1. A Separate Peace Notes
Chapter Nine
No Bozos!

2. Leper’s Enlistment Shows how things change and people change
Most important line in the book –
“Everything has to evolve or else it perishes.”
Everything “evolves” or dies
Like Gene and Finny’s friendship
Signals future change for boys

3. Leper – Symbol of Innocence
Persuaded by propaganda
Doesn’t look for what relation the film has to the war
“Silent as angels” (Don’t write this)
“Cleanest image of war…” (Don’t write this)
“Cheerful, sunburned bands” (Don’t write this)
Like the boys were the previous summer (don’t write)
Leper’s view of war
Reflects boyhood naiveté / innocence
“It’s like a test” (Don’t write this)

4. Leper – symbol for boys (Don’t write this) Heroism
Represents success of U.S.
Boys support shows
Patriotism
Involvement
Without actually having to face the harsh realities of war

5. Leper’s Exit White stocking cap Symbol - childhood innocence
Innocence has gone off to war

6. Finny
Silently becoming embittered
Forgets Leper is gone
Not facing reality
Phineas – symbol of peace
Peace cannot coincide with war

7. Shift away from childhood
Brinker
Resigns from clubs
Shift away from childhood
Feels lost in the middle of childhood and adulthood.

8. Weather Reflects mood Winter – becomes “old, corrupt, tired conqueror”
Begins to withdraw only after destroying everything
Winter Carnival
“A Separate Peace”
Like previous summer (this “peace” cannot last)
Finny – Dance = Canoe story (he becomes superhuman and can transcend gravity)
Letter (From Leper/War/Adult Life)
Ends Winter Carnival/Peace/Childhood