He knows that he must go on into the blackness ahead, and soon finds himself bumping the narrowing walls of the tunnel. Still, he perseveres because he knows that if
he does not, he will drown
. After struggling in the darkness until it “cracked with an explosion of green light,” Jerry’s hands propel him out to sea.
Does Jerry drown in through the tunnel?
He knows that he must go on into the blackness ahead, and soon finds himself bumping the narrowing walls of the tunnel. Still, he perseveres because he knows that if
he does not, he will drown
. After struggling in the darkness until it “cracked with an explosion of green light,” Jerry’s hands propel him out to sea.
How does Jerry swim through the tunnel?
Expert Answers
mwestwood, M.A. Jerry practices for his rite of passage through the tunnel
by conditioning himself to be able to hold his breath
. He obtains swims goggles and practices going underwater and finding the tunnel so that he will know exactly where it is when he swims through it.
What does the incident on the rock cause Jerry to do through the tunnel?
But, they ignore him and dive off the rock on which they have been standing. It is this incident which makes
Jerry aware of his immaturity; he desires acceptance from the older boys, so he watches what they do, and decides to practice until he, too
, can execute this marvelous dive through the tunnel.
How does Jerry feel about himself after swimming through the tunnel Why?
How does Jerry feel about himself after swimming through the tunnel?
He felt proud because he did what he set out to do.
How does Jerry learn to control his breathing in through the tunnel?
She was a single mother for a period of time. … Jerry’s mother lets him go off by himself to explore the rocky bay. Jerry watches local boys go through an underwater tunnel. He
wants
to go through the tunnel too, so he teaches himself to control his breathing.
Why must Jerry find his way through the tunnel *?
Jerry has matured greatly during the course of the story.
he wanted to impress the other boys by swimming through the tunnel they all swam through
.
Why does Jerry cry when he Cannot swim through the tunnel?
Why does Jerry cry when he cannot dive through the tunnel?
He is frustrated that he cannot do what the other boys can.
How has Jerry been transformed at the end of the story?
By the end of the story,
Jerry has matured because he’s able to swim through the tunnel by himself
, showing he is ready to venture into the world as a young man. Because he was willing to face the dangers of the tunnel, he has proven to himself that he’s ready to separate himself from his mother.
What does Jerry do that makes the native boys accept him in through the tunnel?
They were big boys, men, to Jerry. He dived, and they watched him; and when he swam around to take his place, they made way for him. He felt he was accepted and he dived again, carefully, proud of himself. Jerry is very pleased the other boys are impressed with his
diving
and accept him.
What happens to Jerry and the older boys?
Jerry joins the boys in diving between the rocks
.
Eventually, the boys begin diving and remaining below the surface for what seems like a long time to Jerry. He realizes they must be passing through a hole in the rock beneath the surface, but he is unable to accomplish this task on his first attempts.
What is Jerry’s internal conflict in through the tunnel?
As they walk toward their usual beach (apparently they have been here numerous times before), Jerry feels some internal conflict
as a result of his desire to go off by himself to the “wild bay” instead of going to the “safe beach” with his mother
.
What does Jerry look like in through the tunnel?
He felt like
an inflated balloon
, his lungs were so light and easy, but his head was pulsing. He could see nothing but a red-veined, clotted dark. His eyes must have burst, he thought; they were full of blood. … His nose was bleeding, and the blood had filled the goggles.
What happens in 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 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. In the end, Jerry’s climatic swim through the dark, dangerous tunnel proves his strength and endurance.
Answer and Explanation: In Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel”, the author builds suspense by
playing up Jerry’s feelings of fear and uncertainty, keeping the audience in the dark about whether he will survive swimming
through the tunnel or not. “He must go on into the blackness ahead, or he would drown.
How do the native boys feel about Jerry’s attempts to find the tunnel?
Expert Answers
After his rejection by the older native boys, who have perceived him as immature as he splashes foolishly in the water,
Jerry sits on the rough rock
and cries “openly” because he envies their camaraderie and freedom and daring.
What is Jerry’s relationship with his mother?
Jerry’s relationship with his mother is complicated.
She does her best to raise him how she wants
, but then finds herself worrying over what amusements he might secretly be longing for (Lines 10-12). His mother was the one to open up the door to Jerry’s tunnel encounter.
What kind of person is Jerry through the tunnel?
Additionally, we find out that Jerry is “
a good swimmer
”. Jerry’s inner characterisation is conveyed by following his point of view on the events, but also through his thoughts, actions, and attitude. Jerry is a developing character as the story explores his transformation from a child to a young adult.
What did Jerry do when he first saw the boys?
Looking back to shore, Jerry sees
some boys strip off their clothes and go running down to the rocks
, and he swims toward them but keeps his distance. The boys are “of that coast; all of them were burned smooth dark brown and speaking a language he did not understand.
What do the beach and the wild bay symbolize for Jerry use a detail from the story to support your answer?
For Jerry, the wild bay seems to represent
adulthood and maturity
. He’s a young adolescent, and so it seems natural that he no longer wants to accompany his mother to their usual, “safe beach,” the beach they’ve always gone to in the past. … Independence (and the maturity from which it comes) can be lonely.
What do the boys represent to Jerry?
The older boys, to Jerry, seem like “men,” and they represent
his desire to grow up
.
What is one internal conflict Jerry faces in the story?
Jerry’s internal conflict, firstly,
arises from his mother’s wish and what he wants for himself
. He has to choose between doing what he wants or being obedient. At first, his guilt is what compels him to stay with her. He finally resolves this conflict by telling her that he longs to be elsewhere and she allows him.
What conflicting emotions does Jerry have about his mother through the tunnel?
He faces
an internal conflict
on whether he should stay with his mother or follow his desire to go to the bay. Likewise, Jerry’s mother also faces an inner conflict between her sense of duty and her sense of giving way towards her son.
What is the main conflict in the story 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 is the main message of through the tunnel?
The main theme of the story “Through the tunnel” is
coming of age, which means becoming an adult, typically as a result of an event
or a rite of passage.
