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Common Themes in Coming of Age Literature. Coming of age. Synonym/Explanation Growing up The mental transformation from childhood to adulthood. Image/Example The O.C. is a coming of age television show that focuses on the lives of teenagers growing up in California. Loss of Idealism.
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Common Themes in Coming of Age Literature
Coming of age • Synonym/Explanation • Growing up • The mental transformation from childhood to adulthood. • Image/Example • The O.C. is a coming of age television show that focuses on the lives of teenagers growing up in California.
Loss of Idealism • Synonym/Explanation • Destruction of a false sense of security • May start to expect the worst from others • Loss of faith in dreams • Image/Example • The girl thought her father could protect her from anything, but his death shattered her idealism. before after
Desire for Independence • Synonym/Explanation • (From parents), want to make own decisions, want to be able to do things on your own • Image/Example • For many teens, a car = independence
Search for Identity/Acceptance • Synonym/Explanation • Desire to belong to and feel accepted by a group, may feel lonely or isolated • Search for answers to the question “Who am I?” • Image/Example • Teenagers struggle to feel accepted, but remain unique.
Changing Attitudes and Values • Synonym/Explanation • What is important to character changes • Image/Example • Once he was accepted at tech school, John stopped playing soccer and started concentrating on his trade.
Testing the Waters • Synonym/Explanation • Trying out new things, seeing what you can get away with • Image/Example • Though her curfew was 12:00, Suzy kept testing the waters by coming home later and later
Dreaming of the future • Synonym/Explanation • Asking…What will my life as an adult be like? What do I want to do when I “grow up”? how will my life be different from my parents’? • Image/Example
Resilience (n) • Explanation • able to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event • “bounce back” • Image/Example • I am amazed by the resilience of the hurricane victims. Word Family Resilient (adj.)
Rite of Passage (n) Explanation A ritual marking culturally significant changes in an individual’s life cycle, such as birth, puberty, marriage, old age, and death Image/Example A rite of passage that occurs at age 16 is ___________. Word Family ritual http://www.dmv.org/templates/html/db4/img/icons/drivers-license-&-id-big.gif
Epiphany (n) • Explanation moment of understanding or clarity in which a person comes to gain a new understanding about him or herself or the world around him/her Image/Example I had an epiphany when I realized… Word Family
Initial (adj.) Explanation happening at the beginning [= first] Image/Example My initial reaction to the news was complete shock. Word Family Initial phase Initial stage Initial period Initials Initiation http://www.motivatedentrepreneur.com/i/uploads/synergy_large.gif
Self-Reliant (adj.) • Explanation • Able to decide what to do by yourself, without depending on the help or advice of other people • Image/Example • Ellen Foster learned to be self-reliant at an early age Word Family Self-Reliance (n) Reliable (adj.) http://www.titusagbara.com/self_reliance.jpg
Initiative (n) • Explanation The ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do • Image/Example I took initiative when I…. • Word Family Initiation Initial http://www.desktoprating.com/wallpapers/sports-wallpapers-pictures/nike-wallpaper.jpg
Conformity (n) • Explanation • behavior that obeys the accepted rules of society or a group, and is the same as that of most other people Image/Example Many teenagers try to conform to their friends by wearing the same clothes, shoes, and hairstyles. Word Family Conform
Alienation (n) • Explanation • the feeling of not being part of society or a group Image/Example In this picture, the figure’s alienation is symbolized by his placement in a dark corner. Word Family Alien Alienate (v)
Reconcile(v) Definition if you reconcile two ideas, situations, or facts, you find a way in which they can both be true or acceptable Sentence As I grew up, I began to reconcile the fact that people can be both good and bad at the same time.