Assignment #5: Explore the significance of the fight with Quackenbush. Why does it happen? What exactly sets Gene off? How is related to his narrative earlier in the chapter? Why might Quakenbush be so disdainful of Gene? (Tushar)

In this reading assignment, Gene gets in a fight with Quackenbush because Gene had never had done crew before, but once he called Gene "maimed",  Gene is set off due to the fact that he remembers that Finny, who is very close to him is in a similar state. Quackenbush and Gene argue about whether Gene should be allowed to be the crew team manager while being a senior with no experience in the field. The fight quickly escalates when Quackenbush calls Gene "maimed", and in a flash, Gene has "the realization that there was someone who was [maimed] flashed over me" (Knowles 79).  Gene remembers Finny, with his broken leg and retaliates, in a sense, for him. This relates to the narrative of the chapter because he realizes that because Finny isn't here to fight his own battles, so Gene has "to become a part of Phineas" (Knowles 85).  Quackenbush is mainly disdainful of Gene and his wanting to be the crew team manager because he feels that Gene has no experience and is too old, so he thinks he is unfit for the job. When Gene and Quackenbush talk, he immediately opens the conversation by saying, "'You never rowed, did you'" (Knowles 77). The tone of Quackenbush suggests that he finds Gene to be inferior to him as he has no experience with crew and also argues that it does matter to be too old for the job. He wants to be the dominant male and is trying to show Gene that too. Gene gets in a fight with Quackenbush because he feels that he is threatening Finny by calling him "maimed", and because he has no experience in the sport so Quackenbush feels superior to him.

Assignment #5: Why does Quackenbush use the word “maimed”? Explore the significance and connotation (Gillian)

In this reading, Quackenbush uses the word maimed to scare Gene, but this word signifies to Gene Finny and his condition. Gene and Quackenbush get into a heated argument about if Gene is too old to be starting as the team manager. Gene quickly defends himself and Quackenbush calls him “maimed” to scare Gene and to tell him that he is going to hurt him. He narrates, “it was almost as though I were maimed. Then the realization that there was someone who was flashed over me” (Knowles 79).  This quote shows how the word triggered his memory of Finny. The word has a negative connotation, which is used to portray the negativity and guilt that Gene feels about Finny’s condition. Gene then continues to fight Quackenbush, when he narrated that he was fighting for Finny. He says, “I fought that battle, that first skirmish of a long campaign, for Finny” (Knowles 79). Gene explains that the reason that he fought was to defend Finny, and he later confirms this more specifically. Though Gene meant for the battle between him and Quackenbush to be for Finny, after the fight he comes to a realization. He narrates, “But it didn’t feel exactly as though I had done it for Phineas. It felt as though I had done it for myself” (Knowles 80). Gene shows that though he tried to fight for Finny, it still felt as though he had done it for himself and not for his friend. This could be due to the jealousy that he used to have for Finny, which ended up hurting both of them, and him feeling like he had to do it to be better than Finny. When Quackenbush uses the word “maimed,” it affects Gene by forcing him to think of Finny, making him feel like he is fighting for him, but he ends up still feeling like he fought for himself.

Chapter 6 Question #4: Re-read the last sentence of chapter 6 (p84-85). Explain what is happening in the quote (establish context) and then explore and explain the last part “I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas” (85) (Cameron)

With this quote at the end of chapter 6, Knowles shows how Gene and Finny are intertwined and begin to identify as one person. Phineas and Gene have a telephone call, and Gene tells Finny that he chose to be the Assistant Crew Manager for his Spring sport. Gene didn't want to play sports because he felt guilty for disabling, or "maiming," Finny. The Assistant Crew Manager is a job that a maimed person would take. By taking this job meant for a physically disabled person, Gene is almost becoming Finny. When Gene admits to Finny that he is the Assistant Crew Manager, Finny is mortified. Finny says to Gene, "Listen, pal, if I can't play sports, you're going to play them for me" (Knowles, 85).  This is another example of how Gene and Finny are almost becoming one person. First, Gene dressed up in Finny's clothes to feel more connected to him. Now, Gene is going to take up the role of sports that Finny has left behind. When Finny tells Gene that he has to play sports for him, it fills Gene with a "soaring sense of freedom" and he begins to forgive himself (Knowles, 85). Finny relieves Gene of some of his guilt for hurting him, and this makes Gene feel freedom. This idea, that he can become Finny, gives Gene a sense of relief and peace when he realizes that this must have been his purpose all along. 

