In Emma by Carolyn Cole we have the theme of connection, independence, innocence, infidelity, desire, respect and change. Narrated in the first person by a young girl called Dory the reader realises after reading the story that Cole may be exploring the world of connection. Though Dory is still young she prefers the world of the adults around her. This […]

In The Dube Train by Can Themba we have the theme of indifference, bravery, apartheid, control and unity. Narrated in the first person by a young male narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Themba may be exploring the theme of indifference. Despite the young woman being hassled by the tsotsi there is really nobody to help her. […]

In They Sold My Sister by Leteipa Ole Sunkuli we have the theme of marriage, discontent, control, independence, tradition, freedom and equality. Narrated in the first person by a young twelve year old girl called Naliki the reader realises after reading the story that Sunkuli may be exploring the theme of marriage, particularly forced or arranged marriages. The narrator’s sister […]

In Minutes of Glory by Ngugi wa Thiong’o we have the theme of identity, insecurity, appearance, equality and independence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Thiong’o may be exploring the theme of identity. Beatrice doesn’t really know who she is or more importantly who she would like to be. […]

In The Two Grandmothers by Olive Senior we have the theme of tradition, modernity, identity, change, independence, connection, materialism, insecurity and coming of age. Taken from her Arrival of the Snake-Woman and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the form of several letters (an epistolary narrative) sent by a young unnamed girl to her mother. What is also interesting about […]

In The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream by Olive Senior we have the theme of desire, jealousy, insecurity, innocence, control, change, conflict and coming of age. Taken from her Summer Lightning 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 Senior may be exploring […]

In The Standard of Living by Dorothy Parker we have the theme of escape, materialism, friendship, greed, innocence, independence and freedom. Taken from her Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Parker may be exploring the theme of escape. Annabel and Midge spend […]

In The American Embassy by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie we have the theme of sacrifice, loneliness, change, freedom, frustration, identity, bravery, loss and grief. Taken from her The Thing Around Your Neck 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 Adichie may be exploring […]

In The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie we have the theme of connection, materialism, social opinion, independence, identity, loneliness and racism. Taken from her collection of the same name the story is narrated in the second person by a young woman called Akunna and after reading the story the reader realises that Adichie may be exploring the […]

In The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo we have the theme of conflict, innocence, freedom, insecurity, connection and pride. Taken from her collection of the same name the story is narrated in the first person by a young seven year old girl and after reading the story the reader realises that Aidoo may be exploring the theme of […]

In Class Act by Namhla Tshisana we have the theme of acceptance, connection, appearance, insecurity, conflict, bullying and identity. Narrated in the first person by a young twelve year old girl the reader realises after reading the story that Tshisana may be exploring the theme of bullying. The narrator is having a difficult time in school due to her appearance […]

In The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin we have the theme of conflict, happiness, freedom, sacrifice, acceptance and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Le Guin may be exploring the theme of conflict. There are some in Omelas who disapprove of how […]

In Tuesday Siesta by Gabriel García Márquez we have the theme of determination, respect, social opinion, connection and control. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Márquez may be exploring the theme of determination. Mrs Ayala has traveled some distance […]

In The Mark of Vishnu by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of tradition, modernity, faith, loyalty, respect and change. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young unnamed boy and after reading the story the reader realises that Singh may be exploring the theme of tradition. Gunga Ram is a […]