Short Story Reviews
In The Contest by Annie Proulx we have the theme of independence, rivalry, humility, connection, determination, isolation, acceptance and education. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Proulx may be exploring the theme of isolation. Elk Tooth seems to be in the […]
Read moreIn Ming’s Biggest Prey by Patricia Highsmith we have the theme of connection, jealousy, conflict, trust, acceptance, vulnerability and independence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Highsmith may be exploring the theme of connection. Ming and Elaine on several occasions in the story show […]
Read moreIn Sredni Vashtar by Saki we have the theme of escape, acceptance, control, revenge, selfishness, independence and freedom. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Saki may be exploring the theme of escape. Conradin spends as much time as he can in the tool shed. […]
Read moreIn The Door in the Wall by H.G. Wells we have the theme of escape, happiness, appearance, conflict, uncertainty, fear, doubt and regret. Narrated in the first person by a man called Redmond the story is a frame narrative and after reading the story the reader realises that Wells may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of insecurity, anger, appearance, confidence, acceptance and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed forty year old man the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of insecurity. The narrator while sitting in the […]
Read moreIn Quality by John Galsworthy we have the theme of commitment, determination, loyalty, honesty, dedication and loss. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Galsworthy may be exploring the theme of commitment. For the entire duration of the story Mr Gessler spends all his time […]
Read moreIn Cat Within by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of superstition, tradition, desperation, honesty, fear, selfishness and acceptance. Taken from his Malgudi Days collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that that Narayan may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn Bliss by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of happiness, perception, deception, paralysis, control, trust, dependency and acceptance. Taken from her collection of the same name the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story it becomes clear to the reader that Mansfield may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Little Governess by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of trust, innocence, appearance, fear, escape and security. Taken from her Bliss 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 Mansfield may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn Feuille d’Album by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of happiness, connection, perception, love, struggle and frustration. Taken from her Bliss 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 Mansfield may be exploring the theme of love. […]
Read moreIn Frau Fischer by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of independence, letting go, acceptance change, trust, control, gender roles and conflict. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed British woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be […]
Read moreIn The Sister of the Baroness by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of appearance, identity, self-importance, class and escape. Taken from her In a German Pension collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed English woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Mansfield may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn Sleepy by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of struggle, class, longing, acceptance, infanticide and desperation. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of struggle. Varka […]
Read moreIn Rothschild’s Fiddle by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of sadness, gratitude, anger, paralysis, loss, grief, class and acceptance. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn The Chorus Girl by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of adultery, identity, remorse, desperation, independence, trust, guilt and loneliness. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov is not only exploring […]
Read moreIn Trail of the Green Blazer by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of guilt, pity, appearance, identity, struggle, trust, change and commitment. Taken from his Malgudi Days collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Narayan may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn Real Time by Amit Chaudhuri we have the theme of discontent, appearance, tradition, selfishness, self-importance and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Chaudhuri may be exploring the theme of discontent. There is a sense that Mr and Mrs Mitra are […]
Read moreIn How Far Is the River by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of determination, aspirations, struggle, drive, freedom, independence and doubt. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young unnamed boy and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring […]
Read moreIn Old Man at the Bridge by Ernest Hemingway we have the theme of struggle, pride, commitment, selflessness, change, paralysis and acceptance. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed soldier and after reading the story the reader realises that Hemingway may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Green Door by O. Henry we have the theme of adventure, convention, good fortune, fear, risk and uncertainty. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Henry may be exploring the theme of adventure. The narrator views people in two categories those […]
Read more