The Narrator’s Loss of Identity in A Separate Peace, a Novel by John Knowles
In the beginning of A Separate Peace the narrator Gene is introduced as an academic, rule-following boy, however, as the novel continues Gene starts to lose his identity and portrays acts of violence. Gene describes his experience at devon as his own war, and much of this is caused by the fact that other classmates, like Phineas, influence him more than he would like. Also, his jealousy towards others, even his best friend, caused problems for Gene resulting in violent…...
A Separate PeaceAngerPsychologyViolence
The Character of Phineas in A Separate Peace by John Knowles
A Separate Peace by John Knowles follows the temporarily intertwined lives of several young men in boarding school during World War 11 over a linear plot line. An adolescent called Phineas exerts a physical ability unparalleled by his fellow student body and a “larger than life” personality and persona. The events in the novel and the short-lived life of (arguably the main character) Phineas are narrated by his (Phineas’) best friend and roommate Gene Forrester, similar to the way Arthur…...
A Separate PeaceAdolescenceCultureSense
Grief in A Separate Peace
The five stages of loss and grief, created by Elisabeth Kiibler-Ross, are part of a theory that describes how humans deal with death and dying. The protagonists in the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, were affected by tragedies, Kiibler—Ross’s theory on grief is shown throughout the novel and how each person copes with this obstacle in different ways; some positively and some negatively. Dr. Elisabeth Kiibler-Ross is a well-known psychiatrist and professor of the University of Chicago She…...
A Separate PeaceAngerGriefPsychology
A Separate Peace by John Knowles: Gene’s War Against Finny
In the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, an adolescent named Gene faces internal conflicts in his life while World War Two is going on. He has a friend named Phineas whom Gene purposefully broke his legs. Throughout the book, Gene describes the events that occurred during their friendship until Phineas dies the constant ‘war’ Gene is in against himself and Phineas connects very well to the title of the novel, “A Separate Peace” in which by the end…...
A Separate PeaceMindPhilosophyWar
Phineas as a Victim of High School Changes in A Separate Peace by John Knowles
High School is a time for great physical, mental and emotional changes in youth. Some students experience a three-foot height change, and others, an epiphany. These changes happen over the course of high school but can be brought about quickly under the correct circumstances. In the novel "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles, Phineas is another victim of high school changes, catalyzed by injury His life begins normally, as a superb athlete A tragic "accident" wrecks his chance at a…...
A Separate PeaceExistencePhilosophyReality
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