Rites Of Passage In The Speedy Messenger

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The Speedy Messenger was a tall tale about a young man that experienced extensive character development by gaining the ability to transform in many different animals, but also was held captive by the Sea King for three years. This tall tale expressed the anthropomorphic idea of rites of passage and initiation of transforming from a naïve young man to an experienced, fully grown man. Semyon was a well written character that had complete character development both mentally and physically in his journey. From the beginning of the story, it was well supported that Semyon was a young person. He was sometimes referred to as “little Semyon” (Afanasʹev 124). This choice of name emphasizes that he was not only the youngest of his brothers, but he was …show more content…

The transitions in a rites of passages can occur once or multiple times and is a gradual process. There were things that are characteristic of the rites of passage that Semyon endured. When Semyon was granted the wish to become part of the King’s army, the hermits gave him the ability to transform into a stag, a hare and a golden headed bird. His rights of passage involved required him to be chased by his brothers and his father. When he became fatigued and he would return back to the hermits, they would transform him into a smaller and faster …show more content…

When Semyon completed the task, he was promoted from his position of a young, inexperienced soldier, to a incredibly skilled soldier that in the near future will have a large sum of money from the King and his daughter as a wife. Semyon adapted to the environment and was wise in his ability to be versatile and change into his different forms to complete the tasks that he was ordered to do. Semyon knew that he needed to acquire the King’s weapons as quickly as possible so he knew through experience that he was faster in his animal forms so he transformed into them to complete the task that was given by the

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