The tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal. It also symbolizes that Jerry is very determined; he will almost kill himself just to prove to himself that he can do what the older boys can do. "To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body." The tunnel also symbolizes him wanting to be like the older boys. I think on some level the tunnel symbolizes Jerry being lonely. He's lost his father, his mother and him don't seem to have that close of a relationship, he has no siblings, and the story never mentions any friends of his. I'm not surprised that he's jealous and wants to be apart of this big group of boys who all seem to be friends, so he'll do anything to be like them.
I totally agree with Louisa that the tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal. I also think that the tunnel symbolizes hard work, determination, perseverance, and a killer instinct. All of these involve an end product that is desired. All of the hard work and time spent on training helped jerry to get where he wanted to be. He had to put up with a major loss of blood but he didn't care, he persevered and powered through that tunnel with a will to conquer all obstacles in his way. He went in as a boy and came through the tunnel a different person, a young man that knows that you can have whatever you put your mind to. BRANDON™
i agree with both lousia and brandon. the tunnel represents a few things. for one it is a symbol of jerry and jerry fulfilling his life goal. jerry is just trying to prove to himself that he can accomplish anything. i think that it also symbolizes another part of everyone. i feel as though the tunnel is like the tunnel people see before they die. i think that jerry and the tunnel are like that, he is like a person who goes into this tunnel and supposedly the end is death. for jerry though the end is the very opposite it is his heaven his prize, it is the end of his journey and his journey has been a success.
The tunnel is a symbol because it was something that the english boy, Jerry strived to acomplish. The tunnel represented endurnce and personal growth. It showed how much he wanted to be like the older kids. I agree with Lousia and Brandon that he will do anything to reach this goal, even if that ment nose bleeding to death.
the whole event seemed to be plot for attention wich may be another way the tunnel is symbolized.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry, the English boy, who had accomplished his goal by going through the tunnel. It also symbolizes that he is strong minded about things. He went through a lot of trouble just to go through a tunnel to make him feel like he is like one of the older boys. Jerry was also very lonely so the tunnel also represents his loneliness because his father had died and his mom doesn’t really have much of connection with Jerry because they like and do different things. He also doesn’t seem to have any friends and no siblings so that’s another reason he may be lonely. I also agree with Brandon when he said that he thinks that the tunnel symbolizes hard work and determination because he was totally determined to go through the tunnel. -Brianna<3
It is my sentiment that the tunnel in the story [ which Jerry later in the story swam through despite the imminent danger] “Through the Tunnel” symbolized Jerry’s resolution towards winning his social acceptance. Jerry [as I assumed based provided information in the book] was given the personality of a rather timid and dependant role in the story however he conquered his fears in order to attain the feeling of “ victory filling him.” The tunnel was also the obstacle for Jerry because he was so exasperated when he drove his new found acquaintances off. I doubt that he would be able to rest without swimming through the tunnel like the others
I think that the symbol here is the tunnel. this is because it symbolizes the devolpement of the main character. he is a man and that he is tough enough to take on the boys their and make them his bestfriend and shows them how its done. I also think the tunnel also symbolizes fact that he was jealious like louisa said. he is really wants to have friends, because of his father gone.
The tunnel is the obstacle that is presented to Jerry in this story. Jerry and his mother go to the beach and since Jerry doesn't really get along well with his mother he attempts to entertain himself. He finds some older local boys and promptly joins in on the activity. Jerry teaches himself how to breathe underwater for a longer amount of time, and suffers various nose bleeds. In the end Jerry goes "trough the tunnel" and fulfills his goal.
I think that the tunnel symbolizes determination in life. Jerry was a bit reluctant to just head out and cross underwater, but with practice and time he became confident and achieved his goal. Some people want to do things to fit in, like Jerry with the local French boys, but the important part is that you do it. Time was running out and Jerry's departure date was approaching, and even though he suffered from a large blood loss that day he stiff did what he originally set out to do
Jerry had been fascinated with tunnel and the older boys from the moment he saw them dive down and not return for two minutes. He saw the boys and the tunnel as "cool" and mature things. This fascination became an obsession, and then a goal that he felt he must reach. He really pushed, putting himself in danger along the way. The way he was approaching this goal was very adult. He had patience and a lot of motivation, and the process of preparing for the tunnel made him more mature and was a process of growing up. It was a symbol of maturity.
