Assignment #9, What causes Gene to attack Leper? The answer needs to involve a literal and figurative exploration of what occurs here (middle 145). (Nic)

Gene attacks Leper because Gene still feels guilty for pushing Finny out of the tree, and when Leper brought it up, Gene was overtaken by emotion and attacked Leper. Alternatively, this attack could be seen as the physical manifestation of Leper’s mental breakdown. Gene had been traveling to Leper’s house in Vermont to save him, but when he gets there, something is off. Leper is acting very weird, and he just keeps getting more intense, to the point where he is insulting Gene. This eventually all culminates in Leper insulting Gene about pushing Finny off the tree and Gene attacking Leper. This is obviously because Gene still feels guilty about pushing Finny. Gene was caught very off guard when Leper accused him, and  you can tell that he immediately regretted his decision when he said “I’m terribly - it was a mistake.” This attack could also be seen as a representation of Leper’s journey in the Army. He started out fine, then he slowly started to decline into madness. After a couple of weeks, Leper had fallen into insanity, and eventually he snapped. He saw the corporal, but something was different about him, his face ”Kept changing into faces [Leper] knew from somewhere else.” This caused Leper to yell, then scream for other people to come look, this finally caused him to get discharged from the Army. This is represented by the scene where Leper is slowly becoming more intense with Gene, until he brings up Finny, and Gene snaps, just like Leper did in the Army.

Assignment #9: Since Leper is “section 8” (“for nuts in the service”), explore the irony of Leper’s statement “always were a savage underneath.” Take into consideration that Leper contacted Gene. Why is this important?

In this chapter, Gene travels to Vermont to visit Leper, who seems to have returned from serving in the army. However, when Gene arrives at the Christmas Location, it becomes apparent that Leper isn't the same boy he used to be. His time serving had scarred him, and his personality seemed to take a turn for the worst. Leper even informs Gene that he was about to be discharged from the army for being insane, which would impact him for the rest of his life. Eventually, during their conversation, Leper goes off on Gene and says, "You always were a savage underneath."(Knowles 145) He then goes on to exclaim that Gene had pushed Finny out of the tree, which causes Gene to respond with aggression. Leper is spot on with this accusation, as although Gene tries to put up a front as a good person, he has lots of internal conflict which causes him to act irrationally at times. For example, he performed an extremely horrible act when he pushed Finny out of the tree, which ended up robbing Finny of his passion. After the incident, he refused to admit that he was the one that caused the accident, and also seemed to care more about how the fall affected him rather than Finny. Those clearly are not signs of a person with good morals. During their conversation/argument, Leper also ends up saying Gene is "A swell guy, except when the chips are down,"(Knowles 145), which is pretty spot-on as well. The fact that Leper is the one who said all of this is pretty ironic, as Leper used to be a kind, soft-spoken person. A couple chapters ago, I would never even imagine that Leper would be the one to expose Gene's personality like this. However, the war made him a brash, anger-filled person that didn't seem to care about anyone's feelings anymore. This shows how impactful going to war was for young men like Leper, as some of them came back shattered and insane. This visit to the Christmas Location impacted Gene's interpretation of the war as well. Gene's visit to Leper gave Gene a reality check of sorts, as it showed him how terrifying and real the war was. Back in Devon, the war seemed so far away that it almost seemed nonexistent. Finny was even refuting the fact that there was any war going on at all. By inviting Gene to visit him and see the state in which the war left him, Gene was forced to acknowledge that the war was real.

What would you do if you were in Gene's situation? Do you think that Leper will be able to recover from the scar that the war left him? what do you think will happen to their friendship?

Assignment #9: Explore the difference between what ‘escape’ means to Gene as opposed to what it means to Leper (Julio)..

