9H Summer Reading - A Separate Peace
Welcome to English 9 Honors! It is required for all honors students at CHHS to
complete a summer reading assignment. During your English 9H semester, we’ll be
studying identity. We’ll answer questions like “What makes up who a person is?”
and “What things can change my identity?” and “What is my identity?” We will
look at many different aspects of identity, so this summer, we’ll start by looking at
how friendships (as well as world affairs--like wars) affect our identities. We’ll do
that by reading the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
For your summer reading assignment, you will do the following:
● Discussion Packet (Quiz Grade): After this introduction page, you will find the discussion
packet which should be completed this summer. It is due the second day of school,
regardless of what semester you take English. Answers should be completed in detail.
Sections of the discussion packet have specific directions. Please follow them.
● In-Class Test (Test Grade): You will complete an in-class test on the second day of school. If
you have English second semester, you will take this test second-semester. I advise you to
take notes while reading (notebook paper or Post-It notes—not by writing in the book) so
that come test time, you have study materials. The test will ask basic questions that you
should easily be able to answer if you read. The test will be different in the second semester
to prevent cheating.
● Other Assignments? We may do other assignments in class that will be separate grades.
This could include a paper, additional discussion or seminar, or a project. Be prepared by
reading thoroughly.
You may not work with another student on this discussion packet. You may not
gain answers from another student, a parent, the internet, or any other source.
You may ask a peer or parent for help if you do not understand, but packets
should be completed on your own.
If needed, please contact me over the summer via email:
Colleen_Hirn@colonialhts.net
If you wish to purchase your own book, here is the info:
Publisher: Scribner (September 30, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0743253973
ISBN-13: 978-0743253970
Discussion Packet
Pre-reading Questions
Complete these questions before reading the novel.
1. Consider your friendship with your closest friend. Have you ever had rocky moments? How have
those moments affected your friendship? How did they affect you as a person? Respond in 5-7+
sentences.
2. Research how the war affected life in America and record your findings below (bullets are okay).
Look at all aspects of life: men, women, children, jobs, economy, leisure, the media, etc.
3. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. Think of a time when you let your own thoughts
(jealousy, fear, hatred, etc.) get the best of you. What happened? How did it affect you and those
around you? What did you learn from it? Write a paragraph about it below.
During Reading Notes
While reading, you will be required to take notes. For each chapter, record things
like quotes you like, thoughts you have, or questions you have. Record a page
number with the quote/thought/question. This will be worth 10 points of the
Discussion Packet Quiz Grade. If you don’t do it, you can’t get an A!
During Reading Questions
These questions are plot related. Answer them during or after reading. Taking
notes while you read (and including page numbers) will help when completing
this!
Chapter One
1. Looking at the stairs in the First Academy Building, what surprising fact does the narrator (later
revealed to by Gene Forrester) realize he had overlooked about them? Why is this important?
2. When Gene visits the tree, what does it resemble? How does Gene feel about having seen the
tree? Why?
3. Why must Gene, against his better judgement, jump from the tree? How does this and the
wrestling match between Finny affect their relationship? What does this tell you about the
personalities of the two?
Chapter Two
4. What is Gene beginning to realize about Phineas? Evaluate Gene’s reaction to this realization.
5. Gene admits that he is envious of Finny, who gets away with anything. He states that there is
no harm in envying a best friend a little. Do you agree him? Explain your answer.
6. When Finny insists they jump from the tree again, why do you think Gene agrees to it, even
though he is obviously afraid to do so? Is Gene’s reaction to peer pressure a typical one?
Chapter Three
7 After Finny breaks a swimming record, what does he make Gene promise? Why? What does this
show about Finny?
8. What “courageous” thing does Finny admit to Gene before they got to sleep on the beach?
What is Gene’s response? What does this show about each boy?
9. Gene has conflicting emotions about Finny having “practically saved his life” because it was
Finny’s fault he had “practically lost” it. Yet, Gene continues to go to the nightly meetings and jump
from the tree without protest. Why do you think he does this?
Chapter Four
10. Before they reach the tree, what does Gene realize about the rivalry between him and Finny?
How does he feel about this?
