Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing Feature Menu

Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing Feature Menu Introducing the Story Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning Reading Skills: Re-reading and Reading for Details

Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing

Through the Tunnel Introducing the Story Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free. Paul Tillich (1886– 1965)

Through the Tunnel Introducing the Story Jerry, the main character of this story, is a young British boy vacationing on a foreign coast with his mother. • Exploring on his own, Jerry meets some local boys who swim through a long underwater tunnel in the rock. • Although he is terrified of the tunnel, Jerry becomes determined to swim through it. [End of Section]

Through the Tunnel Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning A symbol is a person, place, thing, or event that stands both for itself and for something beyond itself. scales justice heart love

Through the Tunnel Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning A story often has its own unique symbols— elements that suggest or reveal a special meaning within the story. catcher’s mitt boy’s desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, a famous baseball player The symbolic meaning of the story emerges from an overall interpretation of these symbols.

Through the Tunnel Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning As you read “Through the Tunnel, ” look for elements that could be symbolically significant. Ask yourself the following: • What idea or theme does this element seem to represent? • What does it tell you about the larger meaning of the story? [End of Section]

Through the Tunnel Reading Skills: Re-reading and Reading for Details Some stories need to be read more than once. Re-reading a story may • reveal important details or clues that you missed during the first reading • provide answers to questions that you have about characters and events • help you uncover the story’s core meaning

Through the Tunnel Reading Skills: Re-reading and Reading for Details Plan to read “Through the Tunnel” twice. After the first reading, ask yourself • What puzzles me? • What seems unclear? The second time you read the story, look for important details and answers to your questions. [End of Section]