6/1/2015

Do Now Have you ever had a friend who drags you to do crazy things, even if you think it will lead you getting into trouble? Answer in 2-3 complete sentences.

Agenda and Objective Agenda Do Now Structure and word choice Discussion questions Independent work Objective Students will closely read Chapter 3 of A Separate Peace in order to analyze how author structure and word choice helps us to better understand the mood, conflict and theme.

CHAPTER 3 Review and Vocabulary

Plot #1 The new academic year starts at Devon School; Gene, Finny, and a handful of friends continue with the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session. This means jumping out of the tree several times, which Gene hates. VOCAB #1 “Finny began to talk abstractedly about [the Summer Society], as though it were a venerable, entrenched institution of the Devon School” (33). Venerable: accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.

Plot #2 The boys create blitzball because Finny disagrees with the state of sports at Devon. He makes up all the rules and it becomes very popular with all the boys. VOCAB #2 “The seniors had been trotted off to the improvised obstacle course in the woods, or to have their blood pressure taken again, or to undergo an insidious exercise in The Cage…” (36). Insidious: proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

Plot #3 Finny decides he wants to break the “Under 100 yards” freestyle swimming record. He has Gene time him, breaks the record, and then tells Gene not to tell anyone. Gene is horrified that Finny doesn’t want anyone to know, and starts to become concerned about Finny’s motivations. VOCAB #3 “There was something inebriating in the suppleness of his feat” (45). Inebriating: to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.

Plot #4 Gene and Finny head to the beach a few hours away from the school, even though they’re not supposed to go. Gene is conflicted about breaking the rules, but he wants to have fun and be with Finny, so he goes. VOCAB #4 AND #5 “The second wave, as it tore toward the beach with me, spewed me a little ahead of it, encroaching rapidly; suddenly it was immeasurably bigger than I was…” (46) Encroach: to advance beyond proper, established limits Immeasurably: incapable of being measured; limitless

Structure On page 40, (32) the narrative structure breaks and we come back into Gene’s modern day narrative. What, do you think, is the purpose of this? Consider the content of the material before and after the break – how does the diction change? How does that impact the mood? What does this passage suggest about the conflict (s) present? How can we connect these ideas to us today?

PARTNER WORK