#5 - Explore the significance/symbolism of the Devon River (you may have to refer to earlier readings to supplement your answer). (Dylan)

            In Chapter 6 the Devon river symbolizes Gene entering manhood as the war nears. Summer has ended, and with it the Devon summer session. Finny is injured and therefore, Gene returns to the same old Devon, starting his Senior year. During the first scene back, Gene is on his way to crew, and he walks by the Devon river, but he doesn’t go in. He notes that there are two separate rivers at the school, one of which is familiar to him, but the other, the Naguamsett River is strange. Gene studies the Naguamsett, and sees that “it was ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed,” (Knowles 76). Compared to the clear Devon river, the Naguamsett is menacing, and “governed by unimaginable factors like the Gulf Stream, the Polar Ice Cap, and the mood,” (Knowles 76). The Devon river, which is fondly remembered by Gene, represents the carefree summer that he had with Finny, but now as Gene is in his Senior year, the war awaits him around the corner like the Naguamsett river which is influenced by outside forces that Gene will soon have to face. The dam that separates the two rivers represents the Devon school, where the boys played games and were protected from manhood and the war. However, when Gene shatters the innocent and carefree nature of his and his friend’s actions and experiences by causing Finny to break his leg, he transitions from boyhood to manhood. In this chapter Gene leaves the freshwater Devon river of boyhood behind, and enters the saltwater Naguamsett of manhood and the war.

1.     Do you think that Gene is ready for what manhood holds? Why or why not? What experiences will/will not help him?

2.     Gene gives many descriptions of the two rivers, which one stands out to you in particular? Why?

3.     Why do you think Knowles added this scene?

Chapter 5 Question 1: While Finny is in the infirmary, Gene is paranoid that people will be suspicious of him, and then he dresses in Finny’s clothes and feels better. Why does Gene do this? Why is this significant? (Mali)

Gene dresses in Finny’s clothes to abandon his guilt about the accident. The clothes make him confident and optimistic because this is how Gene sees Finny. After the accident, right before dinner, Gene has an impulse decision to wear Finny’s clothes. He put on “his cordovan shoes, his pants…[and] his pink shirt” (Knowles, 62). Gene describes that he felt like Finny “to the life”. Gene immediately felt comfort from his guilt. “I had no idea why this gave me such intense relief, but it seemed, standing there in Finny’s triumphant shirt, that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again” (62). The clothes help Gene comfort himself in the middle of feeling like he didn’t know who he was. After realizing how bad of a person he conjured Finny to be, he lost all self respect for himself and started to forget who he was. He admires Finny as a confident, moral and optimistic person, by putting on his clothes Gene felt like how he thinks of Finny. By putting on the clothes, Gene temporarily abandons his identity and “becomes” Finny. When he wakes up the next morning, the confidence is gone, and he wakes up feeling sad and ashamed of who he has become because he has to succumb to his own identify. Gene admires Finny as such a good person, that by putting on Finny’s clothes to imitate him, Gene can forget who he feels like he is.

Assignment #4 : 2.) Briefly explain Gene’s visit to the infirmary. How does Finny act? Why? Does this feel “realistic”? How does Gene’s visit impact Finny? (Maclin)

Finny acts like himself and doesn’t really suspect anything of Gene when they are in the infirmary. Finny has been in the infirmary for a while now and hasn’t seen Gene, or for that matter anyone but the nurse since before the incident. So when Gene walks in Finny isn’t thinking about the incident he is just happy to see Gene. However, Gene quickly shifts this conversation and greeting towards what happened at the tree when he says, “Do you remember what made you fall?,”(Knowles 66). Finny responds by saying that he just fell. This is a realistic response because when describing his fall Finny says, “I just remember looking at your face for a second. Awfully funny expression you had. Very shocked, like you are right now,” (Knowles 65). This shows why Finny could have a right to be suspicious as Gene looks somewhat guilty, like he's expecting him to say what happened for him. This is further shown when later in the conversation Finny says,”But I don’t see why you should look so personally shocked. You look like it happened to you or something,” (Knowles 65). This shows that Finny isn’t completely sure of what happened but is starting to figure it out. Later in the chapter he talks about him having a crazy feeling about what happened, but he's just going to forget about it, because he just fell. This feeling of course is that Gene intentionally injured him by pushing him off the tree. But why should he blame Gene? He doesn’t know what just occurred. Gene intentionally injuring him is probably the very last thing Finny would have thought of. Gene and Finny’s relationship has been weakening throughout the book, and when the truth spills out about this incident, it won't be getting any better.

