A Separate Peace John Knkowles

Author: John Knowles Born in Fairmont, West Virginia on September 16, 1926. Graduated high school from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire Attended Yale University Wrote A Separate Peace, and Peace Breaks Out, among others. Died on November 29, 2001.

A separate Peace Published in 1959 John Knowles’ first published novel. Based off of John Knowles school, Phillips Exeter Academy.

Phillips exeter academy Formerly an all-boys private boarding school in Exeter, New Hampshire, it is now co-ed. Founded in 1781 by John Phillips. It is still residential and serves 1,000 students, grades 9-12, as well as post-graduate level.

ASP: Background info World War II AXIS Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan Allied Powers: America, England, USSR (Russia) The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan is the reason the United States became involved. Americans experienced rationing during this time—it began in 1942 to preserve resources such as gasoline, sugar, butter, and shoes. Many young men were brought into WWII through the draft that was instituted. Required men between the ages of 18 and 45 to register for the draft. A lottery-like process, if your name was selected, you were signed up for the military.

Draft info

Themes in ASP Friendship Escape from reality Conformity vs. Nonconformity (identity) Man’s inhumanity to man Microcosm parallels macrocosm (local vs. global)

Allusions to know: Maginot Lines: a “wall” protecting France’s eastern borders. It was made up of artillery, machine gun pits, and bunkers. It was comprised of above ground forts and below ground chambers. Joseph Stalin: dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953. Wildly regarded as a cruel leader, he ruled by terror and millions of his people died during his reign. He allied with America during WWII, but later engaged with the West in the Cold War.

Allusions, cont’d. Franklin D. Roosevelt: United States president during World War II, he is the only president to be elected four times into office. Responsible for leading the US to victory over Russia & its allies during WWII. Winston Churchill: Prime Minister of Britain during WWII, known as the “British Bulldog.” Persuaded FDR to provide war supplies-ammunition, guns, tanks, planes-to the Allies before the US entered the war.

Allusions, Cont’d. Douglas MacArthur: a respected American general, he commanded the Southwest Pacific during WWII. In 1944, he returned to the Philippines to liberate them after Japan had taken over.