A Separate Peace

Get ready for yourquiz over Chapters 1-3 of

By John Knowles

Announcements: No vocab this week.Essay peer edit on block day. Bring a typed rough draft!

A Separate Peace Pacing

• 4-5 due Friday, May 17th

• 6-8 due Monday, May 20th

• 9-11 due on Block Day, May 22nd/23rd

• 12-13 due on Friday, May 24th

Test over A Separate Peace on May 29/30

About the Author

John Knowles John Knowles

• Born in West Virginia on Born in West Virginia on September 16, 1926September 16, 1926

• Knowles was educated at Knowles was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, which Phillips Exeter Academy, which served as a model for the setting served as a model for the setting of of A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace. .

• A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace was Knowles’ was Knowles’ first work, which earned him the first work, which earned him the Rosenthal Award of the National Rosenthal Award of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. This Institute of Arts and Letters. This established Knowles as a established Knowles as a successful author. successful author.

Phillips Exeter Academy • Devon School, the setting of Devon School, the setting of A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace, is based , is based heavily on the Phillips Exeter Academy.heavily on the Phillips Exeter Academy.

Phillips Exeter Academy

The Victory CorpsThe Victory Corps•During WWII, schools emphasized physical fitness to prepare their male students for war.

•The boarding schools would participate in “Victory Corps.”

•This required students to participate in war oriented extracurricular activities and home front volunteer projects.

1940s Prep School Elitism1940s Prep School Elitism•1940s prep schools were viewed as elitist “clubs”

•They were meant for the children of the very wealthy, and these children were often disconnected from society and shielded from reality.

Historical Context World War II

• Began in 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland, and officially Began in 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland, and officially ended in August 1945, when the Japanese surrendered. ended in August 1945, when the Japanese surrendered.

• A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace takes place during the summer of 1942, takes place during the summer of 1942, directly in the center of World War II. directly in the center of World War II.

In America:In America:

In order to cope with the war, America instituted rations on In order to cope with the war, America instituted rations on books, sugar, coffee, and other goods. books, sugar, coffee, and other goods.

• To conserve gasoline, a national 35 MPH speed limit was To conserve gasoline, a national 35 MPH speed limit was implemented, and driving for pleasure was banned. implemented, and driving for pleasure was banned.

•By the summer of 1942, many Americans realized that the war By the summer of 1942, many Americans realized that the war was far from over. was far from over.

The Draft• FDR signed the Selective Service & Training Act in 1940.

• It required all men sign up for selective service upon turning 18. These men could be called to war at anytime if their draft card was selected.

• The draft for WWII lasted from 1940-1943. Of the 50 million registered, 10 million were inducted into the military.

Literary Context

• A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace belongs to a genre of belongs to a genre of literature called literature called Bildungsroman. Bildungsroman. This translates This translates to “a novel of formation.” This is a German term to “a novel of formation.” This is a German term which describes a novel whose main character which describes a novel whose main character matures over time, usually from childhood. matures over time, usually from childhood.

•a coming of age novel that represents the psychological, moral & social maturation of the protagonist.

• Similar to Similar to Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies, , Jane Eyre, or To Kill a Jane Eyre, or To Kill a Mockingbird, A Separate PeaceMockingbird, A Separate Peace deals with deals with children coming to terms with their identity and children coming to terms with their identity and what role they play in the world.what role they play in the world.

Main Themes

Internal and external conflicts.Internal and external conflicts.

The plot is dominated by Gene’s progression toward maturity.The plot is dominated by Gene’s progression toward maturity.

What is percieved versus what is the truth?What is percieved versus what is the truth?

The duality of man (good and evil inside all of us)The duality of man (good and evil inside all of us)

The relationship between war and peace.The relationship between war and peace.

The backdrop of the war plays a vital role in the novel.The backdrop of the war plays a vital role in the novel.

The nature of friendship.The nature of friendship.

The relationship between Gene and Finny is the novel’s focus.The relationship between Gene and Finny is the novel’s focus.

The power of guilt and jealousy.The power of guilt and jealousy.

People’s ability to change. People’s ability to change.

Is change really possible?Is change really possible?

What Is An Archetype, What Is An Archetype, Again?Again?

• Archetypes are recurring patterns (plot structures, symbols, character types, themes) that occur in mythology, religion, and stories across cultures and time periods.

Archetypal Settings and Archetypal Settings and SymbolsSymbols

Water: the mystery of creation; the life cycle (birth-death-resurrection); purification and redemption

The Sea: the mother of all life; death and rebirth; the unconscious

Archetypal Settings and Archetypal Settings and SymbolsSymbols

The Underworld: a place of death; represents an encounter with the dark side of the self

Archetypal Settings and Archetypal Settings and SymbolsSymbols

Tree: inexhaustible life due to its growth, proliferation, and generative and regenerative processes; wisdom

Situational ArchetypesSituational Archetypes

The Fall: a descent from a higher to a lower state of being, from innocence and bliss to loss–often accompanied by an expulsion from paradise

Archetypal CharactersArchetypal Characters

• The Christ figure – a sacrificial, blameless person who takes on the sins of a community.

• The Judas/betrayer – The person who turns on the Christ figure for personal gain.

Situational ArchetypesSituational Archetypes

The Ritual: Ceremonies that mark the rite of passage into another state.

– Sacrificial– Initiation– Coming of Age