(61-71) Q4. What is guilt? Do we all have it? Is it part of being human? Can someone live guilt free? (Phoebe)

Gene has immense guilt for making Phineas fall of the tree and does not know how to tell him that it was his fault. Guilt is a human emotion and is defined by Websters Dictionary as "a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined" and this is just how Gene feels. Everyone is susceptible to the heavy feeling of guilt. It is part of being human. Guilt is usually caused by an irrational and reckless decision. When Gene decided to jounce the branch, he had not thought through it entirely. Phineas is an incredible athlete and seems invincible and untouchable. This is shown in the text when Gene says, “‘You’re too good to be true’ I said after a while. He glanced at me, and then said, ‘Thanks a lot,’ in a somewhat expressionless voice,”(Knowles 44). This happened after Phineas breaks the swimming record and doesn't want to tell anyone. Gene believes that Phinease cannot be hurt by anything and that he is perfect however he is frustrated that Phineas does not see it himself. So when Gene made the split-second decision to jounce the branch, he didn't truly believe that Phineas would get hurt. Gene behaved like a child and truly just wanted to see what would happen. However, it was not entirely because he is so jealous of Phineas. But now that Phineas has broken his leg, Gene realized the after affects of his thoughtless decision. Guilt is the side effect of a reckless decision, Gene feels guilty because now reflecting on his actions at the tree, he realizes that he has made a terrible mistake and destroyed Phineas' life.

Assignment #4 (61-71): Why did Gene go to Finny’s house? How did it impact Finny? Did Gene try to do the right thing? Why or why not? What would you have done? (Sanya)

Gene visits Finny’s house to inform Finny of the truth behind the accident, however he doesn’t take into consideration what this does to Finny. Gene arrives at Finny’s house on the way to Devon, and chats with him in his living room before proceeding to tell him the truth. Finny then declines what Gene had just told him, saying “of course you didn’t do it,” (70). Gene realizes “it struck me that I was injuring him again. It occurred to me that this could be an even deeper injury than what I had done before,” (70). Gene arrives at Finny’s house to do what he thinks is the morally right thing, and because he thinks it is what Finny would do if the tables were turned. However Gene doesn’t realize that in a way he is trying to convince himself that what he is doing is for Finny, when in reality he needs to get rid of his guilt. This negatively impacts Finny, as Gene is all he has left. Finny has lost so much, that he simply cannot fathom what Gene is saying; that their friendship was more of a rivalry, and a lie. As soon as Finny reacts, Gene immediatly knows that he shouldn’t have said anything because he leaves Finny with “an even deeper injury.” If I were Gene, in the first place I would not have tried to make my friend fall off a tree. Although if I were already at the point in the story Gene is at, I probably wouldn’t have told Finny so soon to spare his feelings. I would have told other people, and accepted any punishment. I also would’ve probably kept myself away from Finny (even though that may hurt him), but I wouldn’t be able to be around him knowing I had made him what he is, and that I was a truly fake friend.

Would you have reacted the same way as Finny if you were in his place when he found out?

Where do you think Gene and Finny’s relationship will go from here? How will this event alter it?

