Through the Tunnel Group

Question:

hefalumps-w00zlz
hefalumps-w0...
Student
High School - 11th Grade

A ticking clock is good for adding suspense. What device does Lessing use to create a sort of "ticking clock" that increases our anxiety?

its about the story "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing

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Posted by hefalumps-w00zlz on Thursday February 5, 2009 at 12:27 PM and tagged with suspense, through the tunnel.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    There are two ways Lessing creates a "ticking-clock" effect in the story. The first is the realization by Jerry that he must learn to hold his breath at least two minutes. Each day he counts the number of second he can stay underwater. "Fifty-one, fifty-two...His chest was hurting" The counting intensifies the feeling of time passing by. In addition, Jerry is up against a time deadline because he knows he and his mother will leave the seashore at some time and he will not be back until the next year. Therefore, he is in a hurry to learn to hold his breath so he can accomplish his task before he and his mother return home. Both of these techniques suggest time passing quickly for Jerry. It's the time he has left of childhood before he begins growing into a young adult.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/through-tunnel/

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Thursday February 5, 2009 at 1:07 PM