In a commentary on this story, Jorge Borges explained: “What eternity is to time, the Aleph is to space”. In the story, a fictionalized version of Borges maintains contact with the family of a deceased woman he once loved. He learns that her cousin, an “untalented” poet, is using an Aleph, a point in space that contains all other points, to write an epic poem versifying every place on Earth. Major Themes: the fleeting nature of memory, the limitations of language in describing infinity. Other themes: unrequited love, death, grief, the subjective nature of art. More…
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The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket
In understanding this story from Yasunari Kawabata, it is important to know that in Japan, grasshoppers are considered common insects whilst bell crickets are highly prized because of each male’s unique cry. In calling out Does anyone want a grasshopper? several times until Kiyoko responds, Fujio signals that he knows which of the two he has caught and who he wants to give it to. To me, the major themes of the story are love and perception: what some may mistake for a grasshopper, others will recognize as a bell cricket (and vice-versa!). Other themes: childhood innocence, individualism, destiny, beauty. More…
Tennessee’s Partner
Bret Harte’s Tennessee’s Partner is said to be one of America’s first ‘bromance’ stories. Set in an isolated mining town during the California Gold Rush, two men sharing a cabin have a friendship so strong that it survives when one of them (Tennessee) runs away with his partner’s new bride and returns after she leaves him for someone else. Unfortunately, the townspeople become tired of Tennessee’s mischief and begin to suspect him of theft. A purported armed robbery, frontier justice and a hanging separate the two friends. But not for long! Themes: friendship, loyalty, crime and punishment, justice. More…
A Tale of the Tontlawald
As is all too often the case in folk and fairy tales, the central plot here involves a young girl who is badly treated by a cruel stepmother, has a series of adventures, marries a handsome prince, and lives happily ever after. The big difference here is that the finds refuge and friendship in Tontlawald, a vast stretch of moorland on which no man ever dared set foot. To her surprise, she learns that it is a magical fairyland where people never age. When she outgrows the playmate who discovered her, she is told that she must leave. More…
The Lumber Room
This humorous story by Saki describes a clever but mischievous boy’s efforts to explore the wonders of his house’s off-limits-to-children lumber-room. [Not to be confused with planks of wood, the word “lumber” here is a British term for miscellaneous stored articles.] In disgrace for putting a frog in his breakfast bowl, the boy devises an elaborate plan to distract his strict aunt while in the forbidden room. His day gets even better when the suspicious woman falls into a rain-water tank and he tricks her into giving him cause to leave her there. Themes: mischief, curiosity, imagination, oppression, defiance More…