Assignment #4 : Re-read the last paragraph on page 48 (end of chapter 3). What happens here? Why is important? Why doesn’t Gene respond? What do you think holds him back? What is the “truth” he refers to at the very end of the quote?(Mario)

In the last paragraph of page 48, Phineas tells gene that they are best friends but Gene does not say anything back because something held him back from it. After Phineas and Gene go to the pool to beat a 100-meter freestyle school record which Phineas does not want anybody to know about, they decide to go to the beach. Well, Gene does not really want to go because he knows the consequences if they leave but Phineas convinces him. After they spend the rest of the day in the beach they go to sleep near the end and lonely part of the beach. Phineas then says “after all you can’t come to shore with just anybody  and you can't come by yourself, and at this teen-age period in life the proper person is your best pal.” “Which is what you are.” (Knowles, 48). Gene hesitates and tries to say it back but it does not back, he says that something was holding him back from saying it. This thing that was holding him back was the truth. The truth was that they really were not best friends and that Gene is just jealous of Phineas.

Q1: What is the significance of the incident at the swimming pool? What does the reveal about Finny and Gene and what does it add to our understanding of their relationship?(Tyler)

In the summer of 1942, Gene and Finny lived at Devon and formed a special and unique friendship. Despite the closeness of the two friends and their formation of “The Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session” there is a recurring theme of threat and difference in the relationship between the two boys that is magnified one day at the swimming pool.

One day at the pool during that “special summer” Finny noticed a record at the pool for the 100 yard freestyle (53.0 seconds). Amazed that no student had broken the long standing record during their time at Devon, Finny believed he may be able to swim fast enough to break the record. After finding a stopwatch, Finny mounts the starting blocks and “dominates the water” breaking A. Hopkins Parker’s school record by .7 seconds. It is not the athletic feat of breaking the record that strikes Gene that day at the pool, as he knew the athletic superiority of his friend.

Instead, what struck Gene was the desire for Finny to keep the swimming record a “secret” and Finny’s adamant insistence that the two boys “aren’t going to talk about his. It’s just between you and me. Don’t say anything about it, to...anyone.” (p. 44). Gene cannot understand Finny's insistence on secrecy when his naturally gifted athletic best friend broke the school's swim record without practice. Like other athletic activities/achievements of Finny that summer, his “record breaking” feat at the pool embodies something very different that the other students at Devon-- a lack of rivalry. As Gene notes, “there were few relationships among us at Devon not based on rivalry” (p. 45).

This record breaking feat at the pool and Finny’s lack of conversation and discussion regarding it, demonstrate his disregard for official records or even keeping score. In contrast to Finny, Gene seeks the approval of authority and desires formal success. Despite going along with almost all of Finny’s suggestions, Gene is subtly threatened by Finny’s athletic ability, his rebelliousness, and his consistent ability to get out of trouble. Like all students at Devon except Finny, Gene sees school and sports as formal competition — a public form of rivalry with clearly defined rules and expectations. As a result of the day at the pool and Finny’s low key reaction to the record breaking swim, Gene begins to question his friendship with Finny, “it made Finny seem too unusual for---not friendship, but too unusual for rivalry.” Gene begins to wonder how he can be friendly rivals with someone who will not play by the rules, who stands so clearly superior to him, and yet someone who remains unassuming as well.

(40-60)Re-read the last paragraph on page 48 (end of chapter 3). What happens here? Why is important? Why doesn’t Gene respond? What do you think holds him back? What is the “truth” he refers to at the very end of the quote?(Jack)

                  Gene can't reciprocate by saying "best pal" to his friend Phineas because his emotions are all tangled up by his jealousy and envy towards Phineas. After Phineas beats a record school swim time at the Devon School, he proposes to Gene that they go to the beach. The two boys decide to camp by the dunes and sleep on the beach. Before they go to bed, Phineas tells a "nighttime monologue" which at the end he tells Gene, "And at this teenage period in your life the proper person is your best pal...which is what you are," (48). Gene's jealousy of Phineas's freak athletic ability has led him to resent his closest friend.  His resentment of his skill and values that make him better than Gene is what has clouded their friendship in his mind. It has led him to be more focused on his envy than it has on his happiness. So when Gene is about to respond, he says, "Perhaps I was stopped by that level of feeling, deeper than thought, which contains the truth," (48). This shows that jealousy and envy can make two best friends some of the most prominent rivals. Gene's mind is so clouded by jealousy that when his best friend says they're best pals, Gene isn't able to put aside the emotions, and tell his best friend they're best pals. 

What do you think Phineas is feeling about this? How would you feel if the person you thought was your best friend didn't say you were their best friend?

