Common Themes in

Coming of AgeLiterature

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.

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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

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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 FamilyResilient (adj.)

Rite of Passage (n)

ExplanationA ritual marking culturally significant changes in an individual’s life cycle, such as birth, puberty, marriage, old age, and death

Image/ExampleA rite of passage that occurs at age 16 is ___________.

Word Familyritual

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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/ExampleI had an epiphany when I realized…

Word Family

Initial (adj.)Explanationhappening at the beginning [= first]

Image/ExampleMy initial reaction to the news was complete shock.

Word FamilyInitial phaseInitial stageInitial periodInitialsInitiation 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 FamilySelf-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/ExampleI took initiative when I….

• Word FamilyInitiationInitial

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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/ExampleMany teenagers try to conform to their friends by wearing the same clothes, shoes, and hairstyles.Word FamilyConform

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Alienation (n)

• Explanation• the feeling of not being

part of society or a group Image/ExampleIn this picture, the figure’s alienation is symbolized by his placement in a dark corner.Word FamilyAlienAlienate (v)

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Reconcile (v)

Definitionif you reconcile two

ideas, situations, or facts, you find a way in which they can both be true or acceptable

SentenceAs I grew up, I began to

reconcile the fact that people can be both good and bad at the same time.

What you want

What your parents want for you