A Separate Peace Summer Reading

The Plot Chart

The Plot Chart Exposition: introduction to the characters and setting Conflict: the main problem for the protagonist; the hurdle that must be overcome Can be internal or external Ascending action: all of the events leading from the conflict to the climax Climax: the turning point; where the protagonist makes a decision that leads to critical change and brings resolution Descending action Resolution: the primary conflict ends at this point Denouement: the point in the story where the author ties up all the loose ends

The Four Major Parts of a Short Story or Novel Plot The central story driving the short story or novel Setting Place and time in which a story takes place Character Actors/participants in the story Protagonist: Person around whom the story is centered. Antagonist: Creates/participates in the problem of the story. Static (flat): one-dimensional character, sometimes symbolic Dynamic (round): character who changes; we recognize them for being fully human Foil: character who acts as contrast to another character. Often a funny sidekick to the dashing hero, or a villain contrasting the hero. Theme Central, recurring, underlying message of the story

Characterization Characterization: the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Direct Characterization: the author directly states what the character is like: sneaky, generous, mean to pets, so on. Indirect Characterization: the author reveals to the reader what the character is like by: describing how the character looks and dresses letting the reader hear what the character says revealing the character’s private thoughts and feelings revealing the character’s effect on other people (showing how other characters feel or behave toward the character) showing the character in action.

Food for Thought As you read, ask yourself these questions (from time to time). Style: How is the book written? How is this scene described? Meaning: What does this conversation, scene, or description imply? Significance: Why does it matter? What are the greater implications of this moment?

Major Themes in A Separate Peace Jealousy and Guilt Resentment Fear Friendship Warfare Youth Innocence Masculinity Identity Rules and Order Memory and the Past

Chapter 1: Exposition Returning to Devon school after 15 years. Preserved as a museum (p. 9) Looking back with clarity the fear I had lived in. (p. 10) 2 places Gene wanted to revisit 1. White marble staircase (hardness = foreshadowing) 2. The tree (symbolism) Flashback: WWII (summer 1942) Phineas – friendship, innocence, sixteen years old Lower-Middlers  Upper-Middlers (p.15) Transition period in life

Chapter 1: Exposition The first jump (p. 17) Peer-pressure vs. free will

Chapter 2: Conflict Phineas vs. Mr. Patch-Withers (p.26-27) Pink shirt (emblem), Bombing Central Europe, tie as belt Gene disappointed Phineas gets away with breaking rules Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session (Alliteration) Created by Finny, symbol for Finny’s control over Gene

Chapter 3: Rising Action Resentment: Gene not wanting to jump and blaming Finny (p.33) Sports = War (motif) Blitzball – created by Finny, aggressive (war like) competition Lepellier Refusal – not capable of war/conflict Phineas breaking A. Hopkins Parker’s swimming record “Everyone has a moment in history which belongs particularly to him.” – Going to the beach Forbidden, risk taker (Finny’s idea), Gene not studying

Chapter 4: Climax CLIMAX: Chapter starts out dark/depressing (foreshadowing) Gene fails Trigonometry test (leads to climax) Leper’s “failed” attempt to jump Gene standing up for himself to Finny (1st time) Gene’s guilt vs. Finny’s innocence IRONY: Finny requesting Gene to join him in a “double jump.” Timing could not have been worse for Finny. Why? CLIMAX: **Gene bent his knees and jounced the limb causing Finny to fall and hit the river bank. The first time Gene’s fear was forgotten during a jump. “No one cared, no one exercised any real discipline over us; we were on our own.” (p. 55) – Absence of reality when war is going on