Perfection In The Secret Lion By Alberto Rios

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Pages: 5
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Perfection is strongly emphasized, while imperfection is completely hidden away from sight. “The Secret Lion” by Alberto Rios contrasts with this notion. The protagonist and his close friend, Sergio, attend junior high school and do not understand how things change so quickly. As the boys mature, they realize that the elimination of things is more frequent than before. Imagination is the reason for unexpected learning, which is prominent in childhood. Moreover, the adults’ remarks affect the narrator’s views, leading him to believe that he is wrong. Lastly, the experiences of things being taken away makes one feel excluded for being unique. Therefore, the protagonist’s perception of perfection in his early years symbolizes his idealistic views, …show more content…
The main character and his friend explore an arroyo and they come across “a grinding ball... which [is]... a cannonball thing” (1). The protagonist observes the object as it is dropped and crushes everything in its way. His perception of the ball and the effects it has on the environment, allows him to infer that it is actually a grinding ball in use for mining. On another occasion, the boys go on an adventure to the mountains. “[They read]... books...about bridges and castles and wildtreacherousraging alligatormouth rivers” and expect to find them there (3). The desire to venture the mountains comes from the idea of these mystical creatures and settings the protagonist wants. The idealistic picture he has in mind inspires him to explore and later discover that the mountains holding these stories are merely just large hills. When they travel over the mountains, a beautiful view surprises them. “[They find] heaven” and stand in awe (3). The narrator explains how perfect heaven is as it represents his concept of perfection. Due to his strong attachment to this place, he soon learns that his heaven is really a golf course. Therefore, childhood is a time in life where imagination is important for gaining
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The Secret Lion Symbolism

Middle school and growing up can be terrifying and perplexing for any student. Symbolism plays a key role in describing the obstacles and process of surviving an awkward stage. The short story “The Secret Lion” by Alberto Rios chronicles the transition of a young boy from junior high into puberty. A young boy and his best friend Sergio notice the change in the atmosphere of their school environment. The boys realize that there are now multiple teachers and girls are not as approachable. According…

Words 690 - Pages 3