A Separate Peace John Knowles

Pop Quiz  Sheet of paper with MLA heading 1.) Knowles based many of the characters on ________________. 2.) What particular audience does Knowles write for? (young adult, college students, etc.) 3.) Give 1 example of how the war brought change to the American economy and lifestyle listed within the text.

Answers (2 points each)  1.) Knowles based many of the characters on ________________.  Former classmates (p. 10)  2.) What particular audience does Knowles write for? (young adult, college students, etc.)  “he does not write with a particular audience in mind” (p. 9)  3.) Give 1 example of how the war brought change to the American economy and lifestyle listed within the text.  Created jobs, attended rallies, bought war bonds, conserved fuel and rubber, victory gardens, etc. (p. 11)

John Knowles  What do we know about him?  Born in 1926 in Fairmont, West Virginia  Love of New England stems from his experiences as a student at Phillips Exeter Academy  Went into the military after he graduated from high school (WWII)  Wrote ASP, first published in England in 1959 and the United States in 1960

How was ASP received?  Won the William Faulkner Award  Won the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award.  Adapted for the screen and made into a movie  Today, A Separate Peace is standard reading in many high schools.

Time and Place  WWII: Tension between America joining Allies and remaining neutral  Pearl Harbor: draft age lowered to 18  Changes to the economy and lifestyle  Although WWII didn’t take place on American soil how did people experience the repercussions of war?

Novel Setting  Devon School  Boarding School or Preparatory School  Live on campus  Philosophy or motto  Very competitive  All boys  New Hampshire  1942

Main Characters  “ Gene Forrester - The narrator and protagonist of the novel. When A Separate Peace begins, Gene is in his early thirties, visiting the Devon School for the first time in years” (Sparknotes).  “ Phineas/Finny - Gene’s classmate and best friend. Finny is honest, handsome, self-confident, disarming, extremely likable, and the best athlete in the school; in short, he seems perfect in almost every way” (Sparknotes).

Flashback  Takes the narrative back in time from the current point  Used to create suspense in a story, or develop a character

Narration  Gene is the narrator  Uses first person narrative: one who is a character in the novel as well as the storyteller or “voice” that describes what happens  Only hear Gene’s thoughts  What are the positives and negatives of first person narrative?  first-person narrators may be subject to errors in judgment

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Pre-reading Discussion  How does competition bring out the best and worst in people?  Describe your relationship with your closest friend  Have3 you ever made a rash decision that jeopardized the friendship?  When you and your friend have a disagreement, how do you end it and go about repairing the friendship?

Pre-reading Discussion  Examine your approach to life. Do you view life as a serious endeavor or a game?  What aspects of life do you view most seriously or consider the most important?  Analyze your feelings toward war and serving in the military. Do you feel that war is necessary at times or something to be avoided at all costs?  Do you feel that it is your duty to enlist and serve in the military?