In The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin we have the theme of conflict, happiness, freedom, sacrifice, acceptance and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Le Guin may be exploring the theme of conflict. There are some in Omelas who disapprove of how […]

In The Diamond Maker by H.G. Wells we have the theme of dedication, desperation, sacrifice, regret, appearance and isolation. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Wells may be exploring the theme of dedication. The diamond maker has spent the last fifteen years of his life trying to perfect the […]

In Mother by Grace Paley we have the theme of connection, loneliness, regret, struggle, freedom, loss and acceptance. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Paley may be exploring the theme of connection. Despite the fact that the narrator’s […]

In Wants by Grace Paley we have the theme of conflict, acceptance, independence, selflessness, change and responsibility. Taken from her The Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Paley may be exploring the theme of conflict. Despite the passing of time the narrator’s […]

In The Green Leaves by Grace Ogot we have the theme of violence, tradition, modernity, colonialism, gender roles, power, greed and conflict. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Ogot may be exploring the theme of violence. Though the three thieves are guilty of stealing some cattle how they are […]

In A Client by Raja Rao we have the theme of class, equality, marriage, independence, tradition, modernity and control. Taken from his Collected 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 Rao may be exploring the theme of class. Ramu dislikes having to […]

In The Gentlemen of the Jungle by Jomo Kenyatta we have the theme of greed, corruption, control, innocence, colonialism, trust, self-importance and rebellion. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Kenyatta may be exploring the theme of greed. Mr Elephant rather than being happy with keeping his trunk dry wants […]

In A Journey by Edith Wharton we have the theme of change, acceptance, gender roles, loyalty, independence, conflict and social opinion. Taken from her The New York Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Wharton may be exploring the theme of change. The female […]

In Flight by John Steinbeck we have the theme of innocence, coming of age, resilience, hardship, struggle, escape and loss. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck maybe exploring the transition from innocence to manhood. Pepé while he […]

In The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of sacrifice, judgement, perception, innocence and tradition. Taken from his Completed Fictions collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Borges may be exploring the theme of sacrifice. Espinosa has no idea that […]

In The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck we have the theme of opportunity, dissatisfaction, gender roles, boredom, responsibility and equality. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck may be exploring the theme of boredom. Elisa though she is working and […]

In Breakfast by John Steinbeck we have the theme of contentment, gratitude, struggle, determination, insecurity and kindness. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck may be exploring the theme of contentment. The family of migrant workers appear to […]

In The Demon Lover by Elizabeth Bowen we have the theme of conflict, fear, commitment, control and innocence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Bowen may be exploring the theme of conflict. Kathleen after reading the letter realises that her past has caught up with her. Despite the passing […]

In The Cow of the Barricades by Raja Rao we have the theme of conflict, independence, struggle, control, sacrifice, peace and freedom. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Rao may be exploring the theme of conflict.  There are two […]

In A Real Durwan by Jhumpa Lahiri we have the theme of struggle, conflict, responsibility, jealousy, aspirations and resilience. Taken from her Interpreter of Maladies collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Lahiri may be exploring the theme of struggle. Boori Ma as […]

In Pink Bow Tie by Paul Jennings we have the theme of honesty, appearance, desire, opportunity, fear, discontent, acceptance, change and curiosity. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed fourteen year old boy the reader realises after reading the story that Jennings may be exploring the theme of honesty. If the narrator is to be believed then it would […]

In I Used to Live Here Once by Jean Rhys we have the theme of struggle, connection, freedom, change, acceptance and loneliness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Rhys may be exploring the theme of struggle. As the narrator is describing the stepping stones that the woman once walked […]

In Number Fifty-Six by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of appearance, identity, perception, dedication, connection, empathy and friendship. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of appearance. Ah-Yen throughout the story describes a customer to the narrator who in fact is the narrator. […]

In Girl by Jamaica Kincaid we have the theme of powerlessness, domesticity, independence, identity, inequality, sexuality, freedom, tradition and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator (mother) the reader realises after reading the story that Kincaid may be exploring the theme of powerlessness. There is a sense that the narrator’s daughter is powerless when it comes to […]

In My Lost Dollar by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of honesty, hypocrisy, appearance, letting go, frustration and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed man the reader realises after reading the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of letting go. The narrator appears to be unable to let go of the fact that Todd owes […]

In Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing we have the theme of connection, isolation, determination, failure, independence, conflict and coming of age. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Lessing may be exploring the theme of connection. Jerry longs for the older boys in the bay to appreciate him. It […]

In The Waltz by Dorothy Parker we have the theme of struggle, identity, independence, endurance, tolerance, choice, honesty and conformity. Taken from her Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman and after reading the story the reader realises that Parker may be exploring the struggles that some women have when it comes […]

In The Beautiful Suit by H.G. Wells we have the theme of desire, happiness, control, suppression, hope and freedom. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Wells may be exploring the theme of desire. The little man (or boy) longs to wear his suit as often as he can. The […]

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 […]