Abuela Invents the Zero

Abuela Invents the Zero: Short story by Judith Ortiz CoferThe major themes of this Judith Ortiz Cofer story are respect and consideration for the feelings of others. The protagonist’s (Connie’s) Abuela deserved respect because of her age and family contribution. Instead, Connie appears put out by her visit. Her tone in describing what happens from the moment Abuela arrives to events in the church is condescending and belittling, showing little cultural awareness or thought for the poor woman’s frailty and possible senility. The self-admitted “jerk” is more worried about the inconvenience and “look” (her social image) than her Abuela’s feelings. Other themes: family, aging, responsibility, embarrassment. More…

Blacksoil Country

Blacksoil Country: Short story by David MaloufBlacksoil Country by David Malouf has major themes of struggle taming the Australian bush, tolerance of its native peoples, and perspectives on ownership and access to the land. A settler shoots an innocent Aborigine bearing a gift from a neighbor. Shortly afterwards, his twelve-year-old son is brutally murdered. This triggers a racially driven killing spree, which elevates the man from a surly loner nobody wanted to associate with to hero status. Ironically, the boy is the only “white” character to have come close to understanding Aboriginal spiritual connections to the land. Other themes: father-son relationships, loyalty, racism, violence, revenge, spirituality. More…

Festival of Eid / Idgah

Festival of Eid / Idgah: Short story by PremchandIn this well-known Indian children’s story from Premchand, a young orphan foregoes the pleasures enjoyed by friends at a festival to buy a pair of tongs to prevent his poverty-stricken grandmother from burning her hands when cooking. The most obvious themes are related to the boy: poverty, innocence, hope, love, selflessness, temptation and willpower. However, at around 5,000 words, the story also highlights several additional issues. The boy’s friends display materialism and greed, while other themes include religious devotion, superstition (Jinns), village vs. city life and, through the fate of the dolls, the fall of British colonialism. More…

The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head

The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head: Novelette by Dorothy SayersLord Peter Wimsey, Dorothy Sayers’s eccentric amateur sleuth, is saddled with his ten-year-old nephew while his parents are away overseas. As the two browse an antiquarian bookshop, the boy is attracted to the maps and pictures in a badly damaged copy of Cosmographia Universalis, an early description of the world. He buys the book, and shortly afterwards a strange man visits and offers Wimsey two hundred times what the boy paid. This leads to a “Boys Own” type adventure involving attempted robbery, Scotland Yard and a riddle leading to buried pirate treasure. Themes include curiosity, greed, mystery, deception, and philanthropy. More…

Can-Can

Can-Can: Short story by Arturo VivanteThis story by Arturo Vivante is about a happily married family man with a loving, trusting wife. When his wife dances the Can-Can for one of their children, we can see that he also still finds her attractive. He knows she will not question his going out alone for a long drive, even though this is out of character. He has made plans to meet with another woman. It is clear that he has no real love for her, which leads to a question. Why do many happily married men put their marriage and family life at risk like this? More…