The tunnel acts like a symbol because in the end of the story Jerry accomplishes a goal. The tunnel symbolizesthe rewards you get for going through a struggle without giving up. When Jerry was swimming with the older boys he got scared when one was not coming back up for to minutes. Then when he dd he realized that he the boy could holdhis breath for that long. Jerry wanted to hold his breath for that long to so he practiced everyday and finally he could.
I think that the tunnel symbolizes the determination Jerry has. Its not only his determination to see whats through the tunnel, but also his determination to hold his breath under water, or to get the attention of the older boys at the beach. He starts out with the determination that is somewhat foolish; he has a determination that is like when little kids say "when i grow up, i want to be president." It seems like his mother agrees that its foolish, that he's doing all of this extreme swimming where he'll basically get no where, or just hurt himself. But Jerry stays determined to find this hole, and demands goggles.
Jerry keeps trying again and again to go find this tunnel. " Again he rose, took a big chestful of air, and went down. Again and again he groped the surface of of the rock, feeling it, almost hugging it in the desperate need to find the enterance." When he finds it, his determination grows, and he just counts the seconds of his breath-holding. All of this is just to get through a hole. He almost kills himself holding his breath for two minutes. He also ends up not asking his mom if he can go to the beach. All of this links back to the reason why he is determined. The tunnel.
“He must go on into the blackness ahead, or he would drown. His head was swelling, his lungs cracking. A hundred and fifteen, a hundred and fifteen pounded through his head and he feebly clutched at rocks in the dark, pulling himself forward, leaving the brief space of sunlit water behind. He felt he was dying.” (p.8)
I think the tunnel symbolizes the struggle to grow up. A new born baby has to come through the "birth canal" so that he can be born. This story has a similar meaning, it’s just that the child is not being born, he’s turning into a man. This vacation is the first time that he is allowed to being alone and without his mom. He likes the feeling of independence and yet he’s wedded in the past. He misses his mom when he is by himself and it is only at the end of the story that he completes his individual task--he gets throw the tunnel on his own like the older boys who live on the island. He risks everything to get through. In a way, growing up is a kind of death of the kid he used to be.
The tunnel represents an obstacle that was blocking Jerry's path an that he had to overcome it. Jerry trained so hard every day he had constant nosebleeds and headaches and once he even blacked out. Every day Jerry took a really big rock down the water to help him stay put and hold his breath and steadily the amount of time he could hold his breath increased. eventually Jerry reached his goal of holding his breath for more than two minutes but that didn't him, he kept on training until he could hold his breath for longer until he knew he should have enough time to go through the tunnel. When Jerry finely went through the tunnel he thought he might die but that didn't stop him from going on so he kept pushing on until he finally got out and and accomplished the goal he had set for himself and felt relieved.
A tunnel can always represent a passage from point A to point B. In this sense it represents Jerry going from a boy to a man. Every boy becomes a man, but not every boy has an easy time becoming a man. It must be especially hard for Jerry considering the fact that his father is dead. He sees the boys that are almost men all accomplishing the challenge of the tunnel, and Jerry finds that to be an age marking. He accomplishes it after going through so much physical stress and finds he no longer wants the acceptance of the older boys because now he is a man. Overall, the tunnel represents the passage way of aging and its difficulty.
I think the tunnel symbolizes accomplishment and fulfilling your goals in life. Jerry was very determined to prove that he could be like the older boys and maybe even better. It seemed like he wanted to be of an individual and take care of himself too. This has got to be difficult for him because no one is giving him support and he does not seem to have much of a family besides his mother. The tunnel also represents growth. Jerry is a child before but when comes out of the tunnel he seems like more of a man.
The tunnel at first symbolizes a way to fit in because all the local boys were going into it. The thing Jerry really wanted to do was fit in. The main symbol of the tunnel was a goal. It made Jerry work very hard. He would hold his breath and just practice for days. The cool thing was he was making sure he could do it safely before he did it. Then his plans changed and he had to risk everything to satisfy his curiosity. He needed to reach his goal and during the whole story he persevered through the entire thing.
The tunnel symbolizes a goal that Jerry wants to pass. it also symbolizes a struggle in his life because it seems that he does not have many friends and he does not have a great life. It is a way to prove to himself that he can be like anyone especially like the older boys. he wanted to prove to himself that you cannot give up and that if you try hard then everything works out.