In chapter 10, Gene went over to Leper's house since he was back from being in the army. Gene had already made up his mind on what happened and why he was back before the war was over. He thought his "escaping" was referring to getting away from the spies in the army since the real enemies in Genes perspective were overseas, while to Leper there was no escaping in the army. Leper says, "The army doesn't give out passes and then say 'Come back when you've had enough, hear?' "(Knowles 143), showing how what Gene thought was the reason he was back was completely wrong and seemed to have bothered Leper. He is paranoid and feels like Gene is looking at him as if he were a psycho. What Gene didn't know was that he wasn't running away or "escaping" anything, Leper had been given a Section Eight discharge. He explains how this type of discharge is for the "nuts" in the service and that it is worse than a dishonorable discharge. That when you apply for jobs and they see a Section Eight they won't want you. Leper ends his ranting by saying he's screwed for life and goes on to blame Gene for knocking Finny out of that tree and crippling  him for life while laughing and crying on the floor.

What do you think will happen to Leper's and Gene's friendship after this interaction? Do you think Gene should tell Finny before Leper does? What would you do if you were in Genes shoes?  

Assignment #8: Leper is the first of the boys to enlist. Based on the conversations and narration in the previous few chapters, what about this is ironic? (Katherine)

It is ironic that Leper is the first boy to enlist because all of his actions leading up to this point have not suggested that he is at all interested in the war. In the previous chapters, Leper has been an outsider, going on walks and “just touring around” (Knowles 94) on his skis while the other boys shoveled snow off train tracks. He seemed to just do his own thing most of the time, an outsider who had no interest in war. When he sees the video of the skiers, which is propaganda made for convincing people to join the war effort, he “sat still, amazed” (Knowles 124). This is in sharp contrast to his idea from an earlier chapter that skiing is for “useful locomotion” (Knowles 94). He seems drawn by the idea that there was “nothing tainted” (Knowles 124). Because Leper was seen as an outsider who preferred to do his own thing, it was surprising and ironic when his classmates found out he had enlisted. 

Assignment #8: Why does Finny organize the Winter Carnival? Why is this significant? What is the impact and symbolism of the Winter Carnival? (Charlotte Trodden)

In chapter nine of A Separate Peace, Finny and Gene (mostly Finny) decide to organize a winter carnival, to celebrate winter. At first, Gene is hesitant, as he doesn't find much to celebrate during the winter, and neither do the other students at Devon. Finny convinces the boys to have this carnival and to enjoy their last moments of freedom before the war. Finny makes it seem like he is hosting this carnival in the spirit of the winter season. However, he is organizing this carnival for other reasons, mainly the fact that he wants his attention back. When he returned to Devon after injuring his leg, everyone was excited o have him back and showered him with attention constantly. But when Leper enlisted in the war, all attention was turned on him, and his sudden exit. "Leper sprang up all over the world at the core of every Allied success. We talked about Leper’s stand at Stalingrad, Leper on the Burma Road, Leper’s convoy to Archangel; we surmised that the crisis over the leadership of the Free French would be resolved by the appointment of neither de Gaulle nor Giraud but Lepellier; we knew, better than the newspapers, that it was not the Big Three but the Big Four who were running the war." (Knowles, 126). Everyone starts talking about Leper all the time, and Finny feels robbed. He refuses to engage in conversations about Leper and the war, "Everyone contributed to this legend except Phineas. At the outset, with the attempt on Hitler’s life, Finny had said, '“If someone gave Leper a loaded gun and put it at Hitler’s temple, he’d miss.”' (Knowles, 127). Finny holds this carnival to get his attention back, and to keep everyone focused on him.

Why does Finny require so much attention? How does Finny feel about Leper enlisting? How will Finny respond to Lepers letter?

The “separate peace” moment is shattered by the arrival of the telegram from Leper. Explore the significance of the timing of the telegram and the content. From was has Leper “escaped”?

The moment the telegram was received Gene was just beginning to feel inner peace and Finny was having a fun night in which both characters forgot about the war. Gene and Finny were both having a fun night at the winter carnival but as the letter was received about Leper their moods began to change. "And it was this which drained away as I watched Finny's face pass through all graduations between uproariousness and shock," (Knowles, 137). In this quote the letter destroys Gene's profound peace as he's seeing Finny's mood change quickly. This moment is very important because Gene begins to see clarity in his life but is then brought back to reality by Lepers telegram. When the telegram is received Finny and Gene's nights were both ruined.

