Writers of modern stories are interested in portraying life. Often, in their stories, we get ideas and find the chance to see, examine, and question ourselves. For example, in James Joyce’s “Eveline,” we observe how fear of the unknown affects a young woman’s future; In Richard Wright’s “The Man Who was Almost a Man,” we see how a young boy’s inability to accept moral responsibilities impacts his life, too. “How would we handle their challenges?” Who is the stronger individual? The answer lies within.…
In the short story, “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner, ten year old, Sarty struggles between doing the right thing or betraying his father. In “Doe Season” by David Kaplan, nine year old, Andy struggles in trying to be the boy her father never had or the girl she really is. In both of the short stories, with the help of the character relationships and conflicts, the authors portray the theme of children finding themselves. [Thesis]…
Childhood is a strange and wonderful time of ignorance and imagination where the floor can be lava, a sandbox can be a construction zone, and summers are filled with playing in the sun. Among these fun times there is a fundamental formation happening in our brain creating our personalities; peers and parents contribute greatly to this. Writers often introduce a childish character who is shown to change from a hardship they face. In American works such as The Death of a Salesman, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet letter, and The Body children, or childish characters, are introduced to bring light to their ever changing personalities and the forces and events that shaped them.…
There are many memories that may come to mind when the word adolescence is spoken. Some people recall times of enjoyable, innocent adventures, but for others the phrase “teenage years” holds horrific memories. For a section of the populace their “teen experiences” may be the most appalling time period, as they begin to undergo many changes. This concept of dark adolescence is present, not only in the real world, but in the literary world as well. For example, in the novel A Separate Peace where a friendship turned in the wrong direction and a deadly war, mark the moments of growing up. While some readers believe that Phineas (Finny) and Gene’s separate peace shows the innocence of youthful occurrences; a closer inquiry demonstrates that through mental illness and death , adolescence is a time of terror, thus showing a theme of the realization of reality.…
In the coming of age novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey the reader witnesses alteration in the protagonist Charlie, who is introduced as an innocent teenager who then transforms his attitudes and opinions due to an experience. Charlie not only endures physical changes, however also changes his mind set in regards to the town he lives in, Corrigan, and his mother. These distinctive changes have both negative and positive effects that are represented by the use of a variety of language techniques.…
In the direct, later on, indignant article “Endless Summer”, Rick Bragg reveals the transition from childhood to adulthood by using figurative language throughout the article. Bragg portrays that time last forever and summer is the same way. Summer feels so long to a child because they spend countless hours playing in the pool and staying out till dark. They wake up and repeat the same routine the following day. To Bragg, the transformation to an adult is very grim; because it means more responsibility. Jobs have priority and take up more time, leaving little to no free time to do the enjoyable things. Nevertheless, summertime as a kid is entertaining, but the memories will have to do because as adults, jobs take priorities in life.…
By the end of the novel, Holden experiences a coming of age and shows signs that he is ready to enter adulthood. When Holden is sitting on the stairs of Phoebe’s school, he sees profanity written in the school. He rubs it off to avoid the children seeing it. He encounters more profanity, rubs it off, but then realizes that even if he rubs off all the profanity he can, there will always be more in the world. This shows Holden’s growth into a mature character. He realizes that he cannot protect children from seeing the profanity, as he cannot be the catcher in the rye for them. In addition, when Holden watches Phoebe reaching for the ring on the carousel, he concludes, “The thing with kids is, if they want to grab for the gold ring, you have to let them do it, and not say anything. If they fall off, they fall off, but it’s bad if you say anything to them” (Salinger 211). When Holden allows Phoebe to reach for the ring, it is evident that he is no longer trying to protect her from falling. Jeff Pettineo comments about Holden’s reaction to Phoebe reaching for the gold ring, “But Holden's admission to the reader that one has to allow kids to ‘reach for the ring’ despite a possible fall indicates, perhaps, that he is starting to come to terms with the ephemeral and dynamic nature of human existence” (Pettineo n.pag.). Holden begins to understand that no one can stop a child from falling from innocence, just as they cannot stop the child from falling off the carousel. Holden understands that he cannot be the catcher in the rye and that he will not always be there to protect Phoebe’s innocence. When it begins to rain at the carousel, Phoebe is covered by the carousel while Holden is soaked by the rain. The rain may be a symbol for a new beginning for Holden, as his immaturity and innocence is figuratively washed away. Phoebe is under cover to show that her innocence is not yet being washed away. Sandra Lott says about Holden and a character from another novel, “At the end…
Upon becoming adults, our perceptions of people and relationships differ and change. As a child, we are impressionable, innocent and under the care of our parents, we see people on a shallow level. The poem shows the reader this with its structure; the focus often jumps from the past to the present. The change in relationship with the poets mother is also apparent, she goes from being a mere observer, drawing in the environment around her and mimicking her mother, to being like her, both physically and mentally.…
