ipl-logo

'A Separate Peace': Character Analysis

394 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on a separate peace

Chris Moxley English1-5 November 23,2015 A Separate Peace Essay Nobody had gone near the infirmary We couldn’t go to the infirmary cause of Phinny had fallen out of the tree into the rocks he no one was allowed. To see him for months unless he wanted to see us or the doctors let us see him. After a while the doctor had called me to the infirmary. To see Phinny thought it would help Phinny get better if he had some company like friends. Someone to talk to witch after a while of talking I decided to tell Phinny. About what I did to him in the accident. He denied it all that I didn’t do I couldn’t have done something to him especially me being his closet and best friend. I hadn’t seen phinny for a long time since then he was sent home it
Show More
Related
1090 Words | 5 Pages

The novel A Separate Peace written by John Knowles exhibits a unique friendship between two teenagers, Phineas and Gene Forrester which takes a turn for the worst to turn into a silent one sided war of jealousy that ends in regret. The film created by Peter Yates is a good attempt at exhibiting the same storyline as the novel, but falls short of the clarity displaying major differences which makes the understanding of the storyline difficult and less enjoyable. Two major points affecting the storyline by setting and plot event include the chapter in which Phineas passes away, along with the part where he is taken to the infirmary which results in major differences in the film. The film and novel both display the same content, but they also share some differences in the setting which make the feelings of one hard to analyze.

Read More
980 Words | 4 Pages

Differences in A Separate Peace Novel and Film Everyone at some point has felt envious of their bestfriend. In the novel, “A Separate Peace”, envy leads to many problems and changes in the film. Phineas is a main character that is bestfriends with Gene; he is athletic, a leader, and goes by Finny. Leper is a student that is viewed as weird. When he came back from the war he is portrayed differently in the film than in the book.

Read More
871 Words | 4 Pages

John Knowles, author of A Separate Peace, uses both character development and setting to support his decision in selecting the title. He uses the main characters of Gene and Phineas (Finny) and their troubled yet deeply bonded friendship as a way to illustrate the separate peace that takes place both within the boys themselves and in the friendship that is built between the two. Knowles also uses the setting of the novel to demonstrate the vast difference between the peaceful Devon School grounds and the war raging outside of the school’s walls. The title, A Separate Peace, as chosen by the author is symbolic of the main characters, Finny and Gene’s, struggle to find peace within themselves and with each other while set in a place that significantly contrasts the events of the real world.

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

Gene from John Knowles novel, A Separate Peace, a dynamic character changes in accordance to the events of the story. Gene is a very intelligent student. Throughout the novel we see Gene almost become persuaded by the actions of his friend Phineas. Phineas is a bouncy character who loves sports and doesn’t see the value of studying like Gene. Gene frequently tries to balance his academic and social life, but he gets sick of this balancing act when he backlashes at Phineas for interrupting him from his schoolwork, “Okay, we go.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

A Separate Peace, Unit Test Hamza Eldohiri The story “A Separate Peace”, written by John Knowles, was written at the time and takes place during World War II when battles and conflicts amongst nations were evident. Each nation involved struggled and fought their hardest in order to satisfy the good of their nation. Not only is the setting in the story taking place during this time of quarrel, the story also demonstrates areas of self-conflict and an internal battle throughout. The characters in “A Separate Peace”, are described as experiencing this self-conflicting, internal battle. Gene (also the narrator) is specifically depicted as he goes through his battle in life.

Read More
747 Words | 3 Pages

A Separate Peace The novel “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles has a vast array of characters ranging from unimportant to crucial. The story paints two best friends as the main characters, Finny and Gene. Gene is more intellectually skilled while Finny is more physically skilled. Some of the “minor characters” play a role almost as important as the main characters. For example Quackenbush, Brinker, and Elwin they all are minor characters and nevertheless play a very important role in the story.

