Grade 12
English Short Stories
Study Guide
Complete revision guide for South African Grade 12 learners covering all 8 prescribed short stories
from the official curriculum.
South African National Curriculum
2025 Edition
,Table of Contents
Right-click the TOC and select "Update Field" to refresh page numbers
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 6
Can Themba - Forbidden Love ..................................................................................................... 7
1. Short Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 7
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ........................................................................................................ 7
3. Themes.................................................................................................................................................................... 7
4. Setting ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
5. Plot Structure ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
6. Types of Conflict .................................................................................................................................................. 8
7. Narrative Techniques ......................................................................................................................................... 8
8. Language and Style ............................................................................................................................................ 8
9. Literary Devices.................................................................................................................................................... 9
10. Message or Moral of the Story.................................................................................................................... 9
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions ................................................................................................. 9
Mariama Ba - Rejection .............................................................................................................. 10
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 10
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 10
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 10
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 11
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 11
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 11
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 11
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 11
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 12
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 12
James Joyce - Eveline .................................................................................................................. 13
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 13
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 13
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 13
, 4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 14
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 14
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 14
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 14
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 14
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 15
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 15
Agnes Sam - A Bag of Sweets .................................................................................................... 16
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 16
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 16
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 16
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 17
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 17
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 17
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 17
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 17
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 18
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 18
Namhla Tshisana - Class Act ....................................................................................................... 19
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 19
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 19
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 19
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 20
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 20
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 20
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 20
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 20
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 21
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 21
Bessie Head - The Wind and a Boy ............................................................................................ 22
, 1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 22
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 22
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 22
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 22
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 23
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 23
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 23
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 23
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 24
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 24
Ama Ata Aidoo - The Girl Who Can ........................................................................................... 25
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 25
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 25
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 25
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 26
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 26
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 26
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 26
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 26
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 27
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 27
Kedibone Seku - Triumph in the Face of Adversity.................................................................. 28
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 28
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 28
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 28
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 29
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 29
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 29
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 29
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 29
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 30
English Short Stories
Study Guide
Complete revision guide for South African Grade 12 learners covering all 8 prescribed short stories
from the official curriculum.
South African National Curriculum
2025 Edition
,Table of Contents
Right-click the TOC and select "Update Field" to refresh page numbers
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 6
Can Themba - Forbidden Love ..................................................................................................... 7
1. Short Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 7
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ........................................................................................................ 7
3. Themes.................................................................................................................................................................... 7
4. Setting ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
5. Plot Structure ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
6. Types of Conflict .................................................................................................................................................. 8
7. Narrative Techniques ......................................................................................................................................... 8
8. Language and Style ............................................................................................................................................ 8
9. Literary Devices.................................................................................................................................................... 9
10. Message or Moral of the Story.................................................................................................................... 9
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions ................................................................................................. 9
Mariama Ba - Rejection .............................................................................................................. 10
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 10
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 10
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 10
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 11
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 11
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 11
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 11
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 11
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 12
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 12
James Joyce - Eveline .................................................................................................................. 13
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 13
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 13
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 13
, 4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 14
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 14
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 14
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 14
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 14
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 15
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 15
Agnes Sam - A Bag of Sweets .................................................................................................... 16
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 16
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 16
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 16
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 17
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 17
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 17
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 17
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 17
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 18
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 18
Namhla Tshisana - Class Act ....................................................................................................... 19
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 19
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 19
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 19
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 20
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 20
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 20
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 20
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 20
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 21
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 21
Bessie Head - The Wind and a Boy ............................................................................................ 22
, 1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 22
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 22
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 22
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 22
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 23
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 23
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 23
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 23
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 24
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 24
Ama Ata Aidoo - The Girl Who Can ........................................................................................... 25
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 25
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 25
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 25
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 26
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 26
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 26
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 26
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 26
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 27
11. Exam Tips and Possible Exam Questions .............................................................................................. 27
Kedibone Seku - Triumph in the Face of Adversity.................................................................. 28
1. Short Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 28
2. Main Characters and Characterisation ..................................................................................................... 28
3. Themes................................................................................................................................................................. 28
4. Setting .................................................................................................................................................................. 29
5. Plot Structure ..................................................................................................................................................... 29
6. Types of Conflict ............................................................................................................................................... 29
7. Narrative Techniques ...................................................................................................................................... 29
8. Language and Style ......................................................................................................................................... 29
9. Literary Devices................................................................................................................................................. 29
10. Message or Moral of the Story................................................................................................................. 30
