The End of Childhood Archetype We all grow up, eventually

Critical Thinking Questions What does it mean to grow up? What do we gain when we grow up? What do we lose? How will you know when you have “grown up?”

Innocence / Experience What is the definition of Innocence? What is the definition of Experience Innocence: quality of being free from guilt, sin or moral wrong. Lack of knowledge or experience. Children are innocent Experience: the knowledge a person gains in life through learning and doing. This comes from hardships or making mistakes where the innocent may believe that everyone is as harmless as she is, the experienced person has lived long enough to know that there are harmful people in the world. The experienced person knows there is good in the world

End of childhood represents The loss of innocence and gaining of knowledge and experience. The end of the golden age or the summer of our lives. The realization that the experience of evil, sorrow and harsh reality is unavoidable.

Individual Level What is an event or action that might cause the end of childhood for an individual? Loss of stuffed animal, broken toy, summer ending, friend moving away, death of a relative

End of Childhood on Societal Level In myth – a story that describes the origin of evil Community wide loss

Processes of Loss of Childhood Epiphany: the “aha!” moment – a realization that redefines the individual. Rites of passage: a transition from one state to another Initiation Rituals: a young person passes through certain tests or traditions and becomes an adult Rites of passage: first kiss, first real job, first car...What are some other rights of passage in our culture? Initiation Rituals: what exisists in our culture that serves as an initiation into alulthood? – HS grad, marriage, college grad, moving out of the house