The tunnel in this story symbolizes persistence, effort, and success. Jerry makes going through the tunnel his main priority; his goal. During his holiday he makes going through the tunnel his life and gives it his all. He puts himself through pain and misery just to fulfill his goal or promise to himself. Jerry is a determined character. Most, after seeing blood on that scale would back away from this challenge, but Jerry doesn’t seem to care about the pain. He never gives up, he keeps on going at all costs. He put hard work into this project and got rewarded with the success that he desired.
The tunnel in the story is a long hole. It is sharp and full of rocks. The hole is dark and underwater. There are two ends, the entrance and exit. *********************************** The tunnel symbolizes a problem. The water is the beginning of the problem where you can still go back. The entrance is the point of no return. The long dark and wet tunnel is the majority of the problem. In the story there was a small slit of light which was a false sense of hope. However, the false sense of hope allowed for Jerry to continue. The rocks and sharp edges and narrow paths was fear. The exit was hope and the other side of the water was the point of success. This success is Jerry's accomplishment and he does this so he can do what others can do as well. This is just to fit in. His mother and him are very loosely related and are distant. He apparently has no friends or family (no siblings) as well. This means he will want to fit in with even the most distant crowd he's met just to be proud of himself.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry trying to get over an obstacle in his life but at the same time, growing up by doing it. As he sees some older boys swim through the tunnel, he feels compelled to do the same because he wants to be as good as them. I think Jerry is determined to go through the tunnel because he wants to feel more strong and independent about himself since he seems to always be with his mom. The tunnel symbolizes Jerry's growing up and reaching his goal no matter what it takes, by himself.
The tunnel to me symbolizes hardship and perseverance. Because of his age it seems he feels smaller than others and less capable of doing things that others around him can. This is why he feels the big necessity to do as the older boys did and achieve the act of getting through the tunnel. He seems to want to be considered as mature as he thinks he is and somehow getting through this tunnel will make that happen. Not in the eyes of his mother or in the eyes of the older boys but to him and his personal mind set. Jerry seems to be a boy of goals and through setting this goal in the end he would have to fulfill it.
I think the tunnel symbolizes a milestone in Jerry's life; about growing up. I say this because it was an accomplishment for him to get through the tunnel. And he never gave up he was always determined as people said. Also I think Jerry was going from being a 11 yr old boy to a 14 yr old teenager. There was a sense in the book when you could see parts where he was more mature. And the people around him think he's older or more responsible. ex: on the first page Jerry's mother feels he is more mature and responsible by simply thinking "of course he's old enough to be safe without me." That shows that his mother feels positive about him and how he acts.
In the story the tunnel symbolized accomplishing something or growing up. The tunnel also shows a great sense of insecurity in Jerry as if he wanted to prove something to himself even if it meant dying. I think the insecurity came from him not having a father and having a mother that is not so close to him. He feels like there is something missing in him and that there is something wrong with him. He wants to prove to himself that he is just as normal as those boys that were going through the tunnel, even if I means dying or getting really hurt. He really wanted to prove to himself that he is normal like the other kids.
the tunnel is very important in this story because it represent jerry's yearning to do what the older native boys can do. in the beginning he just wants to be like them but towards the end it seems like he just wants to prove that he can do it to himself
To me the tunnel is a symbol of hard work and acomplishing goals. By going through the tunnel it was as if Jerry was proving to himself that he could do anything. He is also proving to himself that he is tough and he is one if the big boys. Jerry is very determined, although reaching his goal was hard he still kept at it and at the end accomplishe his goal and proved to himself that he can do anything.
