Following the plot of a short story is fine, but to really analyse a short story you should be able to identify the theme of the story.
So, what does theme mean?

The theme of a short story is simply its meaning. It is the main idea explored in the story by the writer.

• the main message or idea of the story.
• the life-lesson the author wants you to learn.
• an idea that applies to you, me, and everyone: a universal idea.

Sometimes a writer crafts a story with a central idea, in which the theme is easy to identify and understand— such as love, hatred, death.
BUT
Often, writers craft stories in which the theme is not easily identified. And so, the theme can often be understood through the plot and through the characters.
Therefore, the reader must analyze the story to determine its theme.

We will look at 5 main areas to help you identify the main themes:
- The main character (the protagonist)
-- The plot – the conflict
-- The title
-- Main phrases/sentences/symbols
-- The setting

Analysing the main character is an important part of discovering the theme.
• What problem does the character have to overcome?
• What does the protagonist learn through the course of the story?
• How does the character change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story?
• So, what does the story suggest about human nature?

Conflict in a short story always involves the main character. The conflict can be between the main character and another, society or some force of nature, or within the main character himself.
Figure out specifically who or what the main character is struggling against in the short story.
Know how the conflict is resolved. The resolution of the conflict can give the reader a big clue as to the theme of a short story. Who wins the conflict is the writer's way of telling the reader which force was better.

You then need to consider what you think the life lesson is;
• Consider what the main character learned in the short story. Then think what the overall life lesson is. i.e.
If the main character learned not to trust her friend who just won the lottery, the theme of the short story may be that money changes people.

Think about the following titles and what they may suggest:
‘ The Devil and Daniel Webster ’
‘The SecreT Life of WaLTer MiTTie’
‘The Metamorphosis’
‘The Fib’
‘A Bad Influence’
How do the titles of these short stories link to an aspect of human nature?

You could also try looking for:
Key phrases or sentences – those that stand out and seem important. These could suggest the main theme.
Symbols
Sometimes the writer reveals the theme by repeating symbols.
i.e. black used to represent death or red for love
The struggle to climb a mountain could symbolise a difficult journey in life.

A common way to understand the theme is by identify the “big idea”, what the story is about— love, death, crime, abortion, lust, human nature, divorce, abuse, childhood, and so forth.

The theme of a story can sometimes be understood by its setting.
Where does the story take place? And
How does this setting impact on the plot and/or the character?
What historical time frame is the story set in and, again, does this impact on the plot or character?
Did social change occur during this period?