1. A Separate Peace
John Knowles

2. Pre-Reading Questions
What words/ideas do you associate with the idea of Boarding School?
A friend is trying to convince you to do something that would break a school rule; you feel torn between going along with the friend and obeying the rule. What are the results?
What do you predict about the story based on the cover? What is the setting? The age of the main character, etc?

3. Allegory
A Separate Peace has been classified by its author as an ALLEGORY. An allegory is a symbolic narrative in which fictional characters represent truths or generalizations about human existence.

4. Setting
The physical setting of the novel is a prestigious boys’ prep school during World War II.

5. 1942-43 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
1942: Atlantic Charter signed by Roosevelt and Churchill (an 8 point declaration of principles
In the U.S., 110,000 American Japanese were moved to internment camps.
The Battle of Midway, Japan’s first major defeat occurred in June, 1942
August 7, Marines invaded Guadalcanal
U.S. Troops invaded Italy in September, 1943 (shortly after the end of the novel).

6. General Plot
A Separate Peace is about Gene Forrester’s attempt, as a teenager, to establish his own values and his own identity and to mature into an adult.

7. Literary Analysis
Remember to pay special attention to analysis of plot, setting, character, point of view/narration, theme, symbolism, and irony so you may write a literary analysis paper at the end. As you are reading, watch for commonalities or topics you would like to explore more!