n 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.

Answer 1

In "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant" by W.D. Wetherell, the main character, who remains unnamed, experiences a rite of passage involving both his love for fishing and his infatuation with Sheila Mant. Throughout the story, the character's love for fishing is established, and it serves as a symbol of his innocence and childhood. However, when he gets the chance to spend time with Sheila Mant, a popular and attractive girl, he faces a conflicting choice.

The character's rite of passage occurs when he is on a boat with Sheila Mant and realizes that he needs to choose between impressing her or saving the big bass he just caught. In this crucial moment, he decides to let go of the fish, recognizing that his passion for fishing will not impress Sheila. This decision symbolizes his transition from childhood, where his hobbies and interests were enough, to adolescence, where he feels the need to change himself to fit in and gain the acceptance of others.

Similarly, in "Oranges" by Gary Soto, the narrator experiences a rite of passage when he goes on a date with a girl for the first time. The narrator is a young boy who is nervous and unsure about what to do during the date. Throughout the poem, the narrator describes his anxiety about buying the girl oranges and candy, worrying about impressing her and not making any mistakes.

The rite of passage occurs when the narrator manages to navigate the date successfully. Despite his initial nervousness, at the end of the poem, he walks with the girl while holding her hand. This gesture signifies the narrator's growth and ability to overcome his fears and uncertainties associated with dating. It marks his transition from childhood, where he had no experience with romantic relationships, to adolescence, where he begins to explore and understand the complexities of love and interactions with the opposite sex.

In both of these literature selections, the characters face rites of passage that involve making choices and confronting their fears and insecurities. These experiences mark crucial moments of transition from childhood innocence to adolescence, where they learn to navigate the challenges and expectations of growing up.