1. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions
You will be keeping a dialectical journal (notes) for A Separate Peace. This will be a MAJOR GRADE!
This may be on loose sheets of paper; however, you will have to keep up with them until we are finished with the novel.
You will need to record all characters and their descriptions (as they are introduced).
For each chapter (1-13), you will need to make AT LEAST 7 journal “entries.” AT LEAST 2 of the entries should be important/pivotal quotes that are analyzed and interpreted by you, and they MUST include author’s purpose!
The other 5 entries for each section may include: Characterization, Diction, Figurative Language, Elements that are Specific to the Time Period/Society, Tone & Mood, Author’s Purpose, Theme, etc.
Each entry should be at least 3 sentences!
Overall, you will end up having at least 1 page per chapter.

2. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 1
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
*Think of the descriptions of the seasons vs. the speakers state of mind
Description of the School
Characterization: Names and Descriptions
Purpose (or potential reasons) for the Flashback
Description of the Tree (what could a tree symbolically represent?)
Why does Gene spend so much time reminiscing about the tree?
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship
Presence of War

3. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 2
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
The importance of eating ALL meals at Devon
Definition of a “leper”
How is Phineas “the essence of this careless peace”?
Describe Finny’s charisma
Gene’s feelings about Finny getting “caught” (tie for a belt incident)
Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session
Finny saving Gene’s life

4. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 3
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War

5. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 4
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Sunrise
Biblical allusion: Lazarus
Chet Douglass
Leper Lepellier’s jump
Enmity***
Finny’s jump– “unnatural thud”
Predictions?

6. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 5
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Gene’s word choice (diction) when discussing Finny’s possible injuries
Gene’s imitations of Phineas, and how it makes him feel
Hospital room conversation– complexities of both characters
Suspense (about to confess)
Admission of guilt: how was Gene hurting Finny even worse?
“The biggest lie of all”

7. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 6
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Parallel between Finny’s absence from Devon and the scenery of Devon (look at how it is described in his absence).
Comparison of the previous summer’s events to “gypsy music” and “gypsy ways.”
Gene’s description of one of Finny’s great moments: the canoe. (Look at the diction and how he describes the event.)
Cliff Quackenbush
Mr. Ludsbury’s accusations and Gene’s thoughts about them
Long-distance phone call conversation (what does this say about Finny? Gene?)
Gene’s purpose: what does this mean (other than having a “creepy” connotation)?

8. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 7
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Presence of Finny despite his absence from school.
Brinker’s accusation and Gene’s reaction.
Connection of winter and the war’s presence.
The boy’s treatment of Quackenbush vs. their treatment of Leper
Gene’s power in enlistment.
Finny’s return

9. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 8
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Finny’s return and saying prayers
“Hand me my crutches, will you?”
Enlistment and Finny
Peace vs. war at Devon
The Olympics: Finny’s hope for himself, or Gene
Shift in Gene’s view of Finny (after the run)

10. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 9
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Leper’s enlistment
Phineas’s lack of enthusiasm regarding Leper’s enlistment.
The Devon Winter Carnival
Brinker and the cider (Brinker’s breaking of rules)
The telegram

11. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 10
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
The journey to Leper
Gene’s sudden disregard for rules (Gene’s character’s development)
Change in Leper: “Psycho”
Leper’s accusation
Reality of war

12. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 11
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Gene’s need to see Finny
“No one was going to win or lose after all”(Knowles 154)
“Sure. There isn’t any war” (Knowles 158)
Brinker’s plan
Finny’s realization about the war.
The trial
Irony of the last witness
White marble stairs

13. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 12
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
Gene’s lack of help during the crisis
“He was by nature someone who carried others” (Knowles 179)
Gene’s vigil through the night
“You want to break something else in me” (Knowles 184)
Finney’s forgiveness
“An operating room and a war” (Knowles 193)
Why does Gene not cry?

14. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions Chapter 13
What to look for:
Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator)
Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel)
Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?)
Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?)
Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy)
Presence of War
The invasion of Devon
“Why talk about something you can’t do anything about?” (Knowles 197)
Mr. Hadley- symbolism
“Nothing…had broken his harmonious and natural unity. So at last I had” (Knowles 203)
Phineas-filled nature