I agree with everyone when they say that the tunnel represents Jerry being ambitious and him having the determination to make it through the tunnel. But I also think that the tunnel represents growth or maturity. Djuna made a good point when she said that jerry saw going through the tunnel as something very cool or mature because he had seen the older boys do so. And I believe this to be true because usually, younger children try to emulate things seen or done by older people. So I think that the tunnel represents the want of growth from or by Jerry. His hard work and determination to make it through the tunnel is the exact drive that he would need later in life to strive for want he wants. And commencing with him going through this tunnel is a very good start. And I also agree with Brandon when he stated that hard work pays off, because it really does. And the pride that jerry got when he accomplished his goal was so overwhelming that he could not contain it from his mother. The tunnel really symbolized his strength and capacity to endure whatever he must in order to succeed.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry being very determined and not giving up. Everyday he practiced holding his breath no matter how dizzy he became or how much his nose bled. When he was inside the tunnel he pushed on and on until he was out even though he could have died. In the beginning of the story he wants to be with the big boys and feel big like them, but at the end of the story when he comes out of the tunnel he decides he doesn't need them and he moves on. So its almost like in the beginning of the story hes a young boy but at the end of the story he becomes, like Quitze said, a man Summer Grace
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry's will to fit in and his determination. He was willing to suffer major blood loss just to show to the boys that he can fit in, and he is just as cool as them. Since he didn't have a very good relationship with his mom, it seemed that he wanted to be praised by his friends, so that he wouldn't be dependent on his mother. That's why he was so set on staying under water, despite the pain it caused him. I'm assuming he's not very popular because the story doesn't talk about his friends or family, other than his mom. He lost his father. That is reason enough to want approval from others. He really wants the approval of the boys. I think he believes that if he gains these boys approval, he can somehow gain his fathers approval as well, like hitting two birds with one stone.
In “Through the Tunnel”, I think the tunnel symbolizes Jerry’s will and determination to get through the hole. Jerry’s determination allowed him to achieve his goal and have the afterward satisfaction of overcoming something important to him. The extreme nosebleed afterwards showed he was willing to sacrifice his health, maybe even his life, to get through the tunnel.
The tunnel symbolizes and represents patience, determination, and perseverance. Jerry had to get through the tunnel or his goal wouldn't have been fulfilled. He started to want to go through the tunnel because he watched the older boys do it so he wanted to be cool and do it too. I know that feeling. If you watch an older kid do something really amazing, you see them as a role model and you want to do what they did too to feel important. In the beginning, Jerry was doing it for the older "role models" and towards the end I think this was doing something for himself. It is like in the beginning he is trying to be cool as a young child but towards the end he is more mature. He has started trying to get through it a few times and as he did it more and more he would feel proud of himself if he got through. He would risk dying just to fulfill his goal. That means it was a really important thing for him to do.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal, and hard work.The tunnel works as a synbol because its a main part of the theme which is jerry fulfilling his goal to go threw the tunnel. It symblizes that the character is hard working, determine. But I also agre with Louisa that it symbolizes Jerry being lonely, because when Jerry was invited to join those boys to play he was happy even though they weren't paying attention to him. He ususally spends time with his mother but he felt that he was growing and didn't always need to be with his mom eve though he knew that his mom was lonely also. The story never talks about him with anyone else but his mother which is someone but eleven year olds need friends or someone their age to keep them company. So in away the water and tunnel is what kept him company.
The tunnel symbolizes adventure and a goal for Jerry to discover something that no one else may have discovered before. Jerry finding that tunnel there that day was destiny. It gave him the chance to try and succeed in something that he had a strong desire for. He went through days of hard work, days of pain to finally have courage to try and fulfill his dreams of one day going into the rock. When he achieved his goal, it was the most exciting and scarriest day of his life. Knowing that he did it left a scar of ourage, pride, and determination with him.
The tunnel symbolizes dedication, and being industrious. He kept working to get through the tunnel, and the result was almost dead many times. He is dedicated to getting through the tunnel, he was not going to give up, and fail, like many people said, his goal. In Jerry's mind throughout this story, tells him that he is older than he is. At first he wants to be with the older boys when he is 11, and then hes turns into his regular age in the middle, and at the end, his mom makes him seem like a four year old, because she is very cautious. It just shows that your mind tells you that you want to be younger so you can do this, or you want to be older to do that.
The tunnel represents the endurance and determination of ones soul. When you really want something, you will stop at nothing to get it. Especially of it is a life long goal, then you definately want to go at it. The tunnel also can represent hard work and even focus. Jerry really wanted this, do he went after his goal. The key symbol of the tunnel is determination.
The tunnel symbolizes to grow up, reach a goal, be like the other. Jerry almost kills himself in reach his goal, he is younger kid than the older kids on the rocky beach who can be under the water for a long time. They go under he water and comes up on the other side of the big rock, so there have to be a tunnel. Jerry goes down, but gets scared, so he practise a lot! At the end he does it, goes trough the tunnel, but almost kills himself.
