Through the Tunnel Themes
- Rite of Passage. A rite of passage is a term used to describe what might be termed a ceremonial ritual marking the passage from one state to another.
- Racial Equality. Context is essential for understanding how this theme operates here. ...
- Single Motherhood Among War Widows. The story was published in 1955. Jerry is eleven years old. ...
What does the tunnel symbolize in through the tunnel?
· One theme of Doris Lessing 's short story, " Through the Tunnel ," is that growing up is a difficult and sometimes painful process. We see …
What is the symbolism in "through the tunnel"?
· One theme of Doris Lessing's short story, "Through the Tunnel," is that growing up is a difficult and sometimes painful process. We see Jerry mature throughout the story, at first nagging and pestering his mother for goggles and later being able to delay gratification for the things he wants. Click to see full answer.
What is a summary of through the tunnel?
The predominant theme of "Through the Tunnel" is the transition from childhood to young adulthood, from innocence to maturity and independence. At the beginning of the story, Jerry is simply intrigued by the rocky beach and tentatively asks his mother if he can explore it on his own.
What is the main conflict in through the tunnel?
The story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing has a main theme of perseverance throughout the entire story. The young boy in the story, Jerry, is the main character, and he was going to overcome his fear. He had been contemplating if he should go down through the hole, or tunnel, that the big kids were going through.
What is the main theme of the tunnel?
The passage from childhood to adulthoodThe 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 ...
What is the lesson in 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 is the meaning of the story Through the Tunnel?
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 author's purpose in Through the Tunnel?
Purpose. The purpose of "Through the Tunnel" would be the presentation of struggling into adulthood. A child must have the determination and will to get through obstacles to achieve the maturity needed to become an adult.
What does Jerry learn about himself in through the tunnel?
Jerry learns an important lesson about proving himself in 'Through the Tunnel. ' Desperate to fit in and relieve his lonely feeling, Jerry slips away from his mother and finds the company of native boys near an arrangement of rocks away from the main beach.
How does Jerry change in through the tunnel?
The eleven-year-old Jerry changes his personality during his adventure. The challenges of diving through the tunnel change Jerry's character. He turns from cowardly to brave, overprotected to independent, and childish to mature. In short, the adventure changes his personality.
What does the tunnel symbolize in Through the Tunnel?
The tunnel represents Jerry's passageway from youth to maturity, a symbolic journey from boyhood to manhood. By proving himself worthy, Jerry is showing the world that he is no longer a child.
What is the main conflict in Through the Tunnel?
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.
What does skin color symbolize in Through the Tunnel?
The symbolism of the brown skin emphasizes the maturity of Jerry, and the symbolism of the tunnel emphasizes that becoming a young adult is a journey one has to go through on his or her own and with a lot of struggling on the way.
Why did Jerry go Through the Tunnel?
By the end of the story, Jerry has proved his abilities to himself, and no longer seeks the approval of the older boys. Thus, his journey “through the tunnel” is symbolic of the journey all children must go through—from dependence on their parents to a degree of independence.
What is the significance of Jerry's being referred to as the English boy in Through the Tunnel?
The question is asked from the story Through the Tunnel which is written by the story writer Doris Lessing. He addresses Jerry as the "English Boy", to give him identification of belonging from opposite country. He is called as the "English Boy" because he tries to fit himself in some situation that is not for him.
What is the climax of Through the Tunnel?
Climax. On the verge of blacking out and having been without breath for quite a while (far past the two minutes he had trained himself to go without), Jerry finally makes it out of the tunnel, exhausted and with blood filling up his goggles.
How old is Jerry in the tunnel?
There are at least three themes in "Through the Tunnel": In the beginning of the narrative, the eleven-year-old Jerry is attached to his mother, watching for the "yellow speck" on the beach under the orange umbrella, even when he swims with the native boys on the wild bay.
Why does Jerry feel his life is in danger?
When he finally attempts to pass through this tunnel, Jerry senses that his life is in danger because his lungs ache. Nevertheless, he perseveres, He struggled on in the darkness between lapses into unconsciousness....His hands, groping forward, met nothing.... Finally, Jerry reaches the surface, "gasping like a fish.".
Did Jerry die in the tunnel?
