My Life with the Wave

My Life with the Wave: Short story by Octavio PazIn this surrealist prose poem by Octavio Paz, a man at a beach is seduced by a sensuous ocean wave. The wave insists on following him home, where they begin a passionate love affair. The wave is subject to sudden mood swings and, to make sure she is not lonely, he buys a colony of fish to swim in her waters. The attention she and the fish give each other leads to jealousy and hatred on his part, and an icy end for the hapless wave. Themes include freedom and oppression, love and passion, jealousy, fear and hatred.

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The Kimono

The Kimono: Short story by H. E. BatesIn this story by H. E. Bates a fifty-year-old man looks back on his life from the day, shortly before his marriage, he had an unexpected sexual encounter with a seductive woman in an orange and green kimono. Three weeks later, he left his new bride and moved in with the other woman. So began twenty-five years of bliss and heart-ache as it became clear that, despite their strong feelings for each other, his free-spirited partner could never be happy in the arms of just one man. Themes include female sexuality, desire, passion, infidelity, choices and consequences, regret.

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The Stout Gentleman

The Stout Gentleman: Short story by Washington IrvingThe major theme of this humorous story by Washington Irving is the extent to which we rely on appearance to judge others. A traveller staying at an inn is forced to remain indoors on a miserable, rainy Sunday. With nothing to do and no one to talk to, he passes the time by speculating as to the profession and social status of the only other guest, a demanding, seemingly sophisticated man who remains in his room all day. We learn little more about the other man, who the staff refer to only as the stout gentleman. Other themes: curiosity, obsession, identity.

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Shiloh

Shiloh: Short story by Bobbie Ann MasonIn the same way that Shiloh Military Park is the site of a major turning point in the American Civil War, the couple in this story by Bobby Ann Mason face several turning points of their own. The first, always lingering in the background and never spoken of, is the death of their infant son. Later comes an accident that forces the truck-driver husband to give up his job, and an identity crisis that results in his wife seeking a new beginning in life. Themes: loss, guilt, avoidance, individual and community change, marriage, gender roles, self-discovery/fulfillment, independence.

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Ashes for the Wind

Ashes for the Wind: Short story by Hernando TéllezIn this story by Hernando Téllez, a corrupt mayor and police in an unnamed town, aided by a local informer, are systematically expelling (and presumably taking over the land of) residents who voted against the incumbent government in recent elections. A man and his wife courageously, or foolishly depending on how you look at it, resist. When the authorities come to evict them, they lock their doors and windows… only to be burnt alive after the police torch their house. Themes include power and control, corruption, betrayal, brutality, courage and sacrifice, choices and consequences.

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The Boogeyman

The Boogeyman: Short story by Stephen KingThis story by Stephen King explores one of the greatest fears of many young children as they go to bed: the fact that some sort of evil creature may be hiding under their bed, behind the curtains, or in their closet. In the story, a man with serious mental problems blames himself for the death of his three children. He thinks a monster from his childhood killed them, and that it is now coming after him. Readers are left to wonder who or what this boogeyman really is. Themes include fear, imagination, paranoia, mental illness, filicide, guilt.

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Railroad Standard Time

Railroad Standard Time: Short story by Frank ChinMajor themes of this semi-autobiographical story by Frank Chin are time (symbolized by an inherited pocket watch that keeps Railroad Standard Time), the clash between traditional Chinese and ‘modern’ American culture, and the need to move away from long-held stereotypes of Chinese-American men and women. Ironically for a story that focuses on time, the plot does not proceed linearly. As the narrator drives to and from his mother’s funeral, the story moves from memories of the past to the present and then back again, with the watch providing a connection between them. Other themes: nostalgia, family, cultural heritage, identity, masculinity.

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This Blessed House

This Blessed House: Short story by Jhumpa LahiriThe major theme of this Jhumpa Lahiri story is the personality clashes that can arise in hasty or arranged marriages. Sanjeev is a conservative, up-and-coming corporate engineer. “Twinkle”, his free-spirited, scatty wife is completing her master’s thesis in poetry. They have known each other for only four months, and both are used to getting their own way. A battle of wills arises over the fate of several Christian items left by the former occupants of their new house. The key questions: Who will win, and will the marriage survive? Other themes: love, cultural adjustment (male dominance vs. shared decision-making), understanding/tolerance.

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