A Separate Peace by John Knowles A novel about coming of age during a time of war.

Author John Knowles Born in 1926 in West Virginia Best known works are set in New England

Knowles’ Childhood Parents were originally from Massachusetts. Knowles spent many summer vacations there. At the age of fifteen, Knowles applied to an elite New Hampshire boarding school, Phillips Exeter Academy.

John Knowles continued… Knowles expresses his affections and fond memories for his boarding school memories in A Separate Peace. Soon after Knowles entered Exeter, the U.S. declared war on Japan and entered World War II. Knowles went into the military after he graduated from high school and trained to be a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force Aviation Program. When the war ended, he attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

A Separate Peace The novel was first published in England in 1959 and in the U.S. in 1960. It proved to be such a success that Knowles was able to resign from his job and devote his time to writing and travel. He wrote many other novels, none as successful as A Separate Peace. He lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL until his death in 2001.

Setting The Devon School in New Hampshire The central story begins in 1942, just after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; this attack began the United States’ conflict with the Japanese during World War II.

WWII World War II: September 1939 to September 1945. Called the “World” war because a majority of the world’s nations split into one of two opposing sides: Allies- included Russia, U.S.A, United Kingdom, and China. Axis- included Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan

World War II Loss of human life estimated at 72 million. Two-thirds of victims were civilians. Holocaust victims numbered in the millions.

U.S. Involvement The U.S. entered the World War after Pearl Harbor. Fear of war caused many Americans to turn a blind eye to the conflicts overseas. Pearl Harbor changed everything. 1940 brought the first peacetime draft in the nation’s history. Men 21-35 years of age were required to register for military service. Age then lowered to eighteen- high school age.

Patriotism Many young men couldn’t wait to be drafted; patriotism was at an all-time high. Teenagers often felt it was their duty to enlist.

Patriotism and Change The war brought changes to the American economy and lifestyle. Need for weapons created jobs. Americans attended rallies, bought war bonds, conserved fuel and rubber by car pooling, and planted “victory gardens.” Society also began changing and adjusting due to the “man shortage.” In short, American life, as it had been, changed “for the duration”- a phrase that meant “until the end of the war.”

Imagine… Imagine going to high school while the deadliest and most devastating war in history thus far was happening. How would it affect you? Would your life be any different?

The War in Afghanistan How does the war in the Middle East affect you? Do the news stories and pictures affect your life or view of the world?

A Separate Peace Characters Gene Narrator Best friends with Finny Exceptional student Follower Competitive Finny Gene’s roommate and BFF Exceptional athlete Believes all people are good Natural leader

Theme and Motif Theme: a broad idea in a story, or a message or lesson conveyed by a work A work can have more than one theme. Themes should be expressed in complete sentences Motif: a reoccurring subject, theme, or idea in a literary, artistic, or musical work. Difference between theme and motif: Themes are ideas explored by the text. Motifs are reoccurring elements that represent ideas.

Some Literary Elements in A Separate Peace Themes One should not cease to develop as an individual in the face of peer pressure. Even friends are flawed as human beings. Friendship is more important than being superior to others. Conflicts Man vs. Self- Even in times of war, the most difficult battle is within the human heart. Motifs Transformation- the characters and the school undergo immense changes throughout the story. Competition- the competitive nature of athletics and of friendship.