Read More
711 Words | 3 Pages

Gene Forrester’s Character Development The quote “Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide,” (Emerson 370) accurately describes Gene Forrester from “A Separate Peace”. John Knowles is the author of “A Separate Peace” and it is set in New Hampshire at Devon High. Gene Forrester is not your normal protagonist; he thinks his best friend Phineas is “out to get him” and he eventually grows to envy him. He used to conform to Finny in the beginning, but he later grows into his own character.

Read More
870 Words | 4 Pages

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that, “envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide.” (370). John Knowles’ A Separate Peace is set during World War I at Devon School, a boarding school for boys. The book centers on Gene Forrester, a student at Devon, who could be described as an intelligent, but jealous, conformist. A Separate Peace illustrates Gene’s envy and imitation of his friend, Finny, and how it affects himself and his relationship with Finny, and also how Gene eventually finds peace.

Read More
1245 Words | 5 Pages

In the year 1914, a war started that would turn innocent people against each other, and have aftermaths that include thousands of people dead due to new equipment like tanks, gas attacks, and hand-to-hand combat. In this war there was a soldier named Paul Bäumer who is a German nineteen year old who has made friends that will last a lifetime during this experience, but has also felt immense pain. His daily routine is to sleep, eat, and fight in the trenches, and he experiences death every day. Most soldiers view death as a recurring event, but Paul views it as wretchedness, which makes him different from others by caring about his comrades more than others. Paul shows many qualities through this experience of being a soldier in the First World War, and he learns what is necessary in life, which takes some people years to figure out.

Read More
1269 Words | 6 Pages

In the fictional novel A Separate Peace by John Knowels, the reoccurring message sent to the reader is the relationship of conflict and resolution. He uses the characters in his novel to take his message even further by giving example of how rivalry has its consequences, don’t incriminate someone when it will only cause destruction between both parties and to be honest with the truth so it doesn’t come back and hurt you. In A Separate Peace Knowles continuously shows rivalry as always having a consequence good or bad. In the novel Phineas, Gene’s best friend, is seen to the reader as a star athlete in, what seems to be, every sport he tries.

Read More
1701 Words | 7 Pages

Adam and Eve had a perfect Garden of Eden, until Eve ate the apple and contaminated the garden. In being tricked by the snake, Eve betrayed God’s word. Mankind has often betrayed others because of the darkness in their heart. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles uses Phineas as a sacrificial lamb to portray Gene’s savage side and demonstrate that peace can never be achieved at a worldwide level until man accepts the darkness in his own heart.

Read More
1268 Words | 6 Pages

In John Knowles’ novel, A Separate Peace, the main character, Gene Forrester, undergoes a traumatic journey to develop the aspects necessary for coping through adulthood. This novel is a flashback to the year of 1942, when Gene attends his final year at Devon High School, in New Hampshire. Although Gene appears to be Finny’s best friend, he follows in Finny’s steps so that his personality clones to be like Finny’s. Finny exposes new experiences that provoke Gene’s development into adulthood. As Gene engages in new experiences, he soon realizes that he envies Finny’s abilities.

Read More
769 Words | 4 Pages

A loving friend turns murderer after his retched jealousness and overanalyzing pushes him to new lows. In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the true character of Gene Forrester is shown as he narrates his point of view of the story. Gene Forrester is a relatable ever changing, humanistic, and someone who is always in contention. Although at points Gene seems mentally unstable, he is a round, dynamic character that adapts and is generally mentally sound. Gene being the narrator of his own story shows from his perspective just how he views people and their interactions.

Read More
1178 Words | 5 Pages

In literature, mostly all of the central characters undergo a meaningful change because of a choice he or she made. “Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice.

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

In John Knowles’s novel A Separate Peace Identity is shown as what defines us and makes us be placed in other peoples perspectives. An author can use identity to place characters in the readers mind to portray them a certain way, just as John Knowles did in A Separate peace. An identity can be defined as who a person is inside and out.

Read More

More about 'A Separate Peace': Character Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document