1. Coming of Age Literature
Common
Themes in
Coming of Age
Literature

2. Coming of age Synonym/Explanation Image/Example
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.

3. Loss of Idealism before after 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Dreaming of the future Synonym/Explanation Image/Example
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

9. 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.)

10. 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

11. 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

12. Initial (adj.) happening at the beginning [= first] Image/Example
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

13. 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.)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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.