The falling action of the story occurs
right after Jerry has made it through the tunnel
. As he is resting from his feat, he see the native boys diving but no longer has an interest in them. He returns to his mother boasting that he can now stay under water for two or three minutes.
What is the turning point in through the tunnel?
For Lessing’s main character, Jerry (an eleven-year-old boy), the turning point happens to be
the point of no return when he dives into the water for the last time and pushes his way through the tunnel
that exists under water.
What is the climax of through the tunnel?
The dramatic climax of the story occurs
when Jerry reaches the end of the tunnel and makes his way to the surface
. Doris Lessing creates tremendous suspense prior to the story’s climax.
What is the resolution of through the tunnel?
The resolution of Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel” occurs
after Jerry makes it through the tunnel alive and resurfaces above the water on the other side of the huge rock
. At this point, the reader knows that the main conflict is resolved: Jerry has accomplished the feat he so strongly desired.
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.
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.
What are two problems that Jerry encounters while trying to swim Through the Tunnel?
What are two problems that Jerry encounters while trying to swim through the tunnel?
Jerry cries from fear, embarrassment, frustration, and humiliation
. At the beach, Jerry gets permission from his mother to swim away from her over by the rocks, a good distance from her. There he…
What does a tunnel symbolize?
While tunnels certainly represent journeys, they more often symbolize the passage from one phase of life to another. In its most primal meaning, the tunnel symbolizes
the birth canal
.
What does the water represent in through the tunnel?
Jerry’s swim through the tunnel symbolizes
a rite of passage from boyhood to young manhood
. A coming-of-age story, Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel” uses symbols to represent Jerry’s state of being and his rite of passage.
Why does Jerry leave his mother at the beach?
She was a widow
. She was determined to be neither possessive nor lacking in devotion. She went worrying off to her beach. … He is a boy that obviously feels he needs to protect his mother in some way, probably because she is a widower, and he doesn’t want to put her through any more worry or pain or suffering.
How does the setting of Through the Tunnel affect the conflict of the story?
When the day does come that Jerry swims through the tunnel, he meets with unforeseen complications inside and struggles to improvise and persevere in order to save his life
. Fortunately, he succeeds and conquers the tunnel. The setting, therefore, is directly associated with the conflict because it is Jerry vs.
Why is it so important for Jerry to swim through the tunnel?
It is very important for Jerry to swim through the tunnel so that
he can prove to himself as well as the older boys and his mother that he is not a child
.
What happens when Jerry is swimming through the tunnel?
Jerry’s swim through the tunnel symbolizes
his journey into manhood
. He shows great tenacity when he practises for his swim and despite the physical and mental hurdles, come out victorious. It is a dangerous risk that he takes and he has to do it alone.
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 is the plot of Through the Tunnel?
“Through the Tunnel” is a coming-of-age story
about a young boy on vacation with his mother in a foreign country
. He encounters some of the native boys who know how to swim through a hidden tunnel and get to another side of a beach. The boy decides to learn how to get through the tunnel and in the process, matures.
What literary devices are used in Through the Tunnel?
Doris Lessing short story “Through the Tunnel” creates the theme of transforming in her short story by effectively using the literary devices of
imagery, diction, and simile
.
