Study Questions &
Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. To what extent should we consider
Gene to be an unreliable narrator? How does this concern affect
our understanding of the story that he tells and our attitude toward
him?
2. Discuss the relationship between codependency
and identity in A Separate Peace and how these concepts help define
the relationship between Gene and Finny.
3. How does World War II function in
the novel on a symbolic and thematic level? How does it relate to
the title of the book?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. What role does Leper play in the novel? What does
the author suggest about the nature of his relationship to Gene
and Finny?
2. Discuss the importance of setting in specific scenes
through-out the novel, especially in regard to what it reveals about characters
and events. How do natural settings contrast with or complement
the thematic content of certain scenes?
3. Contrast Brinker and Finny. How do their personalities
relate to the winter session and summer session, respectively?
4. Discuss the symbolism of Finny's fall. Is A
Separate Peace a novel of sin and redemption? Is Gene redeemed
in the end?
5. Analyze the role of competition in the relationship
between Gene and Finny. How does Finny's invented game of “blitzball”
work as a symbol of Finny's approach to competition? Why is it significant
that he excels at sports while Gene shines in academics?
