Name __________________________________________A Separate PeaceIntroductory Notes

John Knowles Attended private academy Joined Army Air Force Attended Yale

* Experiences are similar to Gene in the novel

Writing Career Student journalist @ Yale Free-lance writer Short stories Magazine editor 8 other novels (not as popular) lectures Encouraged by Thorton Wilder to write about personal experiences

Common Traits Craftsmanship of detail Local atmosphere Affluent Americans Themes of greed, competitiveness and emotional repression

A Separate Peace Knowles’s first novel Published in 1959 Written with a loose basis of personal experience War is in the background – not as important as the students are

Setting WWII Devon School – private boys’ boarding school in New England Based on Exeter Academy, attended by Knowles

(schools are physically similar; some events are mimicked) Peaceful, collegiate-style setting

(Contrast to Gene’s inner battles)

Gene Forrester- protagonist and narrator- antagonist – his own worst enemy- a type-A, high-achieving, rule follower- envious of Finny

John Knowles claims he is not a character, but he had small influences on each of them

Phineas (Finny)- Gene’s roommate at Devon- a type-B, easy-going person- natural athlete- admired by all (students and teachers alike)- spontaneous

Minor Characters Edwin Lepellier (Leper)

- fellow student; quiet and shy

Brinker Hadley- class leader

Mr. Prud’homme, Mr. Patch-Withers, Mr. Ludsbury -Teachers at Devon

The Novel’s Themes Coming-of-age (growing up) The pain of growing up The struggles of adolescence Understanding one’s role in the world Identity (who am I?) Inner demons Jealousy The damage of war

Name __________________________________________A Separate PeaceIntroductory Notes

John Knowles Attended private academy Joined Army Air Force Attended ______________

* Experiences are similar to Gene in the novel

Writing Career Student journalist @ Yale Free-lance writer Short stories Magazine editor 8 other novels (not as popular) lectures Encouraged by Thorton Wilder to write about personal experiences

Common Traits Craftsmanship of detail Local atmosphere Affluent Americans Themes of ________________, competitiveness and _______________ repression

A Separate Peace Knowles’s first novel Published in ___________ Written with a loose basis of ________________________________ ____________ is in the background – not as important as the students are

Setting WWII _________________________ – private boys’ boarding school in New England Based on Exeter Academy, attended by Knowles

(schools are physically similar; some events are _________________________) Peaceful, collegiate-style setting

(Contrast to Gene’s _________________________ _________________________)

Gene Forrester- protagonist and narrator- _________________________ – his own worst enemy- a type-A, high-achieving, rule follower- _________________________ of Finny

John Knowles claims he is not a character, but he had _________________________ _________________________ on each of them

Phineas (_________________________)- Gene’s _________________________ at Devon- a type-B, easy-going person- natural athlete- admired by all (students and teachers alike)- _________________________

Minor Characters Edwin Lepellier (_________________________)

- fellow student; quiet and shy

_________________________ Hadley- class leader

Mr. _________________________, Mr. Patch-Withers, Mr. _________________________-Teachers at Devon

The Novel’s Themes _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ (growing up) The pain of growing up The struggles of _________________________ Understanding one’s role in the world _________________________ (who am I?) Inner demons _________________________ The damage of war

Name ____________________________________ A Separate Peace

Chapter 1 Due _____1. Where does the novel take place?

2. How did his old school look to the narrator?

3. What emotion did the narrator say he was surrounded with while attending the school?

4. What two particular places did the narrator want to see?

5. What is convalescence (3)? Define the word. Explain why it is an odd word choice here.

6. Explain this statement: “Nothing endures, not a tree, not love, not even a death by violence” (6)

7. Explain the double meaning of this statement: “Anybody could see it was time to come in out of the rain” (6).

8. Describe Phineas.

9. What year does the flashback take us to?

10. What have the boys heard about the tree?

11. Why are the seniors called draft-bait”? (7) Explain.

12. Compare Phineas and Gene’s reactions to their first jumps from the tree. What does this tell us about their personalities?

13. Name several of the excuses the other boys give for not jumping out of the tree.

14. What does Gene mean when he says he becomes Phineas’s collaborator? Define this word and explain its use.

15. Explain the following statement: “when we were sure we were too late for dinner, we broke off” (11).

Chapter 2 Due _____1. Why does Mr. Prud’homme stop at Gene and Finny’s door?

2. How many meals had Gene and Finny missed in the last two weeks?

3. Explain the following idea: “The Master was slipping from his official position momentarily, and it was just possible...that there might be a flow of simple, unregulated friendliness between them, and such flows were one of Finny’s reasons for living” (15).

