This story by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson opens with the wealthiest and most influential peasant in his parish asking for special treatment in the baptism of his son. He visits the priest on behalf of the boy on two subsequent occasions… to have him stand first in his confirmation, and to publish the banns for his marriage. Shortly after the last visit, his son drowns. A year later, the devasted and humbled man sells his farm, gives half to the church, and promises to do “something better”. Themes include pride (in seeking to elevate his status), loss, achieving humility through suffering. More…
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The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance
This story by M. R. James is in the form of four letters a man sends his brother as he travels to a small village to investigate the disappearance of their uncle. After an extensive search the uncle, a clergyman, is presumed dead. A highlight of the story is a vivid dream the nephew has of a frightening, life-like Punch and Judy show. This foreshadows the denouement… When a real Punch and Judy show comes to town the next day, the missing man rises from the dead and exacts vengeance. Themes include mystery, murder, revenge, justice, the supernatural. More…
Gombei and the Wild Ducks
In this Japanese folktale retold by Yoshiko Uchida, a man who had made a good living by snaring one wild duck a day with a long piece of rope decides that life would be easier if he were to trap a hundred at a time and relax for the next ninety-nine days. He learns a lesson that changes his life when, having caught ninety-nine ducks, they suddenly take flight, pulling him into the sky with them. The messages of the story are respect for nature (take only what you need), and the consequences of greed and laziness. More…
The Secret Source
The world described in this Ben Okri story is not a pleasant place. Cities are decaying, rivers and oceans are so polluted they contain no life, ground water is undrinkable, and households are limited to just fifteen minutes of tap water a day. When a couple discover this is synthetic and contains chemicals designed to reduce dissent among the population, they embark on a quest to find a source of pure water. The ambiguous denouement encourages readers to ponder what life would be like in a world without freshwater. Themes include environmental degradation, urban decay, government manipulation and control. More…
The Sisters
Several themes in this story by James Joyce (paralysis, corruption and abuse of authority) are said to represent major issues facing both Ireland and its Catholic Church in the early 1900s. The story, which takes place shortly after the death of a Catholic priest, is narrated by a boy who was friends with and mentored by the cleric. He is angered by insinuations the priest was involved in a scandal but also feels “freed”, presumably because he can resume a normal boyhood. Other themes include religion, secular vs. religious education, fall from grace, mental illness, loneliness, death, “freedom”. More…