In Señor Payroll by William E. Barrett we have the theme of control, power, determination, connection and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Barrett may be exploring the theme of control. The Main Office of the company seems to want to rein in the Mexican workers and stop […]

In My Financial Career by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of anxiety, fear, trust, confusion, identity and conflict. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of anxiety. The narrator is physically ‘rattling’ as he enters the bank. It is as though […]

In Raymond’s Run by Toni Cade Bambara we have the theme of respect, dedication, identity, love, acceptance, responsibility, confidence, connection, rivalry and friendship. Taken from her Gorilla, My Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young girl called Squeaky and after reading the story the reader realises that Bambara may be exploring the theme of […]

In The Will of Allah by David Owoyele we have the theme of acceptance, trust, appearance, violence, guilt and selfishness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Owoyele may be exploring the theme of acceptance. Sule is quite content to be a thief. Something that is noticeable while he is […]

In The Apprentice by Odun Balogun we have the theme of independence, loss, change, acceptance, tradition, connection, freedom, conflict and struggle. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Balogun may be exploring the theme of independence. Ogunmola by refusing to go to school is displaying an element […]

In The Coffee-Cart Girl by Ezekiel Mphahlele we have the theme of conflict, jealousy, equality, pity, struggle, kindness, acceptance, independence and strength. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Mphahlele may be exploring the theme of conflict. Not only is there conflict between the workers and the police outside the […]

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 middle of nowhere. None of […]

In 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 each other affection. Also Elaine […]

In 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 escape. Wallace’s first encounter with […]

In 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 woman the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of insecurity. The narrator while sitting in the photographer’s studio begins to read […]

In 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 in his shoe shop. At […]

In 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 unhappy or discontent with one […]

In The False Prophet by Sembene Ousmane we have the theme of identity, selfishness, self-importance, dishonesty, generosity, faith, justice and conflict. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Ousmane may be exploring the theme of identity. Mahmoud changes his name in order to begin living a life that […]

In Fritz by Satyajit Ray we have the theme of memory, innocence, worry, control, letting go, friendship, fear and conflict. Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Shankar and after reading the story the reader realises that Ray may be exploring the theme of memory. Jayanto can […]

In The Invisible Japanese Gentlemen by Graham Greene we have the theme of hope, failure, conflict, independence, innocence and fear. Taken from his 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 Greene may be exploring the theme of hope. The girl in Bentley’s […]

In The End of the Party by Graham Greene we have the theme of fear, conflict, connection and innocence. Taken from his 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 Greene may be exploring the theme of fear. Francis is not only afraid […]

In On Her Knees by Tim Winton we have the theme of pride, dignity, honesty, struggle, independence and class. Narrated in the first person by man called Victor the reader realises after reading the story that Winton may be exploring the theme of pride and dignity. Victor’s mother is a proud and dignified woman. Despite the fact that she is […]

In Examination Day by Henry Slesar we have the theme of fear, suppression, control, freedom and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Slesar may be exploring the theme of fear. Dickie’s mother is anxious. She knows how important the Government test is and knows that Dickie […]

In The Son from America by Isaac Bashevis Singer we have the theme of contentment, independence, tradition, appearance, faith, humility, change and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Singer may be exploring the theme of contentment. Berl and Berlcha do not have a lot when it comes to […]

In The People Before by Maurice Shadbolt we have the theme of pride, modernity, control, frustration, tradition, gender roles, connection and selfishness. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator the story is a memory piece and after reading the story the reader realises that Shadbolt may be exploring the theme of pride. Though the narrator’s father finds […]

In Billennium by J. G. Ballard we have the theme of confinement, corruption, paralysis, freedom and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Ballard may be exploring the theme of confinement. The world’s population has reached 20,000 million and there is very little space for people to live in. […]

In Meteor by John Wyndham we have the theme of hope, connection, destruction, acceptance and loss. Narrated using a dual narrative of both a third person human narrator and a first person alien (Onns) narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Wyndham may be exploring the theme of hope. Onns through his journal writes about the hopes and […]

In The Signalman by Charles Dickens we have the theme of uncertainty, fear, isolation, madness, trust and respect. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Dickens may be exploring the theme of uncertainty. The narrator unlike the signalman does not believe in ghosts or spectres. He appears […]

In The Destructors by Graham Greene we have the theme of control, pride, power, acceptance, change, jealousy and insecurity. Set in the 1950s the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Greene may be exploring the theme of control. When Blackie loses leadership of the gang and […]

In Five-Twenty by Patrick White we have the theme of confidence, freedom, guilt, identity, control, isolation and escape. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that White may be exploring the theme of confidence. Ella lacks any sort of confidence. Her life appears to be revolved around every […]