(40-60) What is the significance of the incident at the swimming pool? What does the reveal about Finny and Gene and what does it add to our understanding of their relationship? (Anna)

The significance of the swimming pool incidence is that it shows Gene is trying to compete with Finny, but Finny is not trying to compete with Gene or outshine him. After Finny breaks the record, Gene is supportive and wants him to get an official timekeeper to make his record official, but Finny is not interested in that and is very modest about the situation. It adds understanding to their relationship by showing the different characteristics and values each friend has, Finny being modest and Gene being the jealous type. This situation also made Gene more jealous Finny, which was the opposite reaction Finny wanted him to have. This is shown in the text when it says, “‘You’re too good to be true’ I said after a while. He glanced at me, and then said, ‘Thanks a lot,’ in a somewhat expressionless voice,”(Knowles 44). This shows that Finny didn’t want to be rubbing his talents in Gene’s face when he did his impressive swimming feat. But, it still made Gene jealous. Gene and Finny have a relationship where one is not trying to purposefully conceitedly display his talents, but the other still sees him as everything he wants to be and is jealous.

Once the story shifts to the summer of 1942, Gene begins his narrative about his summer, the war, the school, his friendships and most specifically his relationship with Finny. Provide three specific examples of characterization about Finny, most specifically what kind of person is he and how do you know this. William

          Finny is a personable young man whose charm allows him to be carefree and therefore daring. His charisma often gets him out of trouble, such as when he is confronted by Mr. Prud’homme about missing nine meals in two weeks. Finny’s scattered thoughts allow him to sweet talk his teacher and come off better than he had before the conversation. “Mr. Prud’homme was pleased, won over in spite of himself[,...] there might [actually] be a flow of simple unregulated friendliness between them,[...]one of Finny’s reasons for living.” (22) By means of his candid speech allows him to interact with Mr. Prud’homme unimpeded by the power dynamics. Even though his teacher had come to him thinking that he would chastise Finny, he was left feeling that Finny was an equal and not deserving of a punishment. Finny’s ability to ignore consequences allows him to look past danger. While the other students are at lunch, Finny brings a few of his friends to a river with a large tree that they will jump off. As the others look up in apprehension, he clambered up it and sprang into the water without a second glance. Although he notices that the others are scared of completing this feat, and is aware that it is unsafe, he decides that it is fun and disregards the dangers. Finny also is not worried about adults or adult subjects, and is able to be very nonchalant when speaking to the professors about World War II. When speaking to a teacher about bombing that had occurred in Central Europe, he goes further and talks about bombing larger expenses, and does not act like it is a big deal. Even though the war is an important event he goes as far as using it to get out of a punishment, further displaying his disregard for the magnitude of the war. Finny masterfully guides conversations which then allows him to take risks and be extremely carefree.

Pages 21-40: Re-read Gene’s recognition of his use of sarcasm in the middle of page 29. In what ways has young Gene revealed himself to be weak and then to use sarcasm to mask this weakness? (CC)

On page twenty-nine, Gene states that only after his sarcastic summer of 1942 did he realize that “sarcasm {is} the protest of people who are weak,” (Knowles 29). Gene is shown, time and time again, to not be able to stand up for himself, especially this summer, so he uses sarcasm as a way to mask this. A few lines before the aforementioned quote, Gene and his friend Phineas, Finny for short, have finished having a party with their teacher, Mr. Patch-Withers. Gene notices throughout the meeting that Finny does most of the talking and as they walk back to their dorm, he brings it up. However, Finny denies the claim stating that “You don’t mean to infer that I talked too much!” to which Gene replied, sarcastically of course, “You? Talk too much? How can you accuse me of accusing you of that!” (Knowles 29). It seems that Gene thought he had overstepped his boundary with Finny as he brings up how much Finny talked. In order to cover up what Finny might see as a weakness if he backs down, he quickly makes a sarcastic comment and leaves it at that. Though Phineas and Gene are best friends, it seems that Finny often takes authority, and though Gene disagrees with some of Finny’s ways, Gene simply goes along with it, using sarcasm as his only tool to show he isn’t weak.