Reading #8: Re-read the last paragraph on the bottom of 136 and on to 137. Paraphrase what Gene is saying and interpret the usage of “separate peace.” What is a “separate peace”? Why is included here? What is the significance? (Rhys)

Towards the end of Chapter 9, Gene is saying that he has surpassed himself from the freedom that he was able to tear from his fears in 1943. Gene is worried about World War II and going into the army, so at the carnival, he uses the words “a separate peace,” meaning he has found peace, but left behind his fears associated with 1943. A “separate peace” is finding peace when there are bad things in the surrounding world. When Gene is thinking to himself at the carnival, he feels the “liberation [they] had torn from the grey encroachments of 1943, the escape we had concocted, this afternoon of momentary, illusory, special and separate peace” (Knowles 137). Looking at two different factors in A Separate Peace, Peace, and War, Gene’s thoughts are significant in a way that they show the effect of the war on his life. When he doesn’t think about the war, he is peaceful. Gene’s head is filled with concerns about the war, but he uses the words a “separate peace” because he has found unity among the sadness surrounding him.

What do you think about the effect of the war on Gene’s life? How does that change him as a person? How does Gene find peace among war?

Assignment #7 What does the conversation about enlisting reveal about Finny and Gene’s relationship (p107-108)?(Thomas)

The conversation about enlisting reveals that Gene and Finny need each other. Here in the reading Finny shows how he needs Gene to be with him in order to survive. “I could hardly believe it, but it was too plainly printed in the closed expression of his face to mistake, too discernible beneath the even tone of his voice: Phineas was shocked at the idea of my leaving. in some way he needed me,”(108). Here Gene observed Finny's reaction to his leave. Through that he saw shock at first but what is sadness as well. His face just shows that when it comes down to the point where you can lose someone, how much they matter to you and how much you really need them. Here Finny is realizing how much he needs Gene right at the point where he may leave. “I wouldn’t enlist with you if you were General MacAurther’s eldest son,”(108). Here Gene is reassuring Finny that he is definitely not going to enlist. Soon after this puts a smile on Finny’s face happy to know that Gene is staying and not enlisting. Plus Gene also needs Finny so he can feel less guilty about what he did to him. Overall they both need each other in order to survive.  

Assignment #7 What is the significance of Gene and Finny’s training? How is related to their conversations about war? What does it reveal about their relationship? (Kate)

Gene and Finny’s training is significant because it is mutually beneficial to their friendship, but this training forces them both to be in denial about the war. Gene wasn’t in as much denial as Finny at the beginning of the chapter but in an effort to make Finny happy he has begun to train as if there would truly be an Olympics in ‘44 despite WW2. They both want to be happy, so they are talking about the war like it is not real and therefore can’t affect them. Because, even after the incident at the tree, their bond is still incredibly strong and resilient. So they are trying to push each other and do what the other person can’t do. According to Gene, “Finny and I, to our joint double amazement, began to make flashing progress where we had been bumblers before” (Knowles, 119). While they are denying their futures, they are both gaining something from their relationship and trying to preserve the “peace that had come back to Devon” (Knowles, 109). They need each other to protect the goals that they had set for themselves despite the reality of the war. 

Do you think that them denying the war and focusing on other goals is a good way to distract themselves? Do you think that this will change their lives for the better? 

Assignment #7 (103-122): Explore the dynamics and undertones of Finny and Gene’s first conversations upon his return. Does it feel “realistic” to you? Why or why not?

While seemingly normal, Finny and Gene’s first conversation upon his return has

undertones of denial and uncertainty. When Finny returns to Devon, he jumps right

into teasing Gene about his clothes and says, “You don’t have to advertise like that,

we all know you’re the worst dressed man in the class” (Knowles 103). This teasing is
very natural and normal in their friendship but this normalness is shortlived.

Finny starts to complain about the absence of the maids and Gene jumps in to says, 

“after all, there is a war going on” (Knowles 104). In denial, Finny murmurs 

“Is there...I didn’t pay any attention” (Knowles 104). Not only is Finny in denial of

the war, but he’s also in denial of his injury, what it means for him, and who caused it. 