40 comments:
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal. It also symbolizes that Jerry is very determined; he will almost kill himself just to prove to himself that he can do what the older boys can do. "To be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body." The tunnel also symbolizes him wanting to be like the older boys. I think on some level the tunnel symbolizes Jerry being lonely. He's lost his father, his mother and him don't seem to have that close of a relationship, he has no siblings, and the story never mentions any friends of his. I'm not surprised that he's jealous and wants to be apart of this big group of boys who all seem to be friends, so he'll do anything to be like them.
I totally agree with Louisa that the tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal. I also think that the tunnel symbolizes hard work, determination, perseverance, and a killer instinct. All of these involve an end product that is desired. All of the hard work and time spent on training helped jerry to get where he wanted to be. He had to put up with a major loss of blood but he didn't care, he persevered and powered through that tunnel with a will to conquer all obstacles in his way. He went in as a boy and came through the tunnel a different person, a young man that knows that you can have whatever you put your mind to.
BRANDON™
P.S. hard work pays off
i agree with both lousia and brandon. the tunnel represents a few things. for one it is a symbol of jerry and jerry fulfilling his life goal. jerry is just trying to prove to himself that he can accomplish anything. i think that it also symbolizes another part of everyone. i feel as though the tunnel is like the tunnel people see before they die. i think that jerry and the tunnel are like that, he is like a person who goes into this tunnel and supposedly the end is death. for jerry though the end is the very opposite it is his heaven his prize, it is the end of his journey and his journey has been a success.
The tunnel is a symbol because it was something that the english boy, Jerry strived to acomplish. The tunnel represented endurnce and personal growth. It showed how much he wanted to be like the older kids. I agree with Lousia and Brandon that he will do anything to reach this goal, even if that ment nose bleeding to death.
the whole event seemed to be plot for attention wich may be another way the tunnel is symbolized.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry, the English boy, who had accomplished his goal by going through the tunnel. It also symbolizes that he is strong minded about things. He went through a lot of trouble just to go through a tunnel to make him feel like he is like one of the older boys. Jerry was also very lonely so the tunnel also represents his loneliness because his father had died and his mom doesn’t really have much of connection with Jerry because they like and do different things. He also doesn’t seem to have any friends and no siblings so that’s another reason he may be lonely. I also agree with Brandon when he said that he thinks that the tunnel symbolizes hard work and determination because he was totally determined to go through the tunnel.
-Brianna<3
It is my sentiment that the tunnel in the story [ which Jerry later in the story swam through despite the imminent danger] “Through the Tunnel” symbolized Jerry’s resolution towards winning his social acceptance. Jerry [as I assumed based provided information in the book] was given the personality of a rather timid and dependant role in the story however he conquered his fears in order to attain the feeling of “ victory filling him.” The tunnel was also the obstacle for Jerry because he was so exasperated when he drove his new found acquaintances off. I doubt that he would be able to rest without swimming through the tunnel like the others
I think that the symbol here is the tunnel. this is because it symbolizes the devolpement of the main character. he is a man and that he is tough enough to take on the boys their and make them his bestfriend and shows them how its done. I also think the tunnel also symbolizes fact that he was jealious like louisa said. he is really wants to have friends, because of his father gone.
The tunnel is the obstacle that is presented to Jerry in this story. Jerry and his mother go to the beach and since Jerry doesn't really get along well with his mother he attempts to entertain himself. He finds some older local boys and promptly joins in on the activity. Jerry teaches himself how to breathe underwater for a longer amount of time, and suffers various nose bleeds. In the end Jerry goes "trough the tunnel" and fulfills his goal.
I think that the tunnel symbolizes determination in life. Jerry was a bit reluctant to just head out and cross underwater, but with practice and time he became confident and achieved his goal. Some people want to do things to fit in, like Jerry with the local French boys, but the important part is that you do it. Time was running out and Jerry's departure date was approaching, and even though he suffered from a large blood loss that day he stiff did what he originally set out to do
Jerry had been fascinated with tunnel and the older boys from the moment he saw them dive down and not return for two minutes. He saw the boys and the tunnel as "cool" and mature things. This fascination became an obsession, and then a goal that he felt he must reach. He really pushed, putting himself in danger along the way. The way he was approaching this goal was very adult. He had patience and a lot of motivation, and the process of preparing for the tunnel made him more mature and was a process of growing up. It was a symbol of maturity.
