In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell and "Oranges" by Gary Soto, the characters in both selections confront rites of passage that significantly impact their lives.
In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant," the protagonist, the narrator, experiences a rite of passage as he navigates the complex territory of adolescence and first love. The story follows his struggle to balance his love for fishing and his admiration for Sheila Mant, a popular and attractive girl. The narrator's coming-of-age moment occurs when he has to make a difficult decision between holding onto the trophy bass he catches and impressing Sheila, or sacrificing the fish to impress her and potentially win her over. The narrator ultimately decides to let the bass go, realizing that his passion for fishing outweighs his desire to impress Sheila. This decision represents his transition from trying to fit into the expectations of others to embracing his true identity and following his own passions.
In "Oranges," the main character, a young boy, experiences a rite of passage on his first date. Throughout the story, the boy is nervous and unsure of how to behave on this important occasion. His anxiety is apparent, as the narrator mentions his sweaty palms and shaky hands. The significance of the boy's rite of passage emerges when he uses his scarce money to buy his date a gift, an act that demonstrates his desire to impress her and make her happy. The boy's naivety and innocence are depicted through his concern about pantyhose and how he is unsure about proper gift-giving etiquette. However, by the end of their date, when the boy holds the girl's hand and realizes she doesn't mind, he gains a newfound sense of confidence and self-assurance. This experience marks his transition from a boy to a young man, as he successfully navigates the challenges of a first date.
Overall, "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" and "Oranges" portray the transformative moments in the characters' lives as they confront their respective rites of passage. Through their experiences, they learn valuable lessons about identity, independence, and the importance of staying true to oneself.
“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
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.
3 answers
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