moreIn Sweets for Angels by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of aspirations, connection, kindness, regret, appearance, friendship, innocence and change. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Narayan may be exploring the theme of appearance. Though Kali has the look of somebody who may […]
Read moreIn Report on the Threatened City by Doris Lessing we have the theme of control, power, acceptance, disillusion, change and failure. Taken from her Stories collection the story is narrated in the form of reports and after reading the story the reader realises that Lessing may be exploring the theme of control. The world that […]
Read moreIn The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe we have the theme of conflict, isolation, fear, control, powerlessness and friendship. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Poe may be exploring the theme of conflict. Roderick is in conflict with […]
Read moreIn The Lotus Eater by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of acceptance, change, courage, freedom, independence and happiness. Taken from his Collected Short 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 Maugham may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston we have the theme of struggle, pride, acceptance, infidelity, brutality, control, independence, self-importance and freedom. Taken from her The Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Hurston may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn A Conversation from the Third Floor by Mohamed El-Bisatie we have the theme of conflict, connection, corruption, endurance, struggle and loss. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that El-Bisatie may be exploring the theme of conflict. Though the narrator […]
Read moreIn The Hollow of the Three Hills by Nathaniel Hawthorne we have the theme of sacrifice, death, regret, guilt, desperation and bravery. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Hawthorne may be exploring the theme of sacrifice. The woman must sacrifice her life with the […]
Read moreIn Looking for a Rain God by Bessie Head we have the theme of struggle, hardship, innocence, desperation, sacrifice, acceptance and connection. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Head may be exploring the theme of struggle and hardship. Those who live in the village […]
Read moreIn A Bag of Sweets by Agnes Sam we have the theme of change, animosity, bitterness, letting go and connection. Narrated in the first person by a young woman called Kaltoum who is incurring difficulties with the arrival of her sister back in the village. Khadija married a Christian man much to the annoyance of […]
Read moreIn The Refugee by James Appe we have the theme of appearance, hope, control, vulnerability, conflict, pride and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Appe may be exploring the theme of appearance. Margaret is not who she may seem to be or at […]
Read moreIn The Assignment by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of conflict, fear, loyalty, trust, hatred and betrayal. Taken from his Kingdom’s End 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 Manto is using the […]
Read moreIn A Piece of News by Eudora Welty we have theme of identity, isolation, desire, control, connection, escape and paralysis. 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 Welty may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn An Incident in the Ghobashi Household by Alifa Rifaat we have the theme of responsibility, struggle, pride, control, shame, tradition, secrecy, appearance and sacrifice. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Rifaat may be exploring the theme of responsibility. Zeinat has a responsibility to […]
Read moreIn Protista by Dambudzo Marechera we have the theme of struggle, isolation, acceptance, love and helplessness. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Marechera may be exploring the theme of struggle. The narrator’s environment is one of hardship. There is no water and […]
Read moreIn Duty by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of corruption, control, power, commitment, greed, selfishness, responsibility and self-importance. 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 […]
Read moreIn The Betrayal by Ahmed Essop we have the theme of ego, responsibility, fear, selfishness, insecurity, corruption, control, conflict and betrayal. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Essop may be exploring the theme of ego. Dr Kamal is allowing his ego to take control […]
Read moreIn Marionettes, Inc. by Ray Bradbury we have the theme of control, change, happiness, selfishness, escape, conflict, independence and freedom. Taken from his The Illustrated Man 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 Bradbury may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Pedestrian by Ray Bradbury we have the theme of conflict, connection, alienation, control, loneliness and acceptance. Taken from his The Golden Apples of the Sun 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 Bradbury may be […]
Read moreIn A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury we have the theme of fear, conflict, ignorance, control, naivety and change. Taken from his The Golden Apples of the Sun 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 Bradbury […]
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