Criticism: A Separate Peace
Literary Criticism
 Paradise Cycle
 Heroic Archetype
 Biblical
 Historical
 Biographical
 Character
 Symbol/Allusion
Honors:
-Marxist
-Freudian
-Feminism
-Jungian Archetypes
-New Historicism
Paradise Cycle
Heroic Archetype
 Paradise Cycle
 Identify how the
novel follows the
Paradise Cycle
 4 stages with
examples and
explanation of each
 Heroic Archetype
 Identify how the
novel follows the
Heroic Archetype
 6 phases of
Archetype with
examples and
explanation of each
Biblical
 Setting of Devon
 Rivers, Tree, etc.
 Characters
 Bible stories
 Values
 Sin, Forgiveness, Jealousy, Friendship
Historical
 Events of history similar to book
 Did boys in novel mirror boys in WWII
 Did actions in book mirror actual events
 Did war affect real boys like boys in
novel
Biographical
 How does the novel compare to the
author’s real life?
 Childhood and upbringing
 Schooling
 Friends
 Events in novel
 Requires research into author’s life
Character
 Character analysis
 How does the author use the characters to
promote his theme
 Static/Dynamic
 Foil
 Do characters represent different aspects
of the time? Viewpoints? Society?
 Etc.
Symbolism/Allusions
 How does the author use
symbols/allusions in the novel?
 To develop theme
 To comment on society
 To comment on human nature
 To develop characterization
 Etc.
Marxist
 Class struggle
 Feelings associated with have/havenots
 Who has wealth, who does not
 Actions in response to money
 What is required of people with money
and people who do not have it
Id = Unconscious, primitive desires to satisfy basic needs
Superego = Socially acceptable morals, taught values
Ego = Aware (conscious); Mediator between two
Feminism
 Lack of women
 Function of women mentioned
 Description of women
 Purpose served in story/society
New Historicism
 How does events of novel mirror
today’s events
 Was the author biased in his
representation of the war
 How might we interpret this novel with
today’s viewpoints
Jungian
 Character Archetypes
 Trickster
 Wise old man
 Shadow
 Anima and Animus
 Etc.