A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

Literary Analysis PromptsLiterary Analysis Prompts

Walk ThroughWalk Through

Ernest Hemingway’sErnest Hemingway’sA Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms(literary allusion)(literary allusion)

When Frederick Henry deserts from the Italian army at the conclusion of Book III, he states, “Anger washed away in the river along with any obligation.”

At the opening of Book IV, Henry asserts: “I have made a separate peace.”

In many novels, the central In many novels, the central setting is highly symbolic and setting is highly symbolic and helps to develop the themes and helps to develop the themes and ideas in the novel. Explain how ideas in the novel. Explain how the setting of the setting of A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace is symbolic and how the is symbolic and how the description of the setting helps description of the setting helps to develop a theme of the novel. to develop a theme of the novel.

Microcosm Parallels MacrocosmMicrocosm Parallels MacrocosmDevon vs. Naguamsett RiversDevon vs. Naguamsett Rivers

(Hint: See pg. 68 which begins “We (Hint: See pg. 68 which begins “We had never used” . . . and ends “. . . had never used” . . . and ends “. . . astride these two rivers.”)astride these two rivers.”)

Blog Related to Prompt

Some novels depict a central incident Some novels depict a central incident which serves as a focal point for a which serves as a focal point for a major theme or conflict. Select a major theme or conflict. Select a central incident from central incident from A Separate A Separate PeacePeace (such as the fall from the tree, (such as the fall from the tree, Gene’s talk with Finny in his home, or Gene’s talk with Finny in his home, or the “trial”), and explain how this the “trial”), and explain how this incident is crucial and what theme or incident is crucial and what theme or conflict it reveals.conflict it reveals.

Fall from the TreeFall from the Tree

““It had loomed in my memory as a It had loomed in my memory as a huge lone spike dominating the huge lone spike dominating the riverbank, forbidding as an artillery riverbank, forbidding as an artillery piece, high as the beanstalk” (13).piece, high as the beanstalk” (13).

““The tree was tremendous, an irate The tree was tremendous, an irate steely black steeple beside the river” steely black steeple beside the river” (14).(14).

The Tree and Original SinThe Tree and Original Sin

Key symbolKey symbol AllegoricalAllegorical Biblical rendition of original sinBiblical rendition of original sin Innocent, prideful AdamInnocent, prideful Adam Eats fruit in order to be like God (to Eats fruit in order to be like God (to

know)know) Loses paradise or innocence beside Loses paradise or innocence beside

river of liferiver of life Gains chaos outside Garden of EdenGains chaos outside Garden of Eden

Adam Mirrors Every Journey from Adam Mirrors Every Journey from Innocence to Experience Innocence to Experience

(Connect with Gene)(Connect with Gene)

Discovery of evil within selfDiscovery of evil within self Knowledge of experienceKnowledge of experience Gene’s envy of superior friend growsGene’s envy of superior friend grows Gene’s pride leads to one moment in treeGene’s pride leads to one moment in tree Before healing, Finny re-breaks leg—diesBefore healing, Finny re-breaks leg—dies Gene is radically changed—no longer Gene is radically changed—no longer

innocent of his own maliciousnessinnocent of his own maliciousness Filled with guilt—cast out into chaos of Filled with guilt—cast out into chaos of

WWIIWWII

Your TurnYour TurnAnalyze the Following EventsAnalyze the Following Events

Gene’s talk with Finny in his homeGene’s talk with Finny in his home

The “trial”The “trial”

(Perhaps the beach trip)(Perhaps the beach trip)

Other events of your choiceOther events of your choice

The narrator in The narrator in A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace states that at Devon, “there were states that at Devon, “there were few relationships . . . not based on few relationships . . . not based on rivalry.” Using your own experience, rivalry.” Using your own experience, observations, and reading to develop observations, and reading to develop your position, discuss the validity of your position, discuss the validity of the assertion as it applies to the assertion as it applies to relationships/friendships in general.relationships/friendships in general.

“I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn’t help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little” (25).

Friendship QuotesFriendship Quotes(quotes appropriate for this prompt as well (quotes appropriate for this prompt as well

as others)as others)

Friendship Quotes from A Separate PeaFriendship Quotes from A Separate Peacece

Discuss each season’s metaphorical Discuss each season’s metaphorical connection with Gene. (Remember connection with Gene. (Remember to connect with theme.)to connect with theme.)

Seasons--GeneSeasons--Gene

Remember to discuss Gene’s Remember to discuss Gene’s return to Devon as an adult.return to Devon as an adult.

““Changed, I headed back Changed, I headed back through the mud. I was through the mud. I was drenched; anybody could see drenched; anybody could see it was time to come in out of it was time to come in out of the rain.”the rain.”

In In A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace, numerous , numerous characters escape from reality. characters escape from reality. Select a character or characters and Select a character or characters and discuss the significance of these discuss the significance of these escapes in portraying a theme in the escapes in portraying a theme in the novel (perhaps man’s inhumanity to novel (perhaps man’s inhumanity to man).man).

