In One More Thing by Raymond Carver we have the theme of opinion, conflict, violence, control, unity, powerlessness and alcoholism. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and begins with the reader being told that Maxine, one of the main protagonists in […]

In What We Talk about When We Talk about Love by Raymond Carver we have the theme of love and the difficulties that can come with trying to define (through language) what love is. Taken from his collection of the same name the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Nick and it is through his observations […]

In Everything Stuck to Him by Raymond Carver we have the theme of identity, commitment, escape, maturity, responsibility, choices and unity. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and is a frame narrative (story within a story). It is also noticeable that very early on […]

In Popular Mechanics by Raymond Carver we have the theme of separation, conflict, struggle and communication (or rather the lack of it). Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and the tone of the story is one of anger and aggression. It begins with an unnamed male packing his […]

In The Calm by Raymond Carver we have the theme of identity, conflict, indecision, paralysis, acceptance and moving on. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and is written in the form of a frame narrative (story within a story). One of the […]

In A Serious Talk by Raymond Carver we have the theme of conflict, control, jealousy, acceptance, separation, letting go and moving on. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and very early on the reader realises that Carver may be exploring one of the main […]

In The Third Thing That Killed My Father Off by Raymond Carver we have the theme of isolation, connection, conflict and guilt. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Jack Fraser and tells the tale of a local simpleminded man called Dummy and how […]

In So Much Water So Close to Home by Raymond Carver we have the theme of doubt, disconnection, conflict, identity and isolation. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Claire and it begins with Claire sitting at home with her husband Stuart who […]

In After the Denim by Raymond Carver we have the theme of acceptance, escape, conflict, displacement and powerlessness. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story begins with Edith and James Packer getting ready to go to bingo. What is interesting about the opening scene of the story is the fact that so many things […]

In Tell the Women We’re Going by Raymond Carver we have the theme of friendship, separation, change and violence. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and begins with the reader being introduced to the two main protagonists, Bill Jamison and Jerry […]

In The Bath by Raymond Carver we have the theme of conflict, uncertainty, helplessness, fear and communication. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and is an early version of another Carver short story (A Small, Good Thing). One of the most striking things […]

In Sacks by Raymond Carver we have the theme of infidelity, conflict, regret, separation, acceptance, moving on and letting go. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Les Palmer and very early on the reader realises that Carver may be exploring one of the […]

In I Could See the Smallest Things by Raymond Carver we have the theme of regret, change, control, paralysis and awareness. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a middle-aged woman called Nancy and after reading the story the reader realises that Carver may be […]

In Gazebo by Raymond Carver we have the theme of trust, dignity, responsibility, infidelity, memories and separation. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Duane and in the space of an afternoon Carver details the breakdown of Duane’s relationship with his wife, Holly. One thing that is […]

In Mr Coffee and Mr Fixit by Raymond Carver we have the theme of change, conflict, connection, acceptance and alcoholism. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in first person by an unnamed narrator and very early on Carver introduces the reader to two of the main themes of the […]

In Viewfinder by Raymond Carver we have the theme of loss, suffering, connection, loneliness, acceptance, letting go and moving on. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Carver may be exploring one of the main themes […]

In Why Don’t You Dance? by Raymond Carver we have the theme of separation, change, connection, appearance, uncertainty and acceptance. Taken from his What We Talk about When We Talk about Love collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises how important the setting of the story […]