“Through the Tunnel” and “Crossing the Threshold into Adulthood” Cold Read

Step One: Read and annotate/answer questions in margin “Through the Tunnel” (pg. 7- 18) and “Crossing the Threshold to Adulthood” (pg. 22-23).

Step Two: Themes: CHOOSE TWO! 1.) Both are about transforming from a child to an adult. 2.) Regardless of “adult actions” and thinking that they have transitioned, both still feel like a child. 3.) Neither main character accomplishes transitioning into an adult in one easy step. 4.) Through different experiences, both main characters progressed into becoming more mature. 5.) Both characters have to go through hardships of life, leave their “safe place,” and set personal challenges and goals to see how much they can endure. **You may also come up with your own themes for the these two text if you do not want to use one of the five provided. **

Step Three: “Through the Tunnel” “Crossing the Threshold into Adulthood” Theme One: _____________________ * Evidence from the story that supports the theme. “ “(Last #) * Explain how the evidence supports the theme. Theme Two:

“Crossing the Threshold into Adulthood” “Through the Tunnel” “Crossing the Threshold into Adulthood” Theme One: Everyone is destine for adulthood no matter how quickly you try to achieve it. “He knew he must find his way through that cave, or hole, or tunnel and out the other side” (Lessing 14). The theme can be seen here because Jerry realized that he eventually had to get “through the tunnel” whether it was today or some day in the future. Jerry recognized that making it through this challenge helped him to achieve steps into adulthood. “The sadness of the moment always strikes me: how sad it is to grow up and leave others behind, and how inevitable” (Barnes 22). This shows the theme because Barnes recognizes that while it is sad to leave behind things that are familiar, we do not have a choice but to eventually grow up. Ex: