Transcript A Separate Peace Notes

A Separate Peace Notes
Chapter Nine
No Bozos!
Leper’s Enlistment


Shows how things change and people
change
Most important line in the book –


“Everything has to evolve or else it
perishes.”
Everything “evolves” or dies


Like Gene and Finny’s friendship
Signals future change for boys
Leper – Symbol of Innocence

Persuaded by propaganda

Doesn’t look for what relation the film has to the
war



“Silent as angels” (Don’t write this)
“Cleanest image of war…” (Don’t write this)
“Cheerful, sunburned bands” (Don’t write this)


Like the boys were the previous summer (don’t write)
Leper’s view of war

Reflects boyhood naiveté / innocence

“It’s like a test” (Don’t write this)
Leper – symbol for boys



(Don’t write this)
Heroism
Represents success of U.S.

Boys support shows


Patriotism
Involvement
 Without actually having to face the harsh
realities of war
Leper’s Exit

White stocking cap
 Symbol - childhood innocence
 Innocence has gone off to
war
Finny
 Silently becoming embittered
 Forgets Leper is gone
 Not facing reality
 Phineas – symbol of peace
 Peace cannot coincide with
war
Brinker

Resigns from clubs
Shift away from childhood
 Feels lost in the middle of
childhood and adulthood.

Weather



Reflects mood
 Winter – becomes “old, corrupt, tired
conqueror”
 Begins to withdraw only after destroying
everything
Winter Carnival
 “A Separate Peace”
 Like previous summer (this “peace” cannot
last)
 Finny – Dance = Canoe story (he becomes
superhuman and can transcend gravity)
Letter (From Leper/War/Adult Life)
 Ends Winter Carnival/Peace/Childhood