One common theme is the battle between good and evil. The hero represents good and tries to stop the villain who represents evil. For example, in many stories, the hero fights to protect the innocent from the villain's harm.
One common theme is revenge. Villains in short stories often seek revenge for some real or perceived wrong. For example, in many stories, a character was wronged in the past and now becomes a villain to get back at those who hurt them. Another theme is power. Villains are often driven by a desire for power, whether it's over people, wealth or territory. Greed is also a common theme. They want more than they should have, like the pirates who steal gold in some short stories.
The exploration of good and evil is also a big theme. In 'Grendel', we see that the line between good and evil is not so clear. Grendel is not simply a villain, and through his story, we question what truly makes a hero or a villain. Often, these novels also deal with themes of social outcast. The characters start as outcasts, like the wrongly imprisoned Edmond Dantes, and they rise above their circumstances to become heroes.
Well, power is often a theme. The hero and the villain might be vying for power, whether it's political, magical or just over a group of people. Also, the theme of sacrifice can be present. The hero may have to sacrifice something dear to defeat the villain.
Another theme is sacrifice. Heroes in short stories frequently have to give up something valuable, like their time, safety, or even their lives in the pursuit of a greater good. This is seen in stories where a hero risks everything to save their community from a disaster.
A common theme is the hero's transformation. They might start out as an ordinary person and then through a series of events in the short story, they become a true hero. Take Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings' short stories (extracts can be considered as short stories). He starts as a simple hobbit but is transformed by the quest to destroy the Ring into a heroic figure. Also, the theme of friendship often plays a role, as heroes usually have comrades who support them on their journey.
One common theme is the hero's fatal flaw. In many stories, like 'Macbeth', Macbeth's ambition leads him to commit heinous acts and ultimately to his downfall. This flaw within the character is often what drives the tragic events.
Self - discovery is also a theme. Anti heroes are often on a journey to figure out who they are. In 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find', the Misfit is trying to come to terms with his own identity in a world that he feels has wronged him. And then there's the theme of rebellion. Anti heroes tend to rebel against the established norms and values. They don't conform, like Bartleby in 'Bartleby, the Scrivener' who rebels against the work system.
One common theme is the struggle between good and evil. The hero represents all that is good, like justice and kindness, while the villain stands for greed, power - hunger or malice. Another theme can be redemption. Sometimes the villain has a chance to turn good, or the hero might face a moral dilemma that tests his own 'hero - ness'. Also, the theme of sacrifice often comes up, where the hero might have to give up something precious to defeat the villain.
Self - discovery is also common. As the villain turns into a hero, they often discover new aspects of themselves. Snape in 'Harry Potter' discovers his true loyalties and the kind of person he wants to be in the face of his love for Lily. He transforms from a seemingly one - dimensional 'bad guy' to a complex and ultimately heroic character through this self - discovery process.
A third theme could be transformation. The villain may transform into a better version of themselves. In the case of 'Twilight', Edward tries to control his vampiric instincts because of his love for Bella. His 'villainous' side related to his blood - thirsty nature is subdued by his love for her, showing how the hero's love can bring about change in the villain.