Assignment #2: Re-read the opening paragraph of chapter 3. Explore and explain the quote “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (33). Explain what Gene is saying and why he is saying it at this point. What are the larger implications of what he is saying? (Julia)

The quote “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me,” (Knowles, 33) shows the power that Phineas has over Gene. As an initiation to the ‘suicide society’ that Finny and Gene have just formed, Finny decides that all members must jump from a specific tree into the river. Gene originally doesn’t realize how dangerous this is, but while on the top branch, he stumbles, and almost falls backwards. Realizing after the event how close he was to harm, Gene thinks “If Finny hadn’t come up right behind me… if he hadn’t been there… I could have fallen on the bank and broken my back!” (Knowles, 32). Gene is attributing his livelihood to Phineas, and in the moment, he forgets that it was actually Finny who pressured him into jumping in the first place. Finny is the ringleader of many of the boys at Devon, and Gene’s best friend. Because of this, Gene looks up to him, and follows through with many of his ideas, even if they are dangerous. In some cases, this puts Gene at risk, but he doesn’t realize this, because he sees Finny as almost an idol. This is because Finny is very charismatic, and has a way of convincing people to do what he wants. In the moment, even though he is scared, Gene wants to jump from the tree, so that Finny will think he is brave, and because it is what he is expected to do, as Finny’s best friend. After this though, Gene realizes the kind of danger that he was in because of Phineas. His retrospective self thinks that he was silly for looking up to Finny so much. Even though he scolds himself, Gene repeats similar actions in the future. During other meetings of this society, Gene thinks “At that time, it never would have occurred to me to say “I don’t feel like it tonight,” which was the plain truth every night,” (Knowles, 34). This quote also demonstrates that Gene does a lot of what Finny wants, because he looks up to him so much, and also sees no other choice but to follow him. This becomes a pattern: Phineas has an idea, and Gene does not see a way to say no to it. Phineas has power over Gene, because of his charisma, and the two boys’ status at best friends.

#1: Gene is narrating his own story of what happened when he was in high school. How do a. his perspective (1st person narration) and b. the retrospective (looking back and telling a story as if it were the present) influence you as a reader and how does it impact the credibility or integrity of the story being told? (Tushar)

In A Separate Peace, Gene narrating in the first person, as well as the retrospective storytelling impact the reader's view of Finny. When the reader is first introduced to Finny's character at the tree, Gene describes him and says, "He weighed a galling ten pounds more than I did, which flowed from his legs to torso around shoulders to arms and full strong neck in an uninterrupted unemphatic unity of strength" (Knowles 16). Just by the tone and language that Gene uses, it is clear that he is in awe of Finny, and looks up to him. He makes Finny seem like the perfect man, everything that Gene wants to be. He takes great care in meticulously describing Finny, with his innate, god-like features. Even when the boys are walking to dinner, Gene describes Finny as "rolling forward in his white sneakers with such unthinking unity of movement that 'walk' didn't describe it" (Knowles 18). This again shows how much Gene likes Finny and everything he does. He even describes Finny's voice as a "cordial, penetrating voice, that reverberant instrument in his chest" (Knowles 17). He admires everything about Finny, from the way he walks to the way he talks. He paints Finny is such a way that Finny can do no wrong and even gets the reader aboard on it. He makes us believe that Finny is a hero. So far, it seems that even if Finny were to do something wrong, Gene would bend it to still defend Finny to keep telling himself that Finny is a god.

In A Separate Peace, Gene's retrospective storytelling in the first person influences the reader to perceive Finny as a legend.

#1. The novel opens up with present day Gene (1958ish) narrating his return to Devon 15 years after he graduates (until the middle of page 14). Why does John Knowles begin the novel this way? What is the purpose? What is the effect? (Gillian)

