In The Assignment by Saadat Hasan Manto we have the theme of conflict, fear, loyalty, trust, hatred and betrayal. Taken from his Kingdom’s End and Other 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

In The Voice of God by Munshi 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

In The Dube Train by Can Themba we have the theme of indifference, bravery, apartheid, control and unity. Narrated in the first person by a young male narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Themba may be exploring the theme of indifference. Despite the young woman being hassled by the tsotsi there is […]

In They Sold My Sister by Leteipa Ole Sunkuli we have the theme of marriage, discontent, control, independence, tradition, freedom and equality. Narrated in the first person by a young twelve year old girl called Naliki the reader realises after reading the story that Sunkuli may be exploring the theme of marriage, particularly forced or […]

In Minutes of Glory by Ngugi wa Thiong’o we have the theme of identity, insecurity, appearance, equality and independence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Thiong’o may be exploring the theme of identity. Beatrice doesn’t really know who she is or more importantly who […]

In The Standard of Living by Dorothy Parker we have the theme of escape, materialism, friendship, greed, innocence, independence and freedom. Taken from her Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Parker may be exploring the theme of […]

In The American Embassy by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie we have the theme of sacrifice, loneliness, change, freedom, frustration, identity, bravery, loss and grief. Taken from her The Thing Around Your Neck and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises […]

In The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie we have the theme of connection, materialism, social opinion, independence, identity, loneliness and racism. Taken from her collection of the same name the story is narrated in the second person by a young woman called Akunna and after reading the story the reader realises that […]