In 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 the observers/aliens find themselves in […]

In 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 himself. Which may help to […]

In 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 of struggle. Delia does everything […]

In 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 does not specifically state that […]

In 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 evil woman if she wishes […]

In 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 each member of her family […]

In 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 least she is not what […]

In The Assignment by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of conflict, fear, loyalty, trust, hatred and betrayal. 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 Manto is using the setting to explore the theme of conflict. Though […]

In 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 isolation. Ruby is isolated from […]

In 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 look after her family while […]

In 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 no food available to him. […]

In 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 of his emotions. His strong […]

In A Handful of Dates by Tayeb Salih we have the theme of connection, control, greed, selfishness, rejection, injustice, conflict and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by a man looking back at an incident when he was a child the reader realises after reading the story that Salih may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator […]

In The Voice of God by Premchand we have the theme of conflict, friendship, tradition, connection, independence and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Premchand may be exploring the theme of conflict and friendship. Despite their friendship Jumman and Algu fall out over Algu’s decision while he is […]

In The Toilet by Gcina Mhlophe we have the theme of identity, conflict, freedom, escape, change and independence. Narrated in the first person by a young girl called Mholo the reader realises after reading the story that Mhlophe may be exploring the theme of identity. The narrator is at a crossroad in her life and really doesn’t know how she […]

In Half and Half by Amy Tan we have the theme of connection, control, insecurity, fear, responsibility, acceptance, letting go, tradition and loss. Narrated in the first person by a woman called Rose Hsu Jordan the reader realises after reading the story that Tan may be exploring the theme of connection. Despite being from two separate and individual backgrounds the […]

In Bhuto by Satyajit Ray we have the theme of hope, aspirations, disappointment, failure, revenge, respect, control and fear. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Ray may be exploring the theme of hope. Naveen wishes to become […]

In Khagam by Satyajit Ray we have the theme of tradition, modernity, kindness, trust, curiosity, control, change, arrogance and power. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Ray may be exploring the theme of tradition. Babu has […]

In The Refugee by K.A. Abbas we have the theme of conflict, independence, loyalty, pride, resilience and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Abbas may be exploring the theme of conflict. Maanji is forced to leave her home in Rawalpindi even though she would rather stay where she […]

In Upper Division Love by Manohar Malgonkar we have the theme of aspirations, escape, disillusion, love, self-importance and revenge. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Malgonkar may be exploring the theme of escape. The narrator is exceptionally fond of Sunderbala. So much so that he has pictures of her […]

In The New Constitution by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of imperialism, hope, freedom, change, arrogance and optimism. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Manto may be exploring the theme of imperialism. Mangu takes the utmost displeasure in the fact that India is ruled by the British. […]

In Cargo from Singapore by Manohar Malgonkar we have the theme of revenge, trust, betrayal, greed, control, freedom, loyalty, appearance and power. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Malgonkar may be exploring the theme of revenge. The narrator is upset over how he has been treated by customs on […]

In Berry by Langston Hughes we have the theme of connection, racism, dishonesty, greed, acceptance, compassion and responsibility. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Hughes may be exploring the theme of connection. Milberry through his efforts at the Home manages to connect with the young disabled children. It is […]

In You Should Have Seen the Mess by Muriel Spark we have the theme of obsession, appearance, isolation, modernity, independence, change and acceptance. Taken from her The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young seventeen year old girl called Lorna and after reading the story the reader realises that Spark may be […]

In Blackout by Roger Mais we have the theme of conflict, race, equality, connection, fear, class and pride. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Mais may be exploring the theme of conflict. The woman at the bus stop is hesitant to give the man a light from her cigarette. […]