Coming of age stories tend to follow a similar formula: Protagonist starts out a child and through a series of trials and hardships, he or she becomes an adult. Just imagine the "taking the next steps on the journey of life" cliché found in every graduation speech ever, and you've got the coming-of-age theme in a longwinded nutshell. "Eleven," we are happy to say, is unique here. In this story, the coming of age process isn't about being one type of person (a child) and then suddenly becoming another (adult); instead, this short story views growing up as a cumulative process. You can never escape childhood, as that child you were will always be a part of you, sometimes the most important part of you. But other times, you'll wish you could escape, which is the crossroads Rachel arrives to in this story.
Questions About Coming of Age
- Why do you think Rachel wants to be 102? What does this tell you about how Rachel views getting older? What about the story's use of coming of age?
- What do Rachel's comments about Sylvia and Phyllis suggest to you about coming of age?
- What do Mrs. Price and Rachel's relationship say to you about the theme of coming of age?
Chew on This
Rachel's thoughts provide a unique spin on the traditional coming-of-age story. Although she acts in a way that might seem childish, her thoughts on the incident are mature for someone her age.
In a bit of role reversal, Mrs. Price's character provides a great foil for Rachel. Although she is an adult, her insistence on her total correctness is a pretty childish way to act.