The tunnel acts like a symbol because in the end of the story Jerry accomplishes a goal. The tunnel symbolizesthe rewards you get for going through a struggle without giving up. When Jerry was swimming with the older boys he got scared when one was not coming back up for to minutes. Then when he dd he realized that he the boy could holdhis breath for that long. Jerry wanted to hold his breath for that long to so he practiced everyday and finally he could.
I think that the tunnel symbolizes the determination Jerry has. Its not only his determination to see whats through the tunnel, but also his determination to hold his breath under water, or to get the attention of the older boys at the beach. He starts out with the determination that is somewhat foolish; he has a determination that is like when little kids say "when i grow up, i want to be president." It seems like his mother agrees that its foolish, that he's doing all of this extreme swimming where he'll basically get no where, or just hurt himself. But Jerry stays determined to find this hole, and demands goggles.
Jerry keeps trying again and again to go find this tunnel. " Again he rose, took a big chestful of air, and went down. Again and again he groped the surface of of the rock, feeling it, almost hugging it in the desperate need to find the enterance." When he finds it, his determination grows, and he just counts the seconds of his breath-holding. All of this is just to get through a hole. He almost kills himself holding his breath for two minutes. He also ends up not asking his mom if he can go to the beach. All of this links back to the reason why he is determined. The tunnel.
Ari
“Through the Tunnel”
“He must go on into the blackness ahead, or he would drown. His head was swelling, his lungs cracking. A hundred and fifteen, a hundred and fifteen pounded through his head and he feebly clutched at rocks in the dark, pulling himself forward, leaving the brief space of sunlit water behind. He felt he was dying.” (p.8)
I think the tunnel symbolizes the struggle to grow up. A new born baby has to come through the "birth canal" so that he can be born. This story has a similar meaning, it’s just that the child is not being born, he’s turning into a man. This vacation is the first time that he is allowed to being alone and without his mom. He likes the feeling of independence and yet he’s wedded in the past. He misses his mom when he is by himself and it is only at the end of the story that he completes his individual task--he gets throw the tunnel on his own like the older boys who live on the island. He risks everything to get through. In a way, growing up is a kind of death of the kid he used to be.
The tunnel represents an obstacle that was blocking Jerry's path an that he had to overcome it. Jerry trained so hard every day he had constant nosebleeds and headaches and once he even blacked out. Every day Jerry took a really big rock down the water to help him stay put and hold his breath and steadily the amount of time he could hold his breath increased. eventually Jerry reached his goal of holding his breath for more than two minutes but that didn't him, he kept on training until he could hold his breath for longer until he knew he should have enough time to go through the tunnel. When Jerry finely went through the tunnel he thought he might die but that didn't stop him from going on so he kept pushing on until he finally got out and and accomplished the goal he had set for himself and felt relieved.
A tunnel can always represent a passage from point A to point B. In this sense it represents Jerry going from a boy to a man. Every boy becomes a man, but not every boy has an easy time becoming a man. It must be especially hard for Jerry considering the fact that his father is dead. He sees the boys that are almost men all accomplishing the challenge of the tunnel, and Jerry finds that to be an age marking. He accomplishes it after going through so much physical stress and finds he no longer wants the acceptance of the older boys because now he is a man. Overall, the tunnel represents the passage way of aging and its difficulty.
I think the tunnel symbolizes accomplishment and fulfilling your goals in life. Jerry was very determined to prove that he could be like the older boys and maybe even better. It seemed like he wanted to be of an individual and take care of himself too. This has got to be difficult for him because no one is giving him support and he does not seem to have much of a family besides his mother. The tunnel also represents growth. Jerry is a child before but when comes out of the tunnel he seems like more of a man.
The tunnel at first symbolizes a way to fit in because all the local boys were going into it. The thing Jerry really wanted to do was fit in. The main symbol of the tunnel was a goal. It made Jerry work very hard. He would hold his breath and just practice for days. The cool thing was he was making sure he could do it safely before he did it. Then his plans changed and he had to risk everything to satisfy his curiosity. He needed to reach his goal and during the whole story he persevered through the entire thing.
The tunnel symbolizes a goal that Jerry wants to pass. it also symbolizes a struggle in his life because it seems that he does not have many friends and he does not have a great life. It is a way to prove to himself that he can be like anyone especially like the older boys. he wanted to prove to himself that you cannot give up and that if you try hard then everything works out.
