Through the Tunnel Tasks 1&2
English Period 11
10/20/13
Task 1 In the selection, “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, a young English boy called Jerry struggles with his dependence on others. At the beginning of the story, Jerry is dependent on his mother. For example, when he goes to explore the promontory rocks, he keeps looking back for his mother. “When he was so far out that he could look back not only on the little bay but past the promontory that was between it and the big beach, he floated on the buoyant surface and looked for his mother…He swam back to the shore, relieved at being sure she was there, but all at once lonely.” (Lessing, 48) *He is apprehensive about letting go of his mother’s guidance, because he is dependent on it.* Then, when he arrives at the rocks, he sees the native boys swimming. Like a leech, desperate to cling onto a source of energy and sustenance, Jerry depends on the attention of the boys to feel secure and provided for. For example, he even tries to make himself look foolish to get their attention. “In a panic of failure, he yelled up, in English, “Look at me! Look!” and he began splashing and kicking in the water like a foolish dog.” (Lessing, 48) When this plan fails, he decides that to be one of the big boys he must conquer the same precarious underwater cavern obstacle that they did, even if it kills him. “He would do it if it killed him, he said defiantly to himself. But two days before they were to leave, a day of triumph when he increased his count by fifteen, his nose bled so badly that he turned dizzy and had lie limply over the big rock like a bit of seaweed, watching the thick red blood flow on to the rock and trickle slowly down to the sea.” (Lessing, 51) At this point in the story, the reader worries for Jerry. The reader asks themselves questions like: What is going to happen to him? Is he going to be alright? Are his lungs even developed enough to do this? Of course the reader wonders these questions because surely, Jerry is being
10/20/13
Task 1 In the selection, “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, a young English boy called Jerry struggles with his dependence on others. At the beginning of the story, Jerry is dependent on his mother. For example, when he goes to explore the promontory rocks, he keeps looking back for his mother. “When he was so far out that he could look back not only on the little bay but past the promontory that was between it and the big beach, he floated on the buoyant surface and looked for his mother…He swam back to the shore, relieved at being sure she was there, but all at once lonely.” (Lessing, 48) *He is apprehensive about letting go of his mother’s guidance, because he is dependent on it.* Then, when he arrives at the rocks, he sees the native boys swimming. Like a leech, desperate to cling onto a source of energy and sustenance, Jerry depends on the attention of the boys to feel secure and provided for. For example, he even tries to make himself look foolish to get their attention. “In a panic of failure, he yelled up, in English, “Look at me! Look!” and he began splashing and kicking in the water like a foolish dog.” (Lessing, 48) When this plan fails, he decides that to be one of the big boys he must conquer the same precarious underwater cavern obstacle that they did, even if it kills him. “He would do it if it killed him, he said defiantly to himself. But two days before they were to leave, a day of triumph when he increased his count by fifteen, his nose bled so badly that he turned dizzy and had lie limply over the big rock like a bit of seaweed, watching the thick red blood flow on to the rock and trickle slowly down to the sea.” (Lessing, 51) At this point in the story, the reader worries for Jerry. The reader asks themselves questions like: What is going to happen to him? Is he going to be alright? Are his lungs even developed enough to do this? Of course the reader wonders these questions because surely, Jerry is being