Final answer:
The theme of teaching a boy to be a man is depicted through literature and art, emphasizing the experiences of overcoming challenges and embodying strength, alongside cultural ideals of masculinity. These themes are conveyed through a boy's journey toward facing life's adversities, engaging with the world, and seeking knowledge and independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of teaching a boy to be a man is illustrated through several literary examples that depict a boy's path to masculinity and adulthood. These instances show boys being placed in challenging situations or dealing with the complexities of life, suggesting that manhood is associated with facing adversities or embodying certain cultural ideals of strength, knowledge, and power.
For instance, the quote 'While the west wind blew its tidings, filling his heart full, teaching him a man's part' suggests that experiencing and overcoming the storms of life, metaphorically speaking, is a crucial part of a boy's journey to becoming a man. Similarly, the artwork 'Man Kicking the World' symbolizes the readiness to engage with the world's challenges alongside an acknowledgment of the potential uncertainties inherent in such an engagement.
In addition, familiar narratives of boys learning important skills or achieving independence, such as studying Chinese works on astronomy or preparing to leave for a far-off country to make one's power felt, represent the societal expectations placed on boys to gain knowledge and learn self-reliance.