Common Themes in Coming of Age Literature Coming

Common Themes in Coming of Age Literature

Coming of age • Synonym/Explanation – Growing up – The mental transformation from childhood to adulthood. • Image/Example – The O. C. is a coming of age television show that focuses on the lives of teenagers growing up in California.

Loss of Idealism • Synonym/Explanation – Destruction of a false sense of security – May start to expect the worst from others – Loss of faith in dreams • Image/Example – The girl thought her father could protect her from anything, but his death shattered her idealism. before after

Desire for Independence • Synonym/Explanation – (From parents), want to make own decisions, want to be able to do things on your own • Image/Example – For many teens, a car = independence

Search for Identity/Acceptance • Synonym/Explanation – Desire to belong to and feel accepted by a group, may feel lonely or isolated – Search for answers to the question “Who am I? ” • Image/Example – Teenagers struggle to feel accepted, but remain unique.

Changing Attitudes and Values • Synonym/Explanation – What is important to character changes • Image/Example – Once he was accepted at tech school, John stopped playing soccer and started concentrating on his trade.

Testing the Waters • Synonym/Explanation – Trying out new things, seeing what you can get away with • Image/Example – Though her curfew was 12: 00, Suzy kept testing the waters by coming home later and later

Dreaming of the future • Synonym/Explanation – Asking…What will my life as an adult be like? What do I want to do when I “grow up”? how will my life be different from my parents’? • Image/Example

Resilience (n) • • Explanation – able to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event – “bounce back” Image/Example – I am amazed by the resilience of the hurricane victims. Word Family Resilient (adj. )

Rite of Passage (n) Explanation A ritual marking culturally significant changes in an individual’s life cycle, such as birth, puberty, marriage, old age, and death Image/Example A rite of passage that occurs at age 16 is ______. Word Family ritual http: //www. dmv. org/templates/html/db 4/img/icons/drivers-license-&-id-big. gif

Epiphany (n) • Explanation moment of understanding or clarity in which a person comes to gain a new understanding about him or herself or the world around him/her Image/Example I had an epiphany when I realized… Word Family

Initial (adj. ) Explanation happening at the beginning [= first] Image/Example My initial reaction to the news was complete shock. Word Family Initial phase Initial stage Initial period Initials Initiation http: //www. motivatedentrepreneur. com/i/uploads/synergy_large. gif

Self-Reliant (adj. ) • • Explanation – Able to decide what to do by yourself, without depending on the help or advice of other people Image/Example – Ellen Foster learned to be self-reliant at an early age Word Family Self-Reliance (n) Reliable (adj. ) http: //www. titusagbara. com/self_reliance. jpg

Initiative (n) • Explanation The ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do • Image/Example I took initiative when I…. • Word Family Initiation Initial http: //www. desktoprating. com/wallpapers/sports-wallpapers-pictures/nike-wallpaper. jpg

Conformity (n) • Explanation • behavior that obeys the accepted rules of society or a group, and is the same as that of most other people Image/Example Many teenagers try to conform to their friends by wearing the same clothes, shoes, and hairstyles. Word Family Conform

Alienation (n) • Explanation • the feeling of not being part of society or a group Image/Example In this picture, the figure’s alienation is symbolized by his placement in a dark corner. Word Family Alienate (v)

Reconcile (v) Definition if you reconcile two ideas, situations, or facts, you find a way in which they can both be true or acceptable What your parents Sentence want for you As I grew up, I began to reconcile the fact that people can be both good and bad at the same time. What you want