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what is the main conflict in through the tunnel

by Amiya Hammes Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The plot of the short story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing follows Jerry, an 11-year-old boy, through a single event of his life: training to swim through an underwater hole in a rock. The plot is focused on two main conflicts: overcoming one's limitations, and humans versus nature.

Full Answer

What are the internal and external conflicts in through the tunnel?

In this coming-of-age short story entitled " Through the Tunnel ," there are internal and external conflicts in the main character, named Jerry, and there are internal conflicts in his mother.

What is the conflict in the tunnel of Jerry?

Externally, the conflict is a man vs. nature conflict. Jerry wants to swim through an underwater tunnel that he saw some native boys swim through. It's not an easy swim. Jerry will need to be able to hold his breath for more than two full minutes. Much of the story is his training to do this swim.

What is the conflict in through the tunnel by Doris Lessing?

Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel" has both internal and external conflicts in the story. Externally, the conflict is a man vs. nature conflict. Jerry wants to swim through an underwater tunnel that he saw some native boys swim through.

How is the inner conflict of Jerry's resolved?

This inner conflict of Jerry's is resolved after the climax of the story when he is able to swim through the tunnel despite his external conflicts with oxygen loss and the length of the tunnel.

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What is Jerry's internal conflict at the start of the story in through the tunnel?

between duty and desireAnswer and Explanation: The internal conflict of Jerry in Through the Tunnel is between duty and desire.

What is the main message or theme of through the tunnel?

The passage from childhood to adulthood is the theme of "Through the Tunnel." When Jerry first arrives on holiday with his mother, they spend their time together on "the safe beach," but Jerry's thoughts are about "the wild bay." What Jerry experiences about himself in that bay will help him to leave behind the ...

Is through the tunnel internal or external conflict?

The conflicts in the story focus on a kid torn between the need to be himself and desire. The main character exemplifies this. He longs to go into the water and pass through the tunnel, which becomes his internal conflict because there are several factors, such as his mother, that prevent him from doing so.

What is the climax in through the tunnel?

The climax of the short story wrote by Doris Lessing is when Jerry faces his most prominent conflict, the tunnel. He challenges himself when he dives without knowing if he will be able to get out alive. Fortunately, Jerry manages to reach the end of the tunnel and successfully head to the surface.

What internal conflict does Jerry's mother face?

Likewise, Jerry's mother also faces an inner conflict between her sense of duty and her sense of giving way towards her son. The theme of conflict is seen through the use of setting of time and place, as well as the characterisation of the two protagonists.

What is the lesson of Through the Tunnel?

In Doris Lessing's “Through the Tunnel,” Jerry, an eleven year old boy, overcomes many conflicts and challenges that lead him to the results of growing up and establishing himself as an individual. Through the use of symbolism and characterization, Lessing suggests that it requires conflict to achieve maturity.

What conflict is internal?

What is an internal conflict? Internal conflict is a struggle within a person's mind over a problem or question.

What are external conflicts?

External conflict refers to conflict between the main character and any external force, such as a villain, government, or nature.

What is the resolution of Through the Tunnel?

Resolution: The resolution is when Jerry accomplishes swimming through the tunnel and realizes it that was his change from childhood to adulthood.

What is the rising action of the story Through the Tunnel?

Rising Action Jerry is determined to pass through the tunnel, so he demands that his mother get him swimming goggles. Immediately, he explores the bay underwater and finds the hole. Jerry realizes that he will need to learn to control his breath, so for days, he practices until his nose bleeds.

What is a plot of the story Through the Tunnel?

The plot of "Through the Tunnel" involves 11-year-old Jerry struggling to locate and swim a secret underwater tunnel. After spending several days locating the gap, then practicing breathing exercises to hold his breath, he succeeds in traveling the tunnel through to the other side.

What is the story Through the Tunnel about?

