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Descriptive Setting In The Devon School

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Knowles uses descriptive setting to illustrate the Devon School, as it furthers to contrast the way Lower Middlers and Upper Middlers are treated during World War II. In the Devon School Lower Middlers were wild because the teachers had no care of what they did during the summer session, due to the fact that they were going to war soon in the coming years. Finny, a Lower Middler, believes he will get into trouble for missing dinner, however “Mr. Prud’homme released his breath with a sort of amazed laugh, stared at Finny for a while, and that was all there was to it” (Knowles 23). Although the Devon School is physically isolated from the war, it still impacts the school and the administration's actions of how they educate the students. Teachers, such as Mr. …show more content…

Furthermore, this displays the idea that such a small town in New Hampshire can have a huge impact on war. In contrast, Knowles creates an insight to what Upper Middlers went through, as they were rushed ahead through accelerated courses and were strictly taught because they were going to get drafted shortly. As the summer of 1942 progressed, “...seniors, draft - bait, practically soldiers, rushed ahead of us toward the war. They were caught up in accelerated courses and first aid programs…” to enhance their knowledge before war (Knowles 15). Knowles shows that the Upper Middlers were strictly taught and rushed ahead as they were “practically soldiers” and “caught up in accelerated courses” in the Devon School. In contrast with the Lower Middlers, the author displays a restless mood in the Devon School for Upper Middlers because they were constantly rushed ahead and the administration was strict due to the fact that they were headed to war

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