The Cave and Physical Journeys

The study of the Physical Journeys in The Cave, is a revelation of the journey of the meaning of life - why are we here? Who am I?

There is the physical journey of an eight day survival camp with a group of 17 year old guys. The journey from base camp over 8 days is one filled with physical, social, moral, spiritual and emotional challenges culminating in the cave itself. It is a journey of self discovery.

Adolescence is a time of exploration where identity is fragile and vulnerable. It is a time when young people are searching for their spiritual, sexual, social, emotional place in the world. It is often an isolated journey as communication is risky, potentially threatening their concept of self. Literature can be a means of opening that communication. However The Cave is uncompromisingly honest, written in the language of youth today, confronting the journeys that they are confronting.

There is a strong tradition of powerful adolescent literature dealing with physical and emotional journeys - Lord of the Flies; Catcher in the Rye; Portnoy's Complaint. More recently the works of authors such as Paul Zindel, James Malone, Aidan Chambers, Phillip Gywnne tackle youth issues.

The Cave is brave new literature which explores construction of journey today. It acts as a case study where adolescents can slot themselves into the rites of passage of where they move from youth to adulthood and search for answers.

The Cave tackles issues such as:-

Leadership
Courage
Sexuality
Violence
Communications
Aspirations
Mateship
Self Knowledge

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Click on ' Reading Notes', then 'The Cave' for STUDY NOTES.