In trying to act normal, he is doing the opposite given the situation. This connects to the 

question, does this conversation feel realistic? To me, it doesn’t. Finny and Gene are

yet to discuss the events of the day Finny got injured and the conversation they had 

at Finny’s house. Things can’t be normal between them when something that 

big hasn’t been discussed.

Do you think that Finny was acting normal in this conversation? Do you think that they will end up addressing the Elephant in the room? 

Reading #6: Part of this reading focuses on Leper. How is he characterized? What do we learn about him? Provide some specific details from the reading to support your answer.

Leper is characterized as dreamy and unaware, the epitome of the attitude of the Summer Session. He is quite oblivious to the war, as shown when Gene and the other boys volunteered to shovel the railroad yard for the war, but Leper didn’t: “So we all volunteered… But not Leper”(93). Leper instead went skiing, looking for a beaver dam. He is quite blissful, sharply contrasting with the worried and stern attitudes of his peers. When the shovelers came back, Brinker made fun of Leper, and yet Leper seemed unbothered, too cheered by his discovery of the dam (99). While everyone else has been changed by Winter Session and the increased influence of the war, Leper has remained blissfully ignorant.

Will Phineas be affected by the changed attitude, or will he remain his old cheery self?

Assignment #6 Explore the significance/symbolism of the Nagaumsett. (Alexsa)

The Nagaumsett is a very symbolic thing beside the Devon school as John Knowles shows its darkness relating to the war. The River is seen as ugly and dark. No one at The Devon School liked it and thought it could resemble war. It's like a river of mud compared to Devon. The Devon river is seen as pure and healthy. Gene says, “It was ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud and seaweed,” (Knowles 76). This quote shows how disgusting and the idea that is could symbolize the war. On the other side though, the Devon River would symbolize peace and more of a happy side. Gene also says, “A few miles away it was joined to the ocean, so that its movements were governed by unimaginable factors like the Gulf Stream, the Polar Ice Cap, and the moon,” (Knowles 76). Knowles is showing the symbolism of the Nagaumsett in this quote by saying that the river was technically uncontrollable and/or even unpredictable just like the war. You can’t control a whole river and you can’t control a whole war. Knowles is showing how nature and real life ecosystems can be compared to an “ugly” river. The Nagaumsett could also symbolize the thoughts Gene has about his and Finny’s friendship. There’s two sides; The Devon River and then The Nagaumsett. The Devon can symbolize the happiness and truthfulness of their friendship, but the Nagaumsett could represent the complete opposite. It would symbolize how Gene is jealous of Finny or even how he feels like he has no control over the friendship and how controlling Finny really is. Finny says, “Listen, pal, if I can’t play sports, you’re going to play them for me...to become a part of Phineas,” (Knowles 85). This quote is showing how Finny wants Gene to be just like him, but Gene really doesn’t want that. He’s afraid to tell Finny that though. As you can see the river can symbolize many things, including war and friendship/rivalry. 

Assignment #6: Explore and explain the significance of the scene in the Butt Room. (Spiros)

The Butt Room is a place where the students at Devon go to smoke and talk about

what bad things are going on around the school. When Gene and Brinker go down to

the Butt Room, they find multiple people there already smoking and doing things they

wouldn’t be allowed on campus. Also, Gene starts bragging about what he did to Finny,

even though it isn’t true. When Gene and Brinker head down to the dungeon, they act

like Gene is a prisoner and they have captured him to interrogate him for his actions,

“‘Here’s your prisoner, gentlemen,’ announced Brinker, seizing my neck and pushing me

into the Butt Room ahead of him, ‘I’m turning him over to the proper authorities,’”

(Knowles 89). Although they act like they are punishing Gene, they are really just fooling around and want to find out what happened. They do it downstairs in the dungeon because they would most likely get in trouble if they met up and made inappropriate jokes about such a serious matter in front of teachers. The Butt Room is just a place where all the kids go to hang out and do things in secrecy without the teachers knowing. Whether it plays a big role or not throughout the rest of the story is unknown, but it gives the readers an idea of what life was like there.

