Through the Tunnel
By Doris Lessing
Conflict: The 11 year old Jerry and his mother go on vacation to a beach they have known for a long time, Jerry wanted to go to the "wild and rocky bay" which his mother left him to. Jerry was a good swimmer and on the way he met some older foreign children who were passing an underwater tunnel.
Climax: He wanted to try that and be with them but they did not speak the same language, he realized that to pass the tunnel he had to endure 2 minutes so he tried but could not see well so he bought some water glasses, this caused him nausea and bleeding nasal.
Resolution: The mother tells him that in 4 days they will return so he decides to go through the underwater tunnel, in the end if he could pass it but he said that he never wanted to do that again since he went through many difficult things there.
Different end: Jerry, already very tired, tries to pass the underwater tunnel for one more time but during the journey he faints and begins to drown, fortunately they find him in time and he decides never to do something like this in his life.
b. The setting of Through the Tunnel, by Doris Lessing, is a beach on the coast.
c. Characters' analysis
Jerry: The protagonist of the story; Jerry is a boy who, even though he is only 11 years old, is very brave, he always wants to challenge himself and does what he sets out to do.
Mother: Jerry's mother is a widow on vacation with her son. She allows her son a degree of independence that she did not in the past, worries that she might adore him too much, and understands that Jerry has established a healthy sense of independence from her.
Questions
What is the theme or central idea of the story?
An 11-year-old's struggle to achieve difficult goals.
Why couldn't Jerry communicate with the older kids?
Because they were foreigners so they didn't speak the same language.
What does Jerry do to get through the underwater tunnel?
Trains himself to hold his breath for two minutes underwater
If you were Jerry, would you have dared to go through the underwater tunnel?
In my opinion, no, because I would be very afraid that some animal would come out or something bad would happen to me.
If you could describe Jerry in one word, what would it be?
Brave.