The tunnel in this story symbolizes persistence, effort, and success. Jerry makes going through the tunnel his main priority; his goal. During his holiday he makes going through the tunnel his life and gives it his all. He puts himself through pain and misery just to fulfill his goal or promise to himself. Jerry is a determined character. Most, after seeing blood on that scale would back away from this challenge, but Jerry doesn’t seem to care about the pain. He never gives up, he keeps on going at all costs. He put hard work into this project and got rewarded with the success that he desired.
Kai
The tunnel in the story is a long hole. It is sharp and full of rocks. The hole is dark and underwater. There are two ends, the entrance and exit.
***********************************
The tunnel symbolizes a problem. The water is the beginning of the problem where you can still go back. The entrance is the point of no return. The long dark and wet tunnel is the majority of the problem. In the story there was a small slit of light which was a false sense of hope. However, the false sense of hope allowed for Jerry to continue. The rocks and sharp edges and narrow paths was fear. The exit was hope and the other side of the water was the point of success. This success is Jerry's accomplishment and he does this so he can do what others can do as well. This is just to fit in. His mother and him are very loosely related and are distant. He apparently has no friends or family (no siblings) as well.
This means he will want to fit in with even the most distant crowd he's met just to be proud of himself.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry trying to get over an obstacle in his life but at the same time, growing up by doing it. As he sees some older boys swim through the tunnel, he feels compelled to do the same because he wants to be as good as them. I think Jerry is determined to go through the tunnel because he wants to feel more strong and independent about himself since he seems to always be with his mom. The tunnel symbolizes Jerry's growing up and reaching his goal no matter what it takes, by himself.
The tunnel to me symbolizes hardship and perseverance. Because of his age it seems he feels smaller than others and less capable of doing things that others around him can. This is why he feels the big necessity to do as the older boys did and achieve the act of getting through the tunnel. He seems to want to be considered as mature as he thinks he is and somehow getting through this tunnel will make that happen. Not in the eyes of his mother or in the eyes of the older boys but to him and his personal mind set. Jerry seems to be a boy of goals and through setting this goal in the end he would have to fulfill it.
pablo
pablo
I think the tunnel symbolizes a milestone in Jerry's life; about growing up. I say this because it was an accomplishment for him to get through the tunnel. And he never gave up he was always determined as people said. Also I think Jerry was going from being a 11 yr old boy to a 14 yr old teenager. There was a sense in the book when you could see parts where he was more mature. And the people around him think he's older or more responsible. ex: on the first page Jerry's mother feels he is more mature and responsible by simply thinking "of course he's old enough to be safe without me." That shows that his mother feels positive about him and how he acts.
In the story the tunnel symbolized accomplishing something or growing up. The tunnel also shows a great sense of insecurity in Jerry as if he wanted to prove something to himself even if it meant dying. I think the insecurity came from him not having a father and having a mother that is not so close to him. He feels like there is something missing in him and that there is something wrong with him. He wants to prove to himself that he is just as normal as those boys that were going through the tunnel, even if I means dying or getting really hurt. He really wanted to prove to himself that he is normal like the other kids.
the tunnel is very important in this story because it represent jerry's yearning to do what the older native boys can do. in the beginning he just wants to be like them but towards the end it seems like he just wants to prove that he can do it to himself
To me the tunnel is a symbol of hard work and acomplishing goals. By going through the tunnel it was as if Jerry was proving to himself that he could do anything. He is also proving to himself that he is tough and he is one if the big boys. Jerry is very determined, although reaching his goal was hard he still kept at it and at the end accomplishe his goal and proved to himself that he can do anything.