Do you think that the Butt Room will be important throughout the rest of the book? If yes,

then how so? Do you think that the teachers will find out what the students do in the Butt Room?

Explore the significance of the fight with Quackenbush. Why does it happen? What exactly sets Gene off? How is related to his narrative earlier in the chapter? Why might Quakenbush be so disdainful of Gene? (Keira)

The fight with Quakenbush was significant because Quakenbush told Gene that he must work as the manger because he cannot row, the relationship between Quakenbush and Gene is similar to the one of FInny and Gene. Because Finny is so good at sports, Gene often feels like he has to do something just as good to continue being Finny’s friend. The fight between Quakenbush and Gene occurred after Gene realized that he was late to his appointment at the crew house. When he arrives he gets mad at Quakenbush because he says he cannot row and must be the manager, when Gene hears this he smacks him across the face and they get into a fight and fall into the river,  “I hit him hard across the face...Quackenbush had clamped his arm in some kind of tight wrestling grip around my neck...I tried to throw him off, he lunged at the same time, and we catapulted into the water” (Knowels, 79). This quote is significant because it shows how much Gene does care about being athletic and how he is no longer wiling to be the one with the perfect grades and not breaking any rules. 

Assignment #5 (72-85) What is the significance/symbolism of the Devon River?

The Devon River signifies friendship, childhood, and growth for Gene. He has had many memories with Finny on the Devon River. He thinks it is a beautiful river and much better than it's neighboring one which signifies adulthood, the war, and the hardships of life. As Gene is rushing to his crew practice he stops to glance at the river and all the memories it holds. As he stares he says, "As I had to do whenever I glimpse at this river, I thought of Phineas... each muscle aligned in perfection with all the others to maintain this supreme fantasy"(Knowles 75). This quote shows the connection that the Devon River has with Gene and Finny's friendship. This river also holds some bad memories such as Finny's fall which Gene feels truly guilty about. However, when Gene stares into the river he decides to ignore all the bad memories. He says, "I thought of Phineas. Not of the tree and pain but one of his favorite tricks (Knowles 75). All in all, the Devon River is really important to both Gene and Finny because of the timeless memories they've made there.

Assignment #5 (Pages 72-85): Why does Quackenbush use the word “maimed”? Explore the significance and connotation. (Tyler)

Quackenbush used the word “maimed” to insult Gene. Gene goes down to the crew house on the lower side of the Devon River for a crew meeting. This is when he sees that Quackenbush, a previous acquaintance of his is there. Quackenbush begins to boss Gene around because he is the crew manager, and Gene is the assistant crew manager. Soon Gene and Quackenbush start to fight. It started verbal but escalated to a physical confrontation ending with Quackenbush yelling “Listen you maimed son-of-a-bitch” (Knowles 79) and Gene hitting him across the face. The connotation of maimed is very negative in this situation. Quackenbush used it as an insult toward Gene trying to disfigure him. Gene took the comment very personally as if he was maimed himself. Gene then came to the realization that he does know someone maimed, his best friend Phineas. After things die down Gene begins the comprehend that he hit Quackenbush for himself, not Phineas. “But it didn’t feel exactly as though I had done it for Phineas. It felt as though I had done it for myself” (Knowles 80). Gene keeps acting as if he is Phineas himself. From wearing his clothes to feeling as if he is maimed, Gene is slowly becoming Finny.

Assignment #5 (Pg. 61-71) Why did Gene go to Finny’s house? How did it impact Finny? Did Gene try to do the right thing? Why or why not? What would you have done? (Nic)

As Gene is returning to Devon after his summer break back home, he decides to make a pit-stop at his best friend Finny’s house. This was no light-hearted, friendly visit, though, it was a visit to finally settle the air with Finny. Before summer break, Finny had severely broken his leg, after falling from a tree, this break was bad enough to the point where Finny could never play sports again. Finny was an elite athlete at Devon, so this was obