his transition into manhood. While he is unsure of what the outcome will be, he knows this is something he must do. Doris Lessing develops the theme of coming of age using symbolism and internal conflict in “Through the Tunnel”. The first way in which Lessing develops the theme is through the extensive use of symbolism. Nancy Rosenberger, an advisor at Conestoga High School, writes, “Jerry’s ability to hold his breath may also be understood as a symbolic assertion of his independence” (Rosenberger
grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges,” anonymous. The story “Through the Tunnel” is about an 11 year old boy named Jerry who faces the challenge of going through an underwater tunnel to prove to a group of boys on the beach that he is mature. The author uses imagery and symbolism to portray the difficulty of overcoming challenges. In the story, imagery is used to show how ominous the tunnel that Jerry must traverse is. This is found on the second paragraph of page 364 where
when every child feels it is their time to be treated as an adult. Every kid has decides when they are ready and use their own means of achieving it. In the story “Through the Tunnel” Jerry, a young English boy, experiences his own journey into manhood. Doris Lessing, the author, uses symbolism to express Jerry’s trip through the tunnel to represents the transition from child to adult. The theme of this short story is it is a long and painful process to grow up. Jerry endures a lot of pain and determination
“We only regret the chances we didn’t take,” (Lewis Carroll). In Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing, Jerry shows us that some risks are worth taking. Jerry shows us that even if the risk in life threatening that we must try. Some risks are worth taking while others are not, however, we take both kinds of risks. Sometimes we mistake what we want to do what others want us to do and take risks that are unnecessary. Jerry and his mother are on vacation near a beach. Every day they travel to the
today’s self-reliant world in which each individual controls whether they perform well. In the short story, “Through the Tunnel,” Jerry, a slowly-maturing eleven year-old boy who was very dependent on his widow mother, embarks on a journey to find his way through an underwater tunnel near the shore. He perseveres his entire vacation, attempting to eventually reach the other side of the tunnel. During this time, Jerry also becomes much more independent, and prefers to do whatever he wants without having
Jaii Pappu Mr.Patterson - 3B A Journey of Self Reliance: The Usage of Symbolism in “Through the Tunnel” Dori Lessing’s realistic fiction short story, “Through the Tunnel,” examines a young boy’s complex relationship of his discovery of adulthood. Like a bird preparing to leave its nest in order establish its own place in the world, Jerry aims to accomplish something to prove to himself that he is no longer that cowardly child he once was. Lessing utilizes several objects in the story in order
Daniel Mendez 9th Grade 2/4/2023 Through the Tunnel outline Throughout the story “Through the tunnel” the author shows evidence by the similes, symbols, and settings that young jerry tries hard to fit in. Firstly, setting for “Through the Tunnel” is jerry and his mother on a beach vacation and the story uses setting to help add an idea of what the conditions are like when Jerry has fun but also where he tries to fit in with the older boys and step into manhood. Ex 1: The safe beach is where the
In the story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing a boy named Jerry (the protagonist) and his mother (one of the antagonists) went on a summer vacation to a beach in France, ever since Jerry's father passed away him and his mom had a feeling that they have to please each other and stay by each others sides. The one time Jerrys mother lets lets him go out on the beach by himself he finds older boys jumping off the rocks by the bay, and staying under water going through a tunnel (another antagonist)
"Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing illustrates the journey of a young boy named Jerry trying to swim through a tunnel in an ocean rock. In the beginning, Jerry is starting an oceanside vacation with his mother, when he sees the rocky bay, he's immediately intrigued, and the next day he asks his mother if he could go by the rocks. When he gets there, he sees foreign boys swimming around by the rocks. As he dives with them, he notices that they were swimming through an underwater tunnel, and he's
In the short story “Through the Tunnel”, by Doris Lessing, a young boy named Jerry and his mother visit a beach. Jerry sees a few of the local boys diving from rocks into the ocean, and after watching them, he realizes they are all swimming through a tunnel of rocks on the ocean floor. Jerry is determined to prove himself, and after days of training and analyzing the tunnel, he is prepared to swim through the tunnel. Jerry is successful with his attempt, but it took all the energy he had. The author
