What are the common themes in 600 word short stories?
Well, a frequent theme is deception. This can be self - deception or deception by others. In 'The Lady, or the Tiger?', the princess might be deceiving herself about her feelings towards the young man. Another theme is the struggle between good and evil. Even in short stories, there are characters who face moral choices that represent this struggle. And the theme of hope is also there, as in stories where characters keep hoping despite difficult situations.
Love is a common theme. In many short stories, like 'The Gift of the Magi', love is shown through sacrifice. Another common theme is society and its norms. For example, in 'The Lottery', it makes you question the cruel traditions that society can have. Also, the idea of fate often appears. Stories like 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' show how a character's fate can be out of their control.
One common theme is self - discovery. Characters in short stories often learn something about themselves. For instance, in 'The Necklace', Mathilde discovers the consequences of her vanity. Another theme is the human condition. Stories explore things like our greed, as seen in some stories where characters are too focused on material possessions. And there's often a theme of change, how a single event can change a character's life completely.