It comes as no surprise to anyone that teenagers are sometimes naturally moody, angst-ridden, and emotional as they transition from childhood to adulthood. No one, that is, but teenagers. For adolescents such as myself, the shifting position that teenagers come to in these years is awkward at best, and painful at worst. The sudden responsibility and pressure thrust upon a teenager in the latter years of high school (and often before) is near impossible to easily adjust to, especially when there is no real preparation offered. When left at the confusing crossroads of a seemingly transitory crisis, teenagers are faced with serious internal and external conflicts, often manifest in manic-depressive and abusive tendencies, as displayed in Salinger’s…
A short story ‘Eleven’ by Sandra Cisneros dwells upon the memories of an eleven-year-old girl that spends her birthday at school and gets into a discomforting situation with her teacher because of her lack of confidence. In spite of the multiple colloquial phrases and childish expressions, this is a very philosophical piece of writing. It touches upon such global and adult issues as experience, freedom, aging, life and death, knowledge and restrictions. The symbolism is very sophisticated here – under the veiled mask of a simple classroom occasion the writer sets multiple questions. Do people gather enough experience with age? What secret knowledge and power is revealed after each birthday? Can a simple life situation drive one at an older age more efficiently than real calendar time does? The complexity of an eleven-year-old girl (who is almost a teenager, by the way) is derived from the first-person style of narration. The author tries to hide her real wisdom and age through the expressions like “little animal noises” but it still seems not convincing because so many serious questions are being asked in each paragraph of the story. She is very capable in understanding her own emotions and thoughts – an ability that is not very typical for such a young age is eleven. Her descriptions of the surrounding world are very clear and comprehensive; the usage of metaphors is quite mature in spite of the phrasing.…
Gwen Harwood’s poetry explores the reality of human existence, utilising a number of personal experiences in order to impart meaning onto the responders. The poems, At Mornington and A Valediction, explore countless thematic concerns including the loss of childhood innocence, comprehending mortality and maturation of individuals. Utilising a regular variation of tense, between past and present, and her own personal relationships with others, Harwood’s poetry provokes an appreciation of the past, and reinforce themes, which highlights their universal significance. Within the beginning of the poem At Mornington, Harwood explores a childhood memory, at “the sea’s edge”, in order to highlight her apparent childhood strength in her naïve belief that she could defy nature by “walking on water/it’s only a matter of balance”, only to be saved by her father. This nativity is reinforced in the parable of the pumpkin, which grew upwards in “airy defiance of nature”. The biblical allusion with the attempt to walk on water reinforces the blind faith and innocence of the child which is contrasted to the personas self-awareness and acceptance of her own mortality, “at the time of life, when our bones begin to wear”. This childhood recollection can be deemed as the commencement of her acceptance of death; however it is only upon self-reflection on this…
Sociologists believe that childhood is not a fixed universal experience, this is called social construct, meaning that the idea about childhood is varied according to time, place, gender, ethnicity and social class. The definition of childhood is a state or period of being a child. Many children in today’s society do not experience this and in the past too.…
Physician assisted suicide, is this an ethical procedure? Many feel strongly on both sides of this issue. Some states such as Washington and Oregon have made Physician assisted suicide legal. Other states such as Michigan and Massachusetts have put the issue to a vote and the voters have turned down the option. What exactly is physician assisted suicide? According to Dictionary.com, the definition is a situation in which a physician provides the means of death for a gravely ill patient .Dehal and Levy explain, “The Death With Dignity Act (DWDA) allows mentally competent, terminally ill patients who are over 18 years of age and residents of the state of Oregon to obtain a prescription for a lethal dosage of medication to end their own life in case their suffering becomes unbearable. Patients eligible for the act must make one written and two oral requests over a period of 15 days. The prescribing physician and a consulting physician have to confirm the diagnosis and the prognosis. If either doctor believes the patient's mental competence is impaired, he must be referred for a psychiatric or psychological evaluation. The prescribing physician is required to inform the patient of potential alternatives to PAS, such as comfort care, hospice care, and pain control.” The positives of Physician assisted suicide is that people who are at the end of their lives can forgo the incredible pain that can happen with many diseases. Health care cost can be reduced. Doctors and Nurses would have more time to save those who are going to live or those who wish to try to survive. Family and friends have a chance to say their good byes. Organs can be saved to help others. Patients feel they have a choice, and may not be forced to try other ways to diminish their pain. The negatives include that many feel physician assisted…
William James Collins, also known as Billy Collins, is an American poet who was born in Manhattan, New York on March 22, 1941. Mr. Collins was appointed poet laurate for the United States in the years 2001 to 2003. Mr. Collins has written eighteen books that share all of his poetry and won many awards because of it. When Ms. Collins was younger, he grew up an only child in Manhattan. Later in his life, Mr. Collins…
The poem is set up in one stanza where the lines are small, then big and then small again. There are 14 sentences and 32 lines, some of them are long, but others are very short so that the reader will think about these in particularly. There is no rhythm scheme, but there is a cadence which links the single lines. The tone of the poem is sad, due to the word choice which Collins chose “dark blue speed drained out of it” The color blue is a melancholic color which gives a feeling of sadness and drained is a very ruff and harsh word for a ten year old to use.…