Through The Tunnel
By Doris Lessing
Summary
Jerry and his mom decided to go to the beach. While Jerry was swimming, he saw some boys playing and decided he wanted to be friends with them. They hung out until the boys went under water, through a tunnel, leaving Jerry out. Jerry couldn't go through the tunnel and over the next few days he was determined to go through it. Every time he stayed under water he was able to stay longer and longer but he would always end up getting dizzy and his nose always bled. Then, one day he decided he would do it since his mother told them they were leaving and he almost got himself killed. Jerry then decided he would not do it again and that he didn't care if he was friends with the boys or not.
Protagonist/Antagonist
Protagonist:
Jerry is a young boy determined to go through a tunnel to become friends with some boys. He is the protagonist because he wants to succeed in something.
Antagonist:
The tunnel is the antagonist because it's stopping him from being friends and the water is also one because it's preventing him from even going near the tunnel and his body is an antagonist becaause holding his breath is stopping him from staying under water for a long period of time
Jerry is a young boy determined to go through a tunnel to become friends with some boys. He is the protagonist because he wants to succeed in something.
Antagonist:
The tunnel is the antagonist because it's stopping him from being friends and the water is also one because it's preventing him from even going near the tunnel and his body is an antagonist becaause holding his breath is stopping him from staying under water for a long period of time
Characters
Jerry is an indirect character because throughout the story we learn more about him through his actions. He is a round character because he is a well-developed character that shows some traits and he's dynamic because he changes after almost killing himself.
Jerry's mother is a direct because it directly states that she worries for him, a flat character because she's only seen as a worried mother and a static character because she only stays the same through the story.
Imagery
Imagery is used to create descriptive scenes to help enhance the reader's experience of the story. It helps the reader be able to visualize and
connect with and feel for Jerry as he tries to reach his goal.
Tone/Mood
The tone is serious as Jerry is determine to reach is goal and the mood is tensed. This affects the story by making it more serious then fun, more suspense as Jerry is trying to go through the tunnel.
Genre
Realistic-fiction because it could happen
Point Of View
It's 3rd person limited because it only reveals Jerry's and his mothers thoughts and actions and not the local boys that Jerry met.
Setting
It takes place at a vacation spot Jerry and his mom go to a lot and at a beach and bay. It mostly takes place in the afternoon and morning.
Conflicts
There were two conflicts, one internal and the other external. The external is Man versus man and man versus nature.Jerry had an external conflict against nature and his body. The external is the tunnel and water because both are preventing him from being friends with the boy. The water is preventing him from being near the tunnel. The internal conflict Jerry has is having enough courage and determination to be able to go through the tunnel.
Theme
Theme topic: determination
Theme statement is being able to have determination to achieve your goals.
Through the Tunnel trailer
Work cited
"Jerry"http://losarciniegas.blogspot.com/ December 6, 2014 Web
J"Je Video Through The Tunnel (2011, October 7). In Youtube.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.