John Phillips

“Perhaps it’s impossible to wear an identity without becoming what you pretend to be.” * A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, features two boys (Finny and Gene) who attend a prep school during World War II. In the novel, Gene provides a perfect example of a teenager’s search for identity. In the beginning of the book, Gene begins admiring Finny. “He got away with everything because of the extraordinary kind of person he was.” (Knowles, 21) However, that admiration turned into envy, but…

A Separate Peace written by John Knowles focuses on the story of the friendship of Gene Forrester and Phineas “Finny”, and emphasizes how their constant friendship/rivalry causes a feeling of envy leading to an ultimately hurtful relationship. In Chapter 2, readers see yet another example of how quickly Finny can get out of almost any situation due to his charismatic demeanor. When he talks his way out of getting in trouble for skipping dinner with Mr. Prud’homme, this can be seen as the moment…

In the Literary Criticism “Counterpoint”, by James M. Mellard, the critic analyzes the juxtaposition between components in the novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. Mellard strongly suggests to his readers how Knowles uses “counterpoint in character development, symbolism, plot and structure” (Mellard 56), which brings forth the ultimate question of how does counterpoint support A Separate Peace’s “ultimate theme” (56). The fundamental answer to this proposed question, in the eyes of…

Set during the infamous World War II, A Separate Peace by John Knowles, unfolds into a story of a growing rivalry between two close friends. English Devon High School students, Gene Forrester and Phineas, are the best of friends, with the perfect balance of athletics and academics. However, Gene’s enmity towards Phineas drives him to have the ideal image of competing to become the top student at Devon. However, ultimately, when the two friends decide to jump off of a limb and into a river, Gene…

The book, A Separate Peace by John Knowles, is a fiction book based at a New England private boarding school for high school boys in the year of 1942. This book covers the up and down roller coaster of a relationship between Phineas, also known as Finny, and his best friend Gene. The two boys became best friends after one day in the summer session when they jumped out of a tree used to train boys for their physical expectations of the military. World War II has begun and all of America has felt…

“Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist” (Emerson 370). A Separate Peace is a coming-of-age novel by John Knowles during the World War II at Devin school, 1942. Gene a, 5’8 sixteen year old, returns to his childhood school for peace. Also as the narrator, Gene struggles with internal emotions toward his friend and identifying who he truly is. A Separate Peace demonstrates how Gene envy and imitation affect himself and his relationship with Finny; Gene finds peace. Gene’s envy and…

The Meaning of A Separate Peace A Separate Peace by John Knowles has a significant meaning in the title. In the book two main characters Gene and Phineas (Finny) struggle to find peace while living at Devon; a prep school and in the time of World War Two. Gene and Finny struggle through many conflicts and find ways to overcome them. A Separate Peace is used as the title because of the way the characters find peace in their own lives, deal with conflicts, and to become comfortable with themselves…

The first way that Irving shows pleasure and discomfort was through Rev. Lewis Merrill. In this scene, Johnny is mesmerized by the significance of Owen's death. He addresses Dan Needam and Rev. Merrill about his sudden belief in God and that miracles are real. Johnny posed a question asking Dan whether or not he believed Owen's death was a miracle. Dan replied by telling Johhny that he wasn't going to contradict Johnny's belief. Johnny then pose another question emphasizing on whethere or not…

In the novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles writes about two best friends who went to a boarding school called Devon during the early years of the civil war. Knowles uses a variety of literary devices in order to convey that jealousy can lead to regretful decisions. Furthermore, Knowles reveals jealousy can lead to regretful decisions through characterization. For instance, Knowles writes, “Sure Finny wanted to share everything with me, especially his procession of D’s in every subject. That way…

“Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide” (Emerson 370-372). In the novel A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, is set during World War II at a boy’s school in New Hampshire. Gene, the main character and a student at the school, is a jealous-conformist that thrives academically. A Separate Peace demonstrates how Gene’s envy and imitation affects Gene and their friendship, but also shows Gene’s achievement of peace. Gene’s imitation of Finny affects him internally and externally. For…