In Triumph in the Face of Adversity by Kedibone Seku we have the theme of hardship, struggle, fear, ambition and opportunity. Narrated in the first person by a young teenage girl called Thulisile the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Seku may be exploring the theme of struggle. Both Thulisile’s parents are dead and what is striking […]

In The Town Week by Robert Lynd we have the theme of character, failure, struggle, change and restlessness. Taken from his Specially Selected, Essays of Choice collection the reader realises after reading the essay that Lynd has a preference for Monday. He believes that it is the proper start of the week. Things can be done before they fall into […]

In Superman and Paula Brown‘s New Snowsuit by Sylvia Plath we have the theme of conflict, escape, pride, innocence, freedom and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by a young unnamed woman the story is a memory piece and after reading the story the reader realises that Plath may be exploring the theme of conflict. The Second World […]

In The Gulf by Geraldine McCaughrean we have the theme of escape, frustration, disappointment, hope, happiness, fear, freedom, gratitude and unselfishness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that McCaughrean may be exploring the theme of escape. Juan is on the run from his captors. We do not know […]

In The Great Secret by George H. Smith we have the theme of blackmail, fear, control, power and secrecy. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Smith is exploring the theme of blackmail. Neither Bolasky nor Waters are able to figure out as to why thirty people are […]

In A Grave Misunderstanding by Leon Garfield we have the theme of connection, suspicion, loneliness, loyalty, confusion, fear and paralysis. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed dog the reader realises after reading the story that Garfield may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator’s owner and the ghost make a connection. It is as though the owner […]

In Voodoo by Fredric Brown we have the theme of separation, hate, greed, trust, confidence and freedom. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Brown may be exploring the theme of separation. Both Mr and Mrs Decker’s marriage is over. Yet due to disagreements they are unable to […]

In Love Letters by Kate Walker we have the theme of romance, love, honesty, vulnerability and selfishness. Narrated in the first person by a young man called Nick the reader realises after reading the story that Walker may be exploring the theme of romance. Fleur wants some romance in her life. Just like Helen has. She wants Nick to write […]

In University Days by James Thurber we have the theme of hardship, control, frustration and struggle. Taken from his My Life and Hard Times collection the story is narrated in the first person by Thurber himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Thurber may be exploring the theme of hardship. Thurber is woeful when it […]

In Everything in the Right Place by Hans Christian Andersen we have the theme of cruelty, arrogance, paralysis, kindness and selfishness. Taken from his The Complete Fairy Tales collection the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Anderson may be exploring the theme of cruelty. The baron attempts to push the goose girl into the river because he […]

In The Green Tree by Zakariyya Tamir we have the theme of innocence, imagination, control, escape, friendship and coming of age. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tamir may be exploring the theme of innocence. Rhanda is upset yet Talal through his actions is able to alleviate her fears […]

In The Case of The Lower Case Letter by Jack Delany we have the theme of control, greed, honesty, murder and commitment. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed detective the reader realises after reading the story that Delany may be exploring the theme of control. Edgar likes to control Edith, particularly how she looks. This may be significant […]

In The House of Asterion by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of isolation, loneliness, connection, fear, escape, mortality and freedom. Taken from his Labyrinths collection the reader realises after reading the story that Borges is using the myth of the Minator as a template. Though rather than others being the primary narrator Asterion, who is a minatour, is […]

In The Wedge-Tailed Eagle by Geoffrey Dutton we have the theme of respect, revenge, control, skill and remorse. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that Dutton may be exploring the theme of respect. Both pilots when they are talking to the farmer scorn the farmer […]

The theme of love is self-evident in the story and there is no disputing that the laundress loved the mayor’s brother. However due to the opinion of the mayor’s mother the laundress was not allowed to marry the brother. She believed that the laundress was not the equal of her son. This too is significant as the mayor’s mother appears […]

In Father Wakes Up the Village by Clarence Day we have the theme of determination, satisfaction, pride, control and efficiency. Taken from his Life with Father collection the story is narrated in the first person by Day himself and after reading the story the reader realises that Day may be exploring the theme of determination. Day’s father when he finds […]

In Uncle Podger Hangs a Picture by Jerome K. Jerome we have the theme of gender roles, responsibility, inequality, control, ignorance and independence. Taken from his Three Men in a Boat collection the reader realises after reading the story that Jerome may be exploring the theme of gender roles. There does not appear to be anybody in the house, especially […]

In April Showers by Edith Wharton we have the theme of connection, responsibilities, struggle, identity, loss, determination, disappointment and jealousy. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Wharton may be exploring the theme of connection. Though Theodora has much work to do she remains connected to her family and her […]

In Letter to Adolf Hitler by Mahatma Gandhi we have the theme of imperialism, aspirations, violence and independence. Taken from his Selected Letters collection the reader realises after reading the letter that Gandhi may be exploring the theme of imperialism. As he writes to Hitler, Gandhi reminds Hitler that the British have ruled over one-fifth of the world’s population. It […]

In The First Day of School by William Saroyan we have the theme of fear, pride, connection and happiness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Saroyan may be exploring the theme of fear. Jim is afraid to go to school. He does not want to go nor […]

In On Ignorance by Hilaire Belloc we have the theme of ignorance, passion, deflection, shame, appearance, tomfoolery and after reading the essay it becomes clear to the reader that Belloc is exploring the theme of passion. Should an individual find themselves ignorant of facts among an audience of others Belloc believes passion is a sure solution to any embarrassment that […]

In Of Great Place by Francis Bacon we have the theme of social status, freedom, power, respect, identity and self-sacrifice. Taken from his Essays, Civil and Moral collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Bacon may be exploring the theme of social status. Bacon considers those who strive for a higher social status are thrice servants. […]

In I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. we have the theme of freedom, hope, inequality, segregation, dignity and racism. Taken from his speech which was delivered at the Lincoln Monument, Washington D.C. on 28th August 1963 the reader realises after reading the speech that King may be exploring the theme of freedom. King with great enthusiasm decries […]

In I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen we have the theme of helplessness, struggle, coming of age and confidence. Narrated in the first person by Emily’s mother it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Emily’s mother feels helpless. She has struggled in life with her first husband leaving her and forcing her to rear their […]

In Only the Dead Know Brooklyn by Thomas Wolfe we have the theme of connection, conflict, self-importance and identity. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Wolfe may be exploring the theme of connection or rather the lack […]