11. Gene determines that Finny had deliberately set out to wreck Gene’s grades with all his
diversions. Is Gene being realistic? Does Gene have any responsibility for his own actions? How is
Gene’s behavior typical of human nature?
12. Why do you think Gene jounced the tree limb? Was his action premeditated? What do you think
he was thinking just prior to this? Why do you think Gene then jumps from the limb for the first time
without fear?
Chapter Five
13. Gene wants to tell Finny the truth about what happened and begins to do so. Why is it
important for him to tell the truth? Who will it help more, him or Finny? Why?
14. Even Gene tells Finny the truth, Finny is unable to believe it and denies it. Why does he react
this way? Why can’t he believe it?
Chapter Six
15. Why does Gene hit Quakenbush? What could be the hidden motive?
16. Why does Gene feel his purpose must have been to “become a part of Phineas”? What does he
mean by this? Why would he need to become a part of him?
Chapter Seven
17. Describe how Gene manages to maintain control when he is “accused” in the Butt Room. Why
does he react this way?
18. Why do you think Gene is unable to say he pushed Finny out of the tree? What had he promised
himself he would do when Finny returned to Devon? What might be the effect on his relationship
with Finny if he admits it to the other boys?
19. What is Gene’s reaction to Brinker’s announcement that he will enlist the following day? What
decision does Gene make? Why?
Chapter Eight
20. When Gene realizes Finny is returning, about what does Gene change his mind? Interpret this
change of mind.
21. What are the conclusions Finny has about war?
22. Finny tells Gene that “when you love something, then it loves you back, in whatever way it has
to love.” Analyze this conversation and each of their views.
23. What is the plan Finny develops for Gene? Why does he develop a plan and why does Gene
agree to it?
Chapter Nine
24. What conclusion does Leper come to about “everything” after seeing the war film?
25. What occurs that causes the “special and separate” peace of the afternoon of the Decathlon to
drain away?
26. Leper concludes that “Everything has to evolve or else it perishes.” How do you think Leper’s
theory might apply to each of the three boys?
Chapter Ten
27. What conclusion does Gene come to about Leper’s “escape”?
28. When Leper accuses Gene of being a “savage underneath,” what example does he use to make
his point?
Chapter Eleven
29. Why does Brinker believe Gene has put off enlisting? How does Brinker say Finny should be
treated? Why?
30. Why you do you think Brinker forces the issue of Finny’s fall with the boys? Is he trying to do
good by this? Explain your answer.
31. At the end of Leper’s testimony, Finny calls out, “I just don’t care. Never mind.” What do you
think he means?
Chapter Twelve
32. When Gene takes Finny’s suitcase to the Infirmary, what does Finny admit he has been doing
all winter? What has been the result? Analyze Finny’s behavior.
33. As Gene watches Finny being carried out in the chair, he states that he again had the feeling
“of having all along ignored what was finest” in Finny. What do you think Gene is referring to?
34. The adult Gene states that he had never cried for Finny, and that at Finny’s funeral, he had a
feeling it had been his own. What do you think he means by that?
Chapter Thirteen
35. Why does Gene conclude that none of the Devon boys ever accused him of being responsible
for what had happened to Finny?
36. Gene comments that he was ready for the war since he no longer had any hatred to contribute
to it. What does he mean by this?
37. What do you think Gene is suggesting about human nature in the last paragraph of the novel?
After Reading Questions
Answer these response questions in paragraph form (8-10 sentences).
38. Did you like the ending of the novel? If so, why was it a good ending? If not, what would you
change about it? Be detailed. (No “It was good” or “It was okay” etc.)
39. In your own age, there have been things like September 11th, the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq, and the Boston Marathon bombing. Whether we realize it or not, these events have shaped
us and everything around us, much like the war and Finny’s accident shape the boys at Devon
School. Explain how and why these events change people and entire countries.
40. How do friendships shape our sense of self? How does Gene and Finny’s friendship shape who
they each are? How have your friends (gained and lost) shaped who you are? Be sure to answer
each part of the question.