Short Story Reviews
In The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty we have the theme of war and the effects war can have on an individual. Set during the Irish Civil War the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises just how difficult war can be with brother […]
Read moreIn The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara we have the theme of appearance, class, equality, shame and education. Narrated in the first person by a young African American girl called Sylvia the reader soon realises from the beginning of the story that Bambara may be exploring the theme of appearance. Miss Moore out of all […]
Read moreIn Transforming Moments by Gcina Mhlophe we have the theme of insecurity, confidence, isolation, independence, identity, acceptance and change. Narrated in the first person it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that Mhlophe may be exploring the theme of insecurity and confidence. The narrator is worried about her self-image even […]
Read moreIn The Last Breath by Sam Kahiga we have the theme of conflict, control, selflessness, sacrifice, love, gratitude and change. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Kahiga might be exploring the theme of conflict and love. The narrator is very much in […]
Read moreIn A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf we have the theme of struggle, loss, commitment, connection, love and acceptance. Taken from her The Complete Shorter Fiction collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed female narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Woolf may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde we have theme of love, sacrifice, selflessness, pity, materialism and gratitude. Taken from his The Complete Short 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 the young boy is […]
Read moreIn The Ant and the Grasshopper by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of justice, trust, fear, morality, embarrassment, happiness and struggle. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring […]
Read moreIn One Dollar’s Worth by O. Henry we have the theme of revenge, honesty, sacrifice, pity, love, change, compassion, gratitude and justice. Taken from his Selected 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 Henry may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Fur Coat by Sean O’Faolain we have the theme of desire, aspiration, appearance, change and identity. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that O’Faolain may be exploring the theme of desire. Molly strongly wants to get the fur coat. She believes that she […]
Read moreIn The Count and the Wedding Guest by O. Henry we have the theme of love, connection, loneliness, honesty, fear, acceptance and independence. Taken from his Selected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Henry may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde we have the theme of dedication, compassion, generosity, struggle, appearance, sacrifice, selflessness and corruption. 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 Wilde may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn The Death of a Government Clerk by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of embarrassment, fear, anxiety, worry, insecurity and appearance. Taken from his The Complete Short 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 Chekhov may […]
Read moreIn A Joke by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of fear, confusion, anxiety, uncertainty, innocence, commitment, paralysis and love. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be […]
Read moreIn A Humble Drama by Guy de Maupassant we have the theme of escape, connection, loneliness, paralysis, desperation and hope. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader senses very early on in the story that de Maupassant is exploring the theme of escape. The narrator recalls how he feels when he […]
Read moreIn Next Door by Kurt Vonnegut we have the theme of conflict, appearance, guilt, innocence and coming of age. Taken from his Welcome to the Monkey House collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Vonnegut may be exploring […]
Read moreIn Thank You, M’am by Langston Hughes we have the theme of kindness, dignity, trust, forgiveness and choice. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Hughes may be exploring the theme of kindness. Mrs Jones rather than looking for vengeance against Roger helps him to […]
Read moreIn A Chip of Glass Ruby by Nadine Gordimer we have the theme of sacrifice, prejudice, selfishness, justice, commitment and apartheid. Set in South Africa the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Gordimer may be exploring the theme of sacrifice. Mrs […]
Read moreIn Transients in Arcadia by O. Henry we have the theme of escape, loneliness, happiness, paralysis, change, identity and honesty. Taken from his Selected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Henry may be exploring the theme of escape. […]
Read moreIn The Schoolmaster by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of dedication, commitment, struggle, denial, selflessness, anger and pity. 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 […]
Read moreIn A Pink Stocking by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of control, independence, submission, guilt, criticism, equality and expression. 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 just how much control Somov has over […]
Read more