What are the common themes in third person short stories?

One common theme is the unknown. In third - person scary stories, often the characters are facing something they don't understand, like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart' where the narrator is haunted by an eye in a way he can't fully explain. Another theme is death and the afterlife. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the family has to deal with the consequences of interfering with death through the cursed paw. And a third theme is the loss of sanity, as seen in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' where the protagonist slowly loses her mind and the third - person narration makes it seem more objective yet still very terrifying.

Common themes include passion, lust, and sexual exploration. There may also be themes of forbidden love or secret affairs.

Love and relationships are common. For example, in many stories, characters' romantic relationships or family bonds are explored. Another theme is the struggle against nature, like in stories where characters face difficult natural conditions.

The first or third person of a short story depends on the author's personal preference and writing style. First-person writing usually allows the readers to participate in the story more directly, allowing them to understand the characters and plot more deeply. This kind of writing style could enhance the realism and sense of immersion of the novel. It was more suitable for novels with strong emotional descriptions and character creation. Third-person writing could better show the characters and plot in the story, but at the same time, it would lose some of the realism brought by first-person writing. Compared to first-person and third-person writing, it was more objective and calm to present the story, which helped to build a more rational and logical world. Therefore, the choice of first or third person depended on the type of novel and the author's writing style. Different novels needed different writing styles to better convey the feelings and thoughts that the author wanted to express.

One of the best is 'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry. It tells the story of a young couple, Jim and Della. They are very poor but deeply in love. Della sells her long hair to buy a chain for Jim's precious watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. It's a beautiful story about sacrifice and love in the face of poverty.

Another characteristic is the broader perspective. It allows for a more comprehensive view of the story world. The narrator can show how different characters' actions and decisions are interconnected, like in a story about a small town where the actions of one family can affect the whole community. It gives a sense of a bigger picture and how everything fits together.

Love and loss are common themes. In first - person, the narrator can deeply express their feelings of falling in love or the pain of losing someone. Another theme is self - discovery. The narrator often goes through a journey where they learn something new about themselves. And coming - of - age is also popular. It shows the growth and change of the narrator from a naive state to a more mature one.

One common theme is self - discovery. Since it's from a high schooler's perspective, they are often trying to figure out who they are. For example, in 'Speak', Melinda is on a journey to rediscover herself after a traumatic event. Another theme is friendship. In 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower', Charlie's friendships play a huge role in his high school experience. And of course, love or first crushes are also common, like in 'Eleanor & Park' where the two main characters fall in love.

In first - person short stories, the narrator is a character in the story, using 'I'. This makes the story very personal and subjective. We see events through the narrator's eyes and their perception might be limited or biased. In third - person short stories, the narrator is outside the story, using 'he','she' or 'they'. It can offer a more objective view and can show different characters' perspectives.

It depends on the reader. Some people find first - person short stories more engaging because they feel a closer connection to the narrator. Others prefer third - person for the broader view it offers.