4. What explanation does Finny give for jumping out of the tree?

5. How and why did the Masters treat the students differently that summer? Explain.

6. What will Finny wear as his “emblem”?

7. Why does Gene envy Finny?

8. At the traditional tea, what happens which causes Gene to think, “This time he isn’t going to get away with it” (20)? Does he?

9. Why is Gene stabbed with disappointment? Explain.

10. Explain what the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session is.

11. What happens that causes Gene to say, “Finny had practically saved my life” (24)?

Chapter 3 Due _____1. Why does Gene believe he doesn’t need to feel any gratitude toward Finny for “practically saving” his life?

2. What rule does Finny make up for the SSSSS “without notice” (25)?

3. How does Gene feel about jumping from the tree?

4. What does Gene tell us about Phineas that makes him the opposite of Gene?

5. State some of the rules of Blitzball. Who makes up the game and the rules?

6. Explain what the Lepellier Refusal is and how it became part of Blitzball.

7. What are some of Gene’s memories of the war? How was he affected by the war?

8. What swimming record does Finny break? What does Gene want to do about it? Finny?

9. Why does Gene describe his reaction to Finny’s refusal to officially break the swimming record as “shock” (37)?

10. When Finny suggests he and Gene go to the beach, what negatives go through Gene’s mind?

11. When Finny tells Gene that he is his best friend, how does Gene respond? What is the “Truth” that perhaps stops Gene. Explain.

Chapter 4 Due _____1. When Gene wakes up on the beach, he sees dawn and says, “It began not as the gorgeous fanfare over the

ocean I had expected, but as a strange gray thing, like sunshine seen through burlap” (41). What is the deeper significance of this realization?

2. Does Gene return in time for his test? How does he do?

3. What goal is Gene working toward? Why?

4. Define “enmity.” Then explain, “You and Phineas are even already. You are even in enmity.” (45).

5. Why does Gene think Phineas had “Deliberately set out to wreck” (45) his studies? Why does this thought make Gene feel better?

6. Why does Gene decide that he and Finny are even?

7. Explain “…It was what you had in your heart that counted…He was no better than I was, no matter who won all of the contests” (48).

8. When Gene is angry about Finny’s announcement that Lepellier will jump out of the tree that evening, what response does Finny have? Explain.

9. Explain Gene’s realization, “I was not of the same quality as he” (51).

10. Why does Finny want to jump side by side?

11. Describe what occurs on the limb before Finny fell.

12. Why is Gene cleansed of all fear after Finny falls?13.

Chapter 5 Due _____1. What happened to Finny after he fell from the tree? Why does Gene think it is natural for everyone to talk to

him about Finny?

2. Explain why he thinks that the schoolmasters feel especially saddened by Finny’s accident?

3. What bothered Gene about people’s perceptions of Finny’s accident?

4. Why does Gene put on Finny’s clothes?

5. Why do you think Gene inquires so much about how Finny’s feeling emotionally, before visiting him?

6. What does the doctor tell Gene about Finny’s activities and what he (Gene) must do as a friend? What is ironic about this?

7. Explain your understanding of the reasons Gene said he cried after speaking to Finny’s doctor.

8. Why does Gene accuse Finny of trying to pull him down as he was falling out of the tree?

9. What remark does Finny make about Gene’s facial expression when on the tree limb? Why is this recognition of the look both important and scary to Gene?

10. Why does Finny apologize to Gene? Why doesn’t Gene tell Finny the truth when he has the chance?

11. Before going back to school, Gene visits Finny. Despite the lack of change in Finny’s condition, what dos Gene realize?

12. Why does Gene have a problem with having to reveal his secret to Finny at his home?

13. Why do you think Finny refuses to accept the truth of the accident? Explain what Gene realizes he has done to Finny again.

Chapter 6 Due _____1. Explain what was stressed at the opening sermon of the Winter session. What does Gene feel is false about

this?

2. What are some differences between the summer and winter sessions at Devon?

3. Who is the first person Gene sees at the Crew house? What are people’s perceptions about this person?

4. Define a “sinecure.” What kind of job is Gene’s compared to this? Why? Explain the rights and status of this job and how they apply to Gene.

5. For whom are jobs like Gene’s reserved? Why do you think Gene takes this job?

6. Why does Gene fight with Quackenbush?

7. Who is Mr. Ludsbury and why is he upset? What is Gene’s non-voiced reaction to his disappointment?

8. How does Finny relate Gene’s failure to take another roommate to the impossibility of his confessions?

9. What is the importance of Finny’s shame at even thinking Gene might take another roommate?

10. What is Finny’s reaction to Gene’s job? What realization does Gene come to at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 7 Due _____1. Why is it fitting for Gene to have been thrown into the Naguamsett when he was?