Doris Lessing's-“Through the Tunnel” examines the experience of “rite d'passage” for Jerry, a young English boy. This story tells of a young man's determination to prove to himself that he can do the impossible, which is to swim down where the older boys swim and emerge a man, so to speak.

What is the story through the tunnel about?

"Through the Tunnel" charts a young boy's struggle for independence from his mother. While his mother grants him permission to explore on his own, he does not take the opportunity until the second day, which indicates his own reticence, at first, to forge out on his own.

What is the mood in through the tunnel?

The tone is serious when Jerry is obseving his surroundings, but gains excitement when he is swimming through the tunnel, loosing his breathe, feeling like he's close to death, and suddenly breaks through the surface of the water.

How is through the tunnel a coming of age story?

“Through the Tunnel” is the story of Jerry, a young boy who is training to make a physical passage through an underwater tunnel, but it is also a story about a boy preparing (unbeknown to him) to make the passage from childhood into young adulthood.

What does Jerry struggle against in the tunnel?

Thirdly, they perform a feat that Jerry obviously cannot and they later leave him. In addition, Jerry also struggles against the elements, the sea and especially the conditions underwater, when he attempts to swim through the tunnel. He discovers that it is narrow and later finds, almost to his extreme detriment, that the tunnel is quite lengthy.

Why is Jerry caught in the tunnel?

Secondly, Jerry is caught between deciding whether he is going to continue risking his life to get through the tunnel or give up. He decides to take the risk and is successful. Thus resolving that conflict. The reason for this inner turmoil is informed by the embarrassment Jerry felt when the other boys left him, as if he was not worthy of their attention. He felt much the same as he did when his mother rewarded him with 'grave, embarrassed inspection' when he clowned around, seeking her approval.

What is the second conflict Jerry experiences?

A second external conflict Jerry experiences is the obvious contrast between him and the boys he meets. They are natives from the area and that, on its own, is conflicting. Furthermore, he cannot understand their language. Thirdly, they perform a feat that Jerry obviously cannot and they later leave him.

What is internal conflict?

The opposition that the character experiences, adds to the drama. Internal conflict refers to a struggle that exists within a character's mind. The resolution of such a struggle leads to a new understanding or a dynamic change in the character. In the story, Jerry's external conflicts are firstly with his mother that initially wants him to be ...

What is Jerry's greatest conflict?

But, Jerry's greatest conflict is his inner one in which he . ...knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel, and out the other side. This inner conflict of Jerry's is resolved after the climax of the story when he is able to swim through the tunnel despite his external conflicts with oxygen loss and the length of the tunnel.

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1.What are conflicts in "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing?

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18 hours ago  · The plot is focused on two main conflicts: overcoming one’s limitations, and humans versus nature. What is the external conflict of Through the Tunnel? External and …

2.What are the conflicts in Through the Tunnel? - eNotes.com

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11 hours ago Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel" has both internal and external conflicts in the story. Externally, the conflict is a man vs. nature conflict. Jerry wants to swim through an underwater …

3.Distinguish The Central Conflict In "through The Tunnel."

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3 hours ago There are two major conflicts in this story, one interior and one exterior. Both have to do with the growing maturity of Jerry. Jerry is a young boy when the story opens who has evidently lost his...

4.What are the internal and external conflicts Jerry faces in …

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28 hours ago The story of “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing has both internal and external conflicts. On the surface, the conflict is a man-versus-nature battle. Jerry wants to swim through an …

5.Unit 1 questions Flashcards | Quizlet

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9 hours ago The main focus of the story is upon Jerry, an eleven year old boy who accompanies his widowed mother to the seashore on holiday. One day at the beach Jerry wishes to exert some …

6.Fundamentals of Literature Unit 1 Conflict Review - Quizlet

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11 hours ago  · See answer (1) Best Answer. Copy. The main conflict is individual vs. self. Jerry has to prove to himself that he is capable of making it through the tunnel. Wiki User.

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