A Separate Peace

Online resource ary/pdf/separate_peace.pdfhttp:// ary/pdf/separate_peace.pdf Read pages 3-4 of study guide. This will give you a brief introduction into the novel.

The Author JOHN KNOWLES Reporter for the Hartford Courant (newspaper) Associate Editor for Holiday Magazine

The Novel A tale of confession A tale of crime A tale of punishment

The Story A story of growth through tragedy and the loss of innocence Internal conflict plays a major role in addition to external conflict

The Setting TIME: 1942-World War II-- A time when young men were drafted at the age of 18 to support the war effort PLACE: Private boarding school—Devon Located in a small New England town

Main Characters Two best friends (roommates) dealing with the fact that they will be drafted after graduation. They are 16. Gene: Narrator, smart, good student, quiet Phineas (Finny): Outgoing, athletic, natural leader

The novel begins as a flashback. Gene is an adult revisiting his old school 15 years after graduation. He tells a tale of his friendship with Finny.

Themes Jealousy: Gene is envious of Finny's natural athletic ability. Irresponsibility: Finny refuses to follow the school's regulations Denial: Finny denies that Gene pushed him out of the tree, since he believes that all people are innately good. Insecurity: Gene is insecure about his own ability and intelligence.

Journal Entry If a person commits a crime, what is worse: Interior punishment (guilt) or exterior punishment (jail, payment)? What are the pros and cons of competition among friends? Respond to one of the above prompts. Provide well developed sentences in your response.

Vocabulary Anarchy: n. disorder; absence of rules Indulgent: adj. permissive, going to extremes Inure: v. to become used to something unpleasant Nondescript: adj. drab, uninteresting Sedate: adj. calm; serene Tacit: adj. unspoken

Vocabulary Gullible: adj. easily tricked; naïve Idiosyncratic: adj. peculiar; eccentric Implausibility: n. unlikelihood; the act of being unbelievable Sinecure: n. position, usually salaried, that requires little or no work Sultriness: n. humidity; heat

Reading Check Ch Describe the differences in personality between Finny and Gene. 2.Describe what Finny wears at the headmaster’s tea and why he does it. 3.Describe the new sport Finny creates to replace Badminton and why he does this. 4.How does Finny break his leg? Why does this happen?

Reading Check Describe what Finny wears at the Headmaster’s tea and why he does this. 2. When Gene visits Finny at home, what does he admit? How does Finny react? 3. Describe what happens between Gene and Quackenbush. Why does this happen? 4. In Ch. 8 Gene announces a decision he has made to Finny. Explain Finny’s reaction and Gene’s justification of his decision.

Reading Check to Describe the game Blitzball and how the game itself represents Finny’s character. 2. How does Finny break his leg? What causes this happen? 3. When Gene visits Finny at home, what does he admit? How does Finny react? 4. Describe what happens between Gene and Quackenbush. Why does this happen?