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A Separate Peace – Chapter Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Identify where and when the novel begins.
  1. The narrator returns to visit two places - the tree and the stairs.

DESCRIBE what he says about each place.

Tree –

Stairs -

Chapter 2

  1. Finny gets away with TWO rebellious acts. What are they?
  1. How does Gene FEEL about Finny’s ability to get away with things?
  1. How does Finny save Gene’s life?

Chapter 3

1. Explain the significance of the following and state its importance to character and/or plot development:

  • Super Suicide Society
  • Blitzball
  • A. Hopkins Parker, 1940

2. Why does Gene continue to jump from the tree when he actually detests it?

Chapter 4

  1. Why does Gene take the bike ride to the beach when he feels he has logical reasons to remain at school?
  1. Finny explains to Gene, “You can’t come to the 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.”
  2. What motivates Finny to say this to Gene?
  • How does Gene react to this statement? What does this reveal about Gene?
  1. Up to this point, Gene believes there is a rivalry between Finny and him. What makes him change his mind?
  1. While Finny is on the tree limb, what does Gene do? Why?

Chapter 5

  1. Describe the significance of the pink shirt.
  1. When Gene talks to Finny at the hospital, what are Finny’s recollections about the fall and his thoughts about Gene?
  1. Later, at Finny’s home, Gene tries to explain what happened in the tree. What was Finny’s reaction to this?
  • What might Gene mean when he says, “I was injuring him again…?”

Chapter 6

  1. Why does Gene apply for assistant Crew Manager?
  1. Why does Finny say, referring to Gene’s visit at Finny’s home, “You talked to crazy here…?

Chapter 7

  1. What happens in the Butt Room when Brinker takes Gene there?
  1. What does Leper do instead of helping to shovel out the troop train? Why do you think?
  1. What decision does Gene make about the war? Why do you think?

Chapter 8

  1. What argument does Finny use in defending his statement that there isn’t any war?
  1. Why do you think Finny chooses to believe there isn’t a war?
  1. Why does Finny start training Gene as a runner? Why does Gene agree?

Chapter 9

  1. Why does Leper enlist in the army? (What does he believe it to be?)
  1. What is the Winter Carnival?

3. Who sends Gene a telegram at the end of this chapter? Why?

Chapter 10

  1. Why has Leper escaped from the army?
  1. Why does Leper call Gene a “savage”?
  1. What do Leper’s hallucinations at the end of the chapter tell you about the war?

Chapter 11

  1. Why does Brinker take Gene and Finny to the Assembly Room?
  1. Why is Leper called in?
  1. Why does Finny hurry from the room?

Chapter 12

  1. What happened to Finny? Describe his injury.
  1. We learn why Finny has been denying that the war exists. What is the reason?
  1. What happens to Finny in the operating room?

Chapter 13

  1. Gene says, “My schooling was over now.” Beyond the literal meaning of his formal education, what else is he referring to?