In the following literature selections, individuals experience rites of passage in various ways:
"The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell
"Oranges" by Gary Soto
from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
“First Lesson” by Philip Booth
"On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins
"Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde
from My Forbidden Face by Latifa
Shelf Life by Gary Paulsen
“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
"Memory" by Lucille Clifton
"The Courage That My Mother Had" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
"Lineage" by Margaret Walker
"My Brother's Keeper" by Jay Bennett
Choose at least three of the selections above and write about the rites of passage that individuals in the selections confront. Provide evidence by including names of characters as well as specific details from the text to support your claim.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell, the protagonist faces a rite of passage as he navigates his first crush and experiences the disappointment of sacrificing his passions for love. The character, referred to as the narrator, is an adolescent boy who becomes infatuated with a girl named Sheila Mant. He believes that taking her out on a date will impress her and cement his place in her life. However, during their date, the narrator catches a large bass, which becomes a point of conflict for him. He struggles with whether to prioritize Sheila's opinion or his love for fishing. The narrator ultimately chooses to sacrifice the bass and lets it go, representing his transition from childhood innocence to the complexities of teenage life and the importance of making choices.
In "Oranges" by Gary Soto, the protagonist undergoes a rite of passage as he experiences a transformative first date and the emotions that come with it. The character, a young boy, goes on a date with a girl he likes and feels immense pressure to impress her. As the date progresses, the protagonist encounters obstacles such as paying for the girl's fruit, navigating tense encounters with her family, and facing his own anxieties and insecurities. However, by the end of the poem, the protagonist displays growth and maturity as he reflects on the sweet and memorable moments from their date, highlighting his transition from childhood into the confusion and excitement of adolescence.
In "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst, the main character confronts a rite of passage in the form of sibling love and the consequences of his actions. The story centers around a young boy, referred to as Brother, and his younger brother, Doodle, who is born with a physical disability. Brother initially feels embarrassed and ashamed by Doodle's condition, but eventually grows to care deeply for him. As the story progresses, Brother pushes Doodle to overcome his limitations, teaching him how to walk, run, and swim. However, in his desire to make Doodle more "normal," Brother pushes him too far and ultimately causes Doodle's death. This tragic event forces Brother to confront the cruelty of his actions and the realization that his treatment of Doodle stemmed from his own pride and desire to conform to societal expectations. Through this haunting tale, the character experiences a rite of passage that awakens him to the power and consequences of his actions, leading to a deep sense of regret and maturity.
These selections demonstrate the diverse ways in which individuals wrestle with rites of passage, whether it be the sacrifice of personal passions for love, the complexities of first dates and adolescence, or the consequences of one's actions on loved ones.
To answer this question, we need to select at least three literature selections and examine the rites of passage experienced by the individuals in those selections. Let's choose "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell, "Oranges" by Gary Soto, and "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst.
1. "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell:
In this story, the main character is a young boy who experiences a rite of passage when he is faced with a choice between impressing a girl, Sheila Mant, and pursuing his passion for fishing. The rite of passage for him is the decision between following his own interests or altering himself to gain the attention of someone he admires. The specific details from the text that support this claim include the boy's internal struggle as he tries to keep both his love for fishing and his desire to impress Sheila:
"Caught in the middle, I struggled for a compromise. I decided to play both fishermen and date, using skill to hook her with my success on the river. Exhilarated, I gathered my pathetic gear, the pole, the creel and the paddles and turned my canoe home."
2. "Oranges" by Gary Soto:
In this poem, the speaker experiences a rite of passage during a date with a girl he likes. He goes on a journey that represents his transition from childhood to adolescence, with the poem's specific details highlighting this transformative experience. For example:
"I peeled my orange
that was so bright against
the gray of December
that, from some distance,
someone might have thought
I was making a fire in my hands."
The act of peeling the orange symbolizes the shedding of the speaker's innocence and the beginning of his journey into adulthood.
3. "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst:
In this emotionally charged story, the narrator's younger brother, Doodle, experiences a rite of passage as he strives to overcome his physical disabilities and prove himself to his brother. The story showcases the challenges Doodle faces in learning to walk and becoming more independent. The specific details from the text that support this claim include Doodle's determination to push his physical limits and his brother's efforts to train and teach him:
"I wanted more than anything else someone to race to Horsehead Landing, someone to box with, and someone to perch with in the top fork of the great pine behind the barn, where across the fields and swamps you could see the Sea."
Doodle's desire to have the abilities of a typical child demonstrates his journey to overcome his limitations and participate in activities that are usually associated with rites of passage.
By examining these three literature selections, we can see the rites of passage experienced by the individuals in each piece and how specific details from the text support those claims.
Based on the provided literature selections, three examples of individuals experiencing rites of passage are "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell, "Oranges" by Gary Soto, and "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist, an unnamed young boy, confronts a rite of passage related to his personal growth and understanding of love. He is infatuated with Sheila Mant, a girl who seems out of his league. However, during a boat outing, the boy catches a large bass, which presents him with a dilemma. He must choose between impressing Sheila by keeping the fish or releasing it to preserve the bass's life. This moment signifies the boy's transition from innocence to maturity as he prioritizes his values over superficial desires. The text states, "And so I took the knife and cut the line and watched my bass swim away" (Wetherell). This decision reflects the boy's understanding and acceptance of the sacrifices required in relationships.
In "Oranges" by Gary Soto, the protagonist, also unnamed, experiences a rite of passage related to his first romantic encounter. The young boy embarks on a date with a girl, where they walk through a grocery store and purchase oranges. Throughout the outing, the boy grapples with uncertainty, self-consciousness, and the pressure to impress his companion. As they enjoy their oranges together, a moment of connection and intimacy is shared, as shown by the text stating, "We touched.
The tips of our tongues danced together" (Soto). This experience represents the boy's coming-of-age journey as he navigates the complexities of young love, exploring both physical and emotional connections.
In "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst, the characters of Doodle (the narrator's younger brother) and the narrator himself confront a rite of passage relating to disability and acceptance. Doodle is born with physical limitations that prevent him from leading a typical life. The narrator, driven by embarrassment and pride, pushes Doodle beyond his limits to make him "normal." However, in a tragic turn of events, Doodle collapses and dies after struggling to keep up with the narrator during a storm. This event represents a harsh awakening for the narrator, who realizes the consequences of his misguided actions. It symbolizes his passage from selfishness to remorse and empathy. The text mentions, "They did not know that I did it for myself, that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother" (Hurst). This passage depicts the narrator's journey towards understanding and accepting the unique qualities of his brother, ultimately leading to a deep sense of regret.
These examples from "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," "Oranges," and "The Scarlet Ibis" showcase how individuals navigate rites of passage related to personal growth, love, and acceptance. The characters within these stories undergo transformative experiences that shape their understanding of themselves and their connection to others.