Thus Were Their Faces

Thus Were Their Faces: Short story by Silvina OcampoIn this surreal, rather abstract story by Silvina Ocampo, a seemingly confused (or perhaps mentally disturbed) narrator describes the bizarre behavior of children at a boarding school. The students begin to act as if they want to become equal, and increasingly lose their individuality. Seemingly directed by a collective consciousness, they strive to look and act the same and develop a strange fascination with wings. In the “miraculous” climax, we learn that all children attending the school share a common characteristic: it is a school for the deaf! Themes include identity, equality, freedom, the supernatural.

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Lajwanti

Lajwanti: Short story by Mulk Raj AnandMany Mulk Raj Anand stories deal with the disadvantaged in traditional Indian society. Here a young woman from a poor rural family suffers under the custom of living with her in-laws. While her husband is temporarily living in the city, his sadistic older brother makes unwanted sexual advances. Knowing that no help will come from her mother-in-law, she runs away. When this doesn’t work, she tries to drown herself. Her thoughts when rescued: There is no way for me. I am condemned to live! Themes: women’s status in traditional Indian society, physical and sexual abuse, escape, humiliation, desperation, suicide.

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The Homecoming

The Homecoming: Chinese folktale from Laurence YepThis Chinese folktale retold by Laurence Yep is about a poor woodcutter who is easily distracted. He takes a keen interest in everyone’s business but his own, and has an annoying habit of giving advice, whether asked for or not, pointing out how people he meets could do things better. One day, he comes across two strange men playing Xiangqi (Chinese chess) in a forest, and can’t resist stopping to offer suggestions about their best next moves. In a Rip Van Winkle-like conclusion, he finds many changes on returning home, having been being missing for thousands of years

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Searching for Summer

Searching for Summer: Short story by Joan AikenPublished in 1958, ten years into the Cold War, this Jane Aiken story is set in the aftermath of an unstated nuclear event. Massive clouds surround the Earth, blocking out the sun and stars. People crave the sun’s warmth and light, which only penetrate the clouds on rare, short-lived occasions. A newlywed couple set off on their honeymoon in search of one of these “bits of sun”. An act of kindness along the way leads them to more sun and starlight than many people see in their lives. Themes: taking things for granted, consequences of war, kindness, consideration for others.

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Minutes of Glory

Minutes of Glory: Short story by Ngugi Wa Thiong'oThis Ngugi Wa Thiong’o story highlights the human cost of progress in developing countries such as post-independence Kenya. Its main themes are exploitation, class differences, identity, loneliness and appearances. A young woman leaves her village in search of a better life in the city. She is poorly educated, and ends up working as a hostess in beer bars. Unhappy with the life, the money she makes and her appearance, she dreams of something better. Cut off from her family and alone in the world, she steals money from a customer and uses it to experience a few minutes of glory.

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The Blind Men and the Elephant

The Blind Men and the Elephant: Children's story from James BaldwinThis children’s story from James Baldwin is based on a religious parable from India. Six blind men come across an elephant for the first time. Although they have often heard about elephants, they have never been close to one. They ask the elephant’s carer if they could try to ‘see’ what it looks like by using their sense of touch. At the end of the story, the blind men are arguing fiercely. Each of them has put their hands on a different part of the elephant’s body. Each of them believes that only he knows what the elephant looks like.

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A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story: Short story by Walter Dean MyersIn this Christmas story from Walter Dean Myers, a shrewd old woman teaches a new police patrolman an important lesson by inviting his family to Christmas dinner. Along with his co-workers, the policeman has a negative view of Harlem (the poor, often violent African American neighborhood in which he works) and doesn’t think it a fit place for a family visit. His wife insists on going, and the visit reveals another side of the community: “regular”, churchgoing families exchanging Christmas greetings on the street and celebrating the holiday together. Themes: Christmas, community, prejudice, understanding, aging gracefully, caring, sharing.

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Long Walk to Forever

Long Walk to Forever: Short story by Kurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut described this semi-autobiographical tale, written in honor of his wife, as a sickeningly slick love story. A satire of the “love at first sight” romance cliché, it describes how, after a platonic friendship of almost twenty years, a single expression of love and two kisses is all it takes for Catharine to question her plans to marry another man and fall into Newt’s arms. Themes include communication (failure to express/discuss their feelings sooner), taking people for granted (Newt didn’t appreciate how much Catharine meant to him until almost losing her!), and fighting for what is important in life.

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