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the author begins the novel with the narrator at his old school to show the fear that was preserved within the school since Gene had last been there. The book begins with Gene roaming the school, talking about how new it looked compared to how it used to be. He says “As though a coat of varnish had been put over everything for better preservation. But, of course, fifteen years before there had been a war going on” (Knowles 9). This quote shows how, as Gene walked through his old school, he saw all of the past that he had there, and it was as if they were trying to fix the school and make it shiny and new again. This quote also shows the toll that the war took on the school and how the fear that once lingered when he was there was preserved. This idea is carried into another quote from the novel. Gene also mentions while walking through the school, “Because, unfamiliar with the absence of fear and what it was like, I had not been able to identify its presence” (Knowles 10). Gene explains that throughout his days at the school, he felt as if he didn’t know what it would be like to be unafraid because he simply did not know what it felt like, showing how the war affected him. He continues to explain that since the last time he was there, Devon felt the same. He says in his narration, “There was nothing else to notice; they of course were the same stairs I had walked up and down at least once every day of my Devon life. They were the same as ever” (Knowles 11). This quote once again shows how everything that Gene once knew is still preserved in Devon and how nothing has really changed. John Knowles begins the novel by narrating Gene’s return to Devon to show how is past is preserved in the school and he creates the effect of Gene’s fear being trapped in the school.

Gene visits two specific places upon his return: the First Academy Building and the tree. Name and explain twospecific things he notices/realizes about these places/things now (as opposed to then) and why Knowles might have done this. (Dylan)

Knowles chooses to begin the novel off with future scene in which Gene returns to his old school, Devon. It is a foggy, rainy day and despite the weather, Gene takes a long walk around the school grounds. On his walk, he visits two specific places: the First Academy Building and the tree. During his visit to the First Academy Building Gene comes across a marble flight of stairs, not noticing anything else. He inspects the stairs, and notices that they haven’t changed much at all since he left the school. He thinks to himself that “although they were old stairs, the worn moons in the middle of each step were not very deep,” (Knowles 11). Compared to Gene, the “unusually hard” stairs have not aged or changed over the years due to years of living fear of the war. The fact that the stairs are so hard lingers in his mind, possibly because of a particularly bad memory of the place. Gene lingers for a while, then he leaves the building and takes a long walk to the river where he looks for the tree. When he arrives at the edge of the river, several similar trees stand before him, and he thinks that it is strange that there were so many other alike trees. He eventually finds the right tree “by means of certain small scars rising along its trunk,” (Knowles 14). Gene takes a moment to study the tree and the area around him, and eventually we see what the tree stands for when he thinks that “it seemed to me standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are absolutely smaller,” (Knowles 14). This seems to hint at Gene remembering an old friend or mentor whom stood out that he had years ago at the school whom he lost touch with. He goes on to think that “nothing endures, not a tree, not love, not even a death by violence,” (Knowles 14). This last thought shows that Gene associates a great deal of fear, most likely of war, with this tree, and the school as a whole. Gene goes through a lot during his return trip to Devon from two seemingly small things, and we begin to see that his time at the school was filled with emotion, mainly fear that he has now left behind. 

1. Do you think that these places have anything to do with Finny (whom we meet later)

2. Do you think that the tree and the First Academy Building are related? Why or why not?

3. Is this a good way to start the novel? why or why not?

#1 Gene visits two specific places upon his return: the First Academy Building and the tree. Name and explain two specific things he notices/realizes about these places/things now (as opposed to then) and why Knowles might have done this. (Cameron)

                Gene, the narrator, returns to Devon School fifteen years after he was a student there. Gene now notices things about his old school and its campus that he did not notice when he lived there. When he visits the First Academy Building, he reaches the foyer and stops at the long, white marble stairs. He notices that the marble must be unusually hard. "That seemed very likely, only too likely, although with all my thought about these stairs this exceptional hardness had not occurred to me. It was surprising that I had overlooked that, that crucial fact" (Knowles, 11). Knowles might have done this to show how Gene has changed in relation to the stairs. Gene realizes that he feels older, taller, more successful and secure than when he was at school. Gene hopes that, since the buildings had achieved harmony with the past, he could as well, or maybe he already has achieved this growth and harmony himself without even knowing it. The second place Gene had come to see was the tree. He notices that the tree "...seemed weary from age, enfeebled, dry" (Knowles, 14). By seeing the tree, he realizes that the more things remain the same, the more things change. The tree symbolizes, for Gene, "... the giants of your childhood..." who seem so much smaller and older in relation to your life as you grow up (Knowles, 14). Knowles expresses Gene's transition from a boy to a man by using these places as time capsules. Gene notes that these two places were "fearful sights," but now since they seem older and smaller, he is not afraid of them any longer. Gene then realizes how much fear he was living in before, which means that he has escaped from that fear. 

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