Home : A Separate Peace : Study Guide

A Separate Peace Study Guide

by John Knowles

A Separate Peace study guide contains a biography of John Knowles, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Chapter 1:

The narrator, Gene, returns to the Devon School in New Hampshire, where he was a student with his friend Phineas 15 years ago, just as World War II began.

The narrative shifts back 15 years, to Gene's days with Phineas. On their first attempt to jump off a huge tree into the river, Phineas, being the daredevil, goes first‹and Gene is the only one who follows. Gene is normally a conservative, conformist type person, but around Phineas, he consents to break the rules more often.

Chapter 2:

Finny is an anomaly at Devon; he is a good student and athlete, but also a charming, likeable rule-breaker. The substitute headmaster, Mr. Patch-Withers, gives a tea for their class. Mrs. Patch-Withers notices that Finny has used the school tie as his…

Read the full A Separate Peace Summary

• A Separate Peace Summary
• About A Separate Peace
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 1-3
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 4-6
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 7-9
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 10-11
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters 12-13
• Related Links on A Separate Peace
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• A Separate Peace: Major Themes
• A Separate Peace: Essays
• A Separate Peace: Questions
• A Separate Peace: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• John Knowles: Biography