Which characters escape?Which characters escape?

GeneGene

FinnyFinny

LeperLeper

Others?Others?

Discuss Gene and Finny as the Discuss Gene and Finny as the personification of conformity and personification of conformity and nonconformity. (Be sure to address nonconformity. (Be sure to address the implications—thematic.)the implications—thematic.)

EvidenceEvidence ThemesThemes

Compare and contrast the treatment Compare and contrast the treatment of the haven versus the wilderness of the haven versus the wilderness motif in motif in A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace and and Dead Dead Poets Society. Poets Society. (Explore theme.)(Explore theme.)

Be sure to qualify your interpretation Be sure to qualify your interpretation of wilderness and haven.of wilderness and haven.

HavenHaven

A Separate Peace?A Separate Peace?

Dead Poets Society?Dead Poets Society?

WildernessWilderness

A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society (interesting connection with (interesting connection with A A

MidsummerMidsummer

Night’s DreamNight’s Dream))

Write an essay in which you discuss Write an essay in which you discuss the role of adults in the role of adults in A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace and and Dead Poets Society.Dead Poets Society.

Adults to ConsiderAdults to Consider

A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society

Discuss the incorporation of one or Discuss the incorporation of one or more of the following motifs in more of the following motifs in A A Separate PeaceSeparate Peace and/or and/or Dead Poet’s Dead Poet’s SocietySociety to convey theme—savior to convey theme—savior motif, twin motif, innocence to motif, twin motif, innocence to experience motif.experience motif.

See Handout on Exploring See Handout on Exploring ThemeTheme

(Motifs are discussed.)(Motifs are discussed.)

Twin Motif QuestionsTwin Motif Questions

Can we consider Gene and Finny to Can we consider Gene and Finny to be, allegorically, the same be, allegorically, the same person(ality)?person(ality)?

Do they or can they, in fact, exist Do they or can they, in fact, exist totally separate from one another?totally separate from one another?

When the story begins, does Gene When the story begins, does Gene represent one extreme and Finny represent one extreme and Finny another?another?

If so, what are those extremes?If so, what are those extremes?

Can you accurately define Gene’s Can you accurately define Gene’s “Phineas filled” personality and “Phineas filled” personality and explain why “becoming Finny” he is explain why “becoming Finny” he is actually able to avoid constructing actually able to avoid constructing his “Maginot Lines” and attain his “Maginot Lines” and attain A A Separate PeaceSeparate Peace??

Ma⋅gi⋅notMa⋅gi⋅not[mazh-[mazh-uhuh-noh; -noh; Fr.Fr. ma-zhee-noh] ma-zhee-noh]–noun –noun

André, 1877–1932,André, 1877–1932, French minister of war French minister of war 1929–32: backed construction of Maginot Line.1929–32: backed construction of Maginot Line.

   French politician who as minister of war French politician who as minister of war (1922-1924 and 1929-1932) proposed a line (1922-1924 and 1929-1932) proposed a line of fortification, called the Maginot Line, along of fortification, called the Maginot Line, along France's border with Germany. Thought to be France's border with Germany. Thought to be impregnable, the line was bypassed and later impregnable, the line was bypassed and later captured by the Germans (1940).captured by the Germans (1940).

Discuss the incorporation of allusionsDiscuss the incorporation of allusions—biblical and/or mythological—in —biblical and/or mythological—in A A Separate PeaceSeparate Peace to convey theme. to convey theme.

Biblical/Mythological Allusions to Biblical/Mythological Allusions to ConsiderConsider

The Tree—Original SinThe Tree—Original Sin Cain and Abel Cain and Abel (see my web site for (see my web site for

synopsis of biblical stories)synopsis of biblical stories) Finny as the Savior Finny as the Savior (Christ Figure)(Christ Figure) Finny as Apollo Finny as Apollo (lecture notes)(lecture notes) Finny as Dionysus Finny as Dionysus (lecture notes)(lecture notes)

Write an essay in which you analyze Write an essay in which you analyze John Knowles’ title John Knowles’ title A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

What are the possibilities?What are the possibilities? Escape experienced by students in Escape experienced by students in

the winter carnival?the winter carnival? Escape from reality like Leper’s?Escape from reality like Leper’s?

A Separate PeaceA Separate Peace

Does title relate more to Gene or Does title relate more to Gene or Finny?Finny?

How does the title relate to war?How does the title relate to war? What does the title mean in terms of What does the title mean in terms of

human relationships?human relationships? Is it possible that the title was taken Is it possible that the title was taken

from Ernest Hemingway’s book from Ernest Hemingway’s book A A Farewell to ArmsFarewell to Arms??

Ernest Hemingway’sErnest Hemingway’sA Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms(literary allusion)(literary allusion)

When Frederick Henry deserts from the Italian army at the conclusion of Book III, he states, “Anger washed away in the river along with any obligation.”

At the opening of Book IV, Henry asserts, “I have made a separate peace.”