He did not want them. He wanted nothing but to get back home and lie down. He has endured several bloody noses, and now he has a banged up head. In fact, Jerry nearly died in the tunnel and felt certain that his eyeballs had burst when he finally reached the water's surface.
What is the theme of the story through the tunnel?
The story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing has a main theme of perseverance throughout the entire story. The young boy in the story, Jerry, is the main character, and he was going to overcome his fear. He had been contemplating if he should go down through the hole, or tunnel, that the big kids were going through. The only problem was that he had to hold his breath for a long time under the water. He is a great example of what the story is mainly about, if you do not give up and you persevere
Who wrote through the tunnel?
“Through the Tunnel”, written in the early 50’s by Doris Lessing, is a short story filled with literary devices that create a coming of age story. On the surface, the story is about a boy named Jerry, an eleven-year-old boy, who is being raised by his widowed mother. They are on vacation on a beach at their usual annual spot. Jerry is faced with a challenge he desperately wants to overcome, by any means necessary. Doris Lessing uses symbolism and bildungsroman to portray the theme of coming of age
What does the color brown mean in the story "Through the Tunnel"?
Lessing uses characterization and symbolism to show that being self-reliant is a part of growing up. The symbolism of the color brown and the struggle of Jerry going through the tunnel represents the signs of maturity. Jerry describes the boys as having “burned smooth dark brown” skin. In Jerry’s
How old is Jerry in the tunnel?
Sooner or later, every child must learn to harness their emotions and become an individual in society. In the short story, “Through the Tunnel”, Jerry is an eleven year old boy who idolizes the “big boys” who spend their time in the “wild and rocky bay” rather than the “overcrowded and safe beach”. Wanting to fit in with them, Jerry tries his hardest to become like the boys and learns to become
What is the purpose of stories in culture?
audience to engage vicariously with the experience of others. Stories or narratives have been shared in all culture as a mean of education , entertainment and also to notify the audience of the values and belief systems of our culture. The texts of ‘Through the tunnel’ and ‘Green tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe’ conspicuously highlight the ability of storytelling to empower the individual and outline storytelling as a device to inform us of values and people’s transmission is able to transcend time. The
What is the theme of the story through the tunnel?
In Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing we have the theme of connection, isolation, determination, failure, independence, conflict and coming of age. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Lessing may be exploring the theme of connection.
Where does through the tunnel take place?
Subsequently, question is, where does through the tunnel take place? “Through the Tunnel,” which presumably takes place in the south of France, is one of her British stories, though Lessing never overtly identifies its location and it has many of the characteristics of her African stories.
Theme Of Through The Tunnel
The transition from childhood to adolescence is a difficult process with many obstacles. In Doris Lessing’s short story, “Through the Tunnel”, this idea is expressed when Jerry decides to leave the safe beach and play in the rocky bay. He strives to be like the older boys, but he can only do that when he matures enough.
Essay about Comparing Brothers are the Same versus Through the Tunnel
Markham and "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing are both about growing up and entering adulthood. "Brothers are the Same" about a boy named Temas trying to prove he was tough and could be called an adult.
Through The Tunnel Short Story
they want to do. Achieving goals take sacrifice, commitment, and overcoming obstacles on the path. The short story, “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing is about achieving a goal. A single mother and her child, Jerry, are on vacation at a beach. Jerry meets some local boys and watch them swim underwater for a long time.
An Analysis Of 'Through The Tunnel' By Doris Lessing
girl talking about love and how blind people can be because of it. “Through the Tunnel”, by author Doris Lessing, on the other hand, is about an 11-year-old boy who creates his coming of age story by, literally, swimming through a tunnel.
Ap European Poetry Analysis
stories. Symbolism is often used to create these images of death in an intellectual way, and allow the reader to dig deeper into his or her consciousness to process the sensitive subject matter. A wheel, bridge, and tunnel are all symbols used by European authors to develop the common theme of death within their poems.
Analysis Of A Night Divided And A Long Walk To Water
others. In A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen Gerta and her family are divided by the Berlin Wall. Gerta’s oldest brother, Dominique, and father are in the west and Gerta her other brother, Fritz, and their mother are in the east. They decide to tunnel under the wall to get to the west for a better life and to get back to their family.
Point of View Essay
In the short story "Through the tunnel", Doris Lessing describes the adventure of Jerry, a young English boy trying to swim through an underwater tunnel.
