Through the Tunnel
by Doris Lessing
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Focus: Symbolic
Meaning
Reading Skills: Re-reading and
Reading for Details
Through the Tunnel
by Doris Lessing
Through the Tunnel
Introducing the Story
Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being
free.
Paul Tillich (1886–1965)
Through the Tunnel
Introducing the Story
Jerry, the main character of this story, is a young
British boy vacationing on a foreign coast with his
mother.
• Exploring on his own, Jerry meets some local
boys who swim through a long underwater
tunnel in the rock.
• Although he is terrified of the tunnel, Jerry
becomes determined to swim through it.
[End of Section]
Through the Tunnel
Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning
A symbol is a person, place, thing, or event that
stands both for itself and for something beyond
itself.
scales
justice
heart
love
Through the Tunnel
Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning
A story often has its own unique symbols—
elements that suggest or reveal a special meaning
within the story.
catcher’s mitt
boy’s desire to follow
in the footsteps of his
father, a famous
baseball player
The symbolic
meaning of the
story emerges
from an overall
interpretation of
these symbols.
Through the Tunnel
Literary Focus: Symbolic Meaning
As you read ―Through the Tunnel,‖ look for
elements that could be symbolically significant.
Ask yourself the following:
• What idea or theme does this element seem to
represent?
• What does it tell you about the larger meaning
of the story?
[End of Section]
Through the Tunnel
Reading Skills: Re-reading and Reading for Details
Some stories need to be read more than
once. Re-reading a story may
• reveal important details or clues that you
missed during the first reading
• provide answers to questions that you have
about characters and events
• help you uncover the story’s core meaning
Through the Tunnel
Reading Skills: Re-reading and Reading for Details
Plan to read ―Through the Tunnel‖ twice. After
the first reading, ask yourself
• What puzzles me?
• What seems unclear?
The second time you read the story, look for
important details and answers to your questions.
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