In the following literature selections, individuals experience rites of passage in various ways:

Question

"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 Phillip Booth (Standard course only)
"On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins
"Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde
from My Forbidden Face by Latifa
"The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst (Standard course only)
"My Brother's Keeper" by Jay Bennett
from Riding the Bus with my Sister by Rachel Simon (Foundations course only)
Choose at least two 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.

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Answer 1

In the short story "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell, the main character, an unnamed teenage boy, faces a rite of passage as he navigates the complexities of adolescence and first love. The story takes place during a summer vacation, when the boy becomes infatuated with a girl named Sheila Mant. He believes that taking her on a date will mark his transition into adulthood, as he feels that he needs to prove himself to her and to himself.

Throughout the story, the boy struggles with the conflict between his love for fishing and his desire to impress Sheila. He goes on a canoe trip with her, but he also wants to catch a large bass that he has been pursuing for years. During the trip, the boy is faced with a choice: to impress and win over Sheila by keeping the line and potentially losing the fish, or to prioritize his passion for fishing and risk losing Sheila's interest.

This choice symbolizes the boy's transition from childhood to adulthood, as he must decide what is truly important to him. In the end, he chooses to let go of the fish, sacrificing his desire to catch it in order to keep Sheila entertained and interested. This decision represents his willingness to prioritize the potential future of his relationship with Sheila over his own personal desires.

Another rite of passage is depicted in the poem "On Turning Ten" by Billy Collins. The speaker in the poem reflects on the experience of reaching the age of ten and the realization that he is becoming older. The poem explores the bittersweet emotions that come with growing up, as the speaker mourns the loss of his childhood innocence and sense of wonder.

The speaker mentions specific details from his childhood, such as his belief in magical powers and his collection of toys. These details serve as reminders of the speaker's transition into adolescence, as he begins to let go of his imagination and embrace the realities of the adult world. The poem captures the universal experience of maturing and confronting the passage of time, as the speaker grapples with the conflicting emotions of excitement and nostalgia.

Both of these selections depict rites of passage that individuals go through as they navigate the complexities of growing up. Whether it is sacrificing personal desires to prioritize relationships or reflecting on the loss of childhood innocence, these experiences serve as milestones in the process of maturation.