2. Of what does Brinker accuse Gene? Both boys say “the truth will out.” What does each mean concerning this statement?

3. Describe the Butt Room and the many faces of Devon. What is the school’s policy with this?

4. What seems to be happening in the Butt Room? What was Gene’s fake confession, and why do you think he did this?

5. Why do you think Gene tells all of those lies before he begins to tell the truth to the boys?

6. What is the perception of the war to the boys at Devon? Why?

7. As Gene takes a shortcut through the meadow, whom does he see and what is he wearing? What is the difference between his style of skiing and the other of which he speaks?

8. Why is Brinker frustrated with Leper’s actions?

9. What does Brinker reveal to Gene? Why does this excite him?

10. What does Gene always find in things he likes? Explain how this relates to Finny?

11. Who does Gene see when he comes back to his dorm? Why have the day’s activities and thoughts faded?

Chapter 8 Due _____1. What realization about war has Gene made (because he was at school) that Finny hasn’t?

2. Why do you think Finny’s presence makes Gene feel like he needs to start praying again?

3. What is the ultimate question for 17 year-olds?

4. What is Finny’s reaction to Gene’s thoughts of enlisting? Why? Why, after this, does the war mean very little to Gene?

5. Explain how and why peace had come back to Devon for Gene.

6. Describe what Gene notices about Finny as they are going to class.

7. What does Finny want to do as they get to class? Why? Where did they go?

8. What does Finny do before going into the gym? Why? Why does Gene say that Finny is a poor deceiver?

9. Why do sports seem less important now in wartime?

10. Explain the story Finny tells about historical events and how these relate to his idea of the war being fake.

11. Compare Finny’s attitude toward the war from the beginning to now. Why has it changed?

12. For what is Finny training Gene? Why?

Chapter 9 Due _____1. What is significant in Leper’s change of heart toward the war (why does he go from con to pro-war)?

2. Compare Leper’s leaving Devon for the war to what Brinker would have done.

3. What did the boys do with the idea of Leper at war? Why didn’t Finny take part in this?

4. What are some of the reasons Saturday afternoons are so bad at Devon?

5. Describe the idea Finny develops with as a new tradition for Devon. What were the prizes?

6. What role does the cider play in the carnival?

7. Explain the “separate peace” that Gene notices about Finny.

8. What does Gene credit for his sudden, champion athletic ability?

9. What does Gene receive at the end of the chapter and to what does it refer?10.

Chapter 10 Due _____1. What is the contrast of the two windows at Leper’s house?

2. How has the war changed Leper? List several examples.

3. What does Gene come to realize about Leper’s “escape”?

4. Why does the word “psycho” scare Gene so much?

5. What does Leper say that he always knew about Gene? Why is it important that Leper feels this way?

6. What were some of the problems that Leper ad during the camp he first attended?

7. Describe the hallucinations Leper had at camp.

8. Why does Gene assert that Leper’s tales of army camp horrors have nothing to do with him?9.

Chapter 11 Due _____1. Whose idea is the snowball fight? Why is this so obvious to Gene?

2. As Gene begins to play the game, what is he wondering about in the back of his mind?

3. How can you tell that Gene is maturing?

4. What are Brinker’s remarks about Finny’s accident?

5. What is the importance of Finny’s acceptance of the war?

6. What happens to Finny and Gene at the hands of Brinker? What do the boys think is happening?

7. For what reasons does Brinker feel this gathering is necessary?

8. What is ironic about Finny’s asking Gene if he was in the tree? Why does Gene respond the way he does?

9. Why do you think Finny reveals that Leper is on campus? What does Leper reveal to the group, and to what does he compare it?

10. Describe Finny’s reaction to the truth and what finally happens.11.

Chapter 12 Due _____1. Why does Gene stand back and watch while people help Finny after he falls?

2. Gene remarks several times about how surprisingly witty he is this particular evening. Why is he?

3. For what two reasons does Gene think Finny doesn’t help him in the window?

4. What are the casualties of the class of 1943 heading into war?

5. Why does Gene say “this is it” as he moves toward the infirmary?

6. What is revealed when Finny says he’d been trying to enlist?

7. What do you think convinces Finny that Gene didn’t mean to hurt him?

8. What is the symbolic significance of the way Finny dies?

9. Whose funeral does Gene attend, literally? Figuratively? Explain your answer.

10.

Chapter 13 Due _____1. What have Brinker and Gene finally done about the war? What is Mr. Hadley’s attitude about serving?

2. What is Brinker’s attitude about the war? What is Gene’s?

3. What is Gene’s final assessment of Finny?

4. What changes occur at Devon during the next term?

5. Why is Gene suddenly ready for war?

6. Explain the possible reasons and relationships of the title of this book.