2. • “Set in a boys’ boarding school in New England during
the early years of World War II, A Separate Peace is a
harrowing and luminous parable of the dark side of
adolescence.”
• Gene Forrester, the protagonist, returns to his old prep
school, Devon, fourteen years after he graduated to visit
two places he regards as "fearful sites:" a flight of marble
stairs and a tree by the river.
• The tree brings back memories of Gene's time as a
student at Devon. From this point, the plot follows Gene's
description of the time span from the summer of 1942 to
the summer of 1943.
• In 1942, he was 16 years old and living at Devon with his
best friend and roommate, Phineas (nicknamed Finny).
At the time, World War II is taking place, and has a
prominent effect on the story.
3.
4. • The story opens with Gene returning
to his old boarding school to revisit
two “fearful sights.”
*a flight of marble stairs
*a tree by the river
5. Main character, story told
from Gene's point of view.
Gene focuses on, and
succeeds at, academics.
He envies his roommate
Finny's graceful, easy
athleticism and social
prowess. Gene is from
Texas, and is somewhat
unaccustomed to
Northeastern culture.
6. • Incorrigible, good natured,
athletic, daredevil, and
could always get away with
anything. Gene's best friend
and roommate. He always
sees the best in others,
seeks internal fulfillment
free of accolades, and
shapes the world around
himself to fit his desires. He
is an extraordinary athlete,
succeeding in every sport
he plays. Gene’s roommate
and bff.
7. • Brinker is a classmate
and friend of Gene
and Finny's. He
ceaselessly strives for
order during the
Winter Session at
Devon.
8. • Nature-loving and
strange, Leper is Finny
and Gene's friend, and
was a key member of
the Super Suicide
Society of the Summer
Session. He is the first
student in his class to
enlist in the military.
Late in the novel, Leper
goes insane from the
stress of his enlistment
in the army.