"Sixteen" by Maureen Daly is a romance based story and "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing is more about this kid learning how to hold is breath for a long time of period so he can go throught the tunnel. The story is taking place at a bechy enviornment, and the main character is this boy that goes to the beach to swim. But than he sees these group of teens jumping off the rocks, the boy swims over to the ricl that the teens are jumping off. Than he sees the teens not coming up agter they jump
Criticism: “Through the Tunnel” Is an ambition ever worth the most important expense? The story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, shows a situation where a goal is not worth a life. Jerry, the main character, an 11 year old boy is testing the idea of independance. His need for independence from his mom leads him to a dangerous and mysterious bay. In the bay, Jerry meets a couple of local boys and they swim through an underwater tunnel, and they inspire Jerry also to swim through the tunnel. Jerry
Every child must transition from childhood to adulthood. Growing up has no specific age, it occurs when you’re mentally ready. There are many stages to growing up and few actually complete these steps. In “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing we are experiencing Jerry’s Journey from childhood, we see him mature and become his own person. Growth and repair requires risk and struggle. Every single person has different personality traits. These traits can develop and change. At first, Jerry is very
Sklivas ,Brenden Brock Pennigton Teenage Wasteland May 1/ 2016 “ Through The Tunnel” Deviates or Not ? "Through the Tunnel” is A short story about the Initiation of the character Jerry and is written by, Doris Lessing 's . There are the three different rites of passage the transition, the intergatration, and separation not in that particular order, but what it boils down to the real hard question is does This story follow the traditional
louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother” (Hurst, 355). This shows how the narrator was selfish, and how when he ran from Doodle in the rainstorm, it was his spite that was showing through, which went hand-in-hand with his pride. Another example is, “When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk, so I set out to teach him” (Hurst, 353). This shows the narrator only cares about himself
they have a risk of drowning. In the story, Through the Tunnel written by Doris Lessing there are many challenges and breakthroughs that the main character Jerry has to go through as he swims in the Mediterranean Sea. Jerry had the greatest breakthrough because he faced physical limitations, and he had to overcome peer pressure. To begin with, Jerry’s first breakthrough was his physical limitations. After training and trying to make it through the tunnel, inside of a rock, for nine days, Jerry finally
border between childhood and adulthood. Like all borders, it’s teeming with energy and fraught with danger.” The story, “Through the Tunnel,” is a mirror like representation of this quote. It is about a young English boy named Jerry, who learns about a tunnel underwater that leads to another part of the bay he is in. He prepares to take on the challenge of traveling through the tunnel by learning how to hold his breath underwater for a long period of time. In this short story, the author, Doris Lessing
The story “Through the Tunnel” has different types of moods that set people’s mind differently. Impacts on the Characters , theme , and Symbolism are shown in the story . All of those elements make up the story “Through The Tunnel”. The topics mean different things to different people . The story is about a kid thats not obeying the parent just to fit in with other people . The setting in “Through The Tunnel” has an impact on the characters , Impact on theme and Creates Symbolism. The setting in
he swam out to the bay which held the rocks, he saw couple of older boys jumping off the rocks and going through a tunnel in the rock which was underwater. To prove that he was old enough to hang with them, he faced the challenge on learning how to hold his breath long enough to through the tunnel without making it out alive. Did Jerry make it back in time? In this short story “Through the Tunnel”, the author Doris Lessing uses characterization, point of view, and symbolism to illustrate how life-changing
"Coming of Age" or "Social commentary." These themes also allow the authors to go more in depth in critiquing human behavior and society. Two authors who effectively explore these ideas are Doris Lessing and Ray Bradbury. In her short story "Through the Tunnel" Lessing provides a prominent coming-of-age narrative that provides insight and perspective on poverty and despair on human growth, but eventually growing out of it. On the other hand, Bradbury's "The Veldt" explores science fiction elements