I agree with everyone when they say that the tunnel represents Jerry being ambitious and him having the determination to make it through the tunnel. But I also think that the tunnel represents growth or maturity. Djuna made a good point when she said that jerry saw going through the tunnel as something very cool or mature because he had seen the older boys do so. And I believe this to be true because usually, younger children try to emulate things seen or done by older people. So I think that the tunnel represents the want of growth from or by Jerry. His hard work and determination to make it through the tunnel is the exact drive that he would need later in life to strive for want he wants. And commencing with him going through this tunnel is a very good start. And I also agree with Brandon when he stated that hard work pays off, because it really does. And the pride that jerry got when he accomplished his goal was so overwhelming that he could not contain it from his mother. The tunnel really symbolized his strength and capacity to endure whatever he must in order to succeed.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry being very determined and not giving up. Everyday he practiced holding his breath no matter how dizzy he became or how much his nose bled. When he was inside the tunnel he pushed on and on until he was out even though he could have died. In the beginning of the story he wants to be with the big boys and feel big like them, but at the end of the story when he comes out of the tunnel he decides he doesn't need them and he moves on. So its almost like in the beginning of the story hes a young boy but at the end of the story he becomes, like Quitze said, a man
Summer Grace
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry's will to fit in and his determination. He was willing to suffer major blood loss just to show to the boys that he can fit in, and he is just as cool as them. Since he didn't have a very good relationship with his mom, it seemed that he wanted to be praised by his friends, so that he wouldn't be dependent on his mother. That's why he was so set on staying under water, despite the pain it caused him. I'm assuming he's not very popular because the story doesn't talk about his friends or family, other than his mom. He lost his father. That is reason enough to want approval from others. He really wants the approval of the boys. I think he believes that if he gains these boys approval, he can somehow gain his fathers approval as well, like hitting two birds with one stone.
In “Through the Tunnel”, I think the tunnel symbolizes Jerry’s will and determination to get through the hole. Jerry’s determination allowed him to achieve his goal and have the afterward satisfaction of overcoming something important to him. The extreme nosebleed afterwards showed he was willing to sacrifice his health, maybe even his life, to get through the tunnel.
The tunnel symbolizes and represents patience, determination, and perseverance. Jerry had to get through the tunnel or his goal wouldn't have been fulfilled. He started to want to go through the tunnel because he watched the older boys do it so he wanted to be cool and do it too. I know that feeling. If you watch an older kid do something really amazing, you see them as a role model and you want to do what they did too to feel important. In the beginning, Jerry was doing it for the older "role models" and towards the end I think this was doing something for himself. It is like in the beginning he is trying to be cool as a young child but towards the end he is more mature. He has started trying to get through it a few times and as he did it more and more he would feel proud of himself if he got through. He would risk dying just to fulfill his goal. That means it was a really important thing for him to do.
The tunnel symbolizes Jerry fulfilling his goal, and hard work.The tunnel works as a synbol because its a main part of the theme which is jerry fulfilling his goal to go threw the tunnel. It symblizes that the character is hard working, determine. But I also agre with Louisa that it symbolizes Jerry being lonely, because when Jerry was invited to join those boys to play he was happy even though they weren't paying attention to him. He ususally spends time with his mother but he felt that he was growing and didn't always need to be with his mom eve though he knew that his mom was lonely also. The story never talks about him with anyone else but his mother which is someone but eleven year olds need friends or someone their age to keep them company. So in away the water and tunnel is what kept him company.
The tunnel symbolizes adventure and a goal for Jerry to discover something that no one else may have discovered before. Jerry finding that tunnel there that day was destiny. It gave him the chance to try and succeed in something that he had a strong desire for. He went through days of hard work, days of pain to finally have courage to try and fulfill his dreams of one day going into the rock. When he achieved his goal, it was the most exciting and scarriest day of his life. Knowing that he did it left a scar of ourage, pride, and determination with him.
The tunnel symbolizes dedication, and being industrious. He kept working to get through the tunnel, and the result was almost dead many times. He is dedicated to getting through the tunnel, he was not going to give up, and fail, like many people said, his goal.
In Jerry's mind throughout this story, tells him that he is older than he is. At first he wants to be with the older boys when he is 11, and then hes turns into his regular age in the middle, and at the end, his mom makes him seem like a four year old, because she is very cautious. It just shows that your mind tells you that you want to be younger so you can do this, or you want to be older to do that.
The tunnel represents the endurance and determination of ones soul. When you really want something, you will stop at nothing to get it. Especially of it is a life long goal, then you definately want to go at it. The tunnel also can represent hard work and even focus. Jerry really wanted this, do he went after his goal. The key symbol of the tunnel is determination.
The tunnel symbolizes to grow up, reach a goal, be like the other. Jerry almost kills himself in reach his goal, he is younger kid than the older kids on the rocky beach who can be under the water for a long time. They go under he water and comes up on the other side of the big rock, so there have to be a tunnel. Jerry goes down, but gets scared, so he practise a lot! At the end he does it, goes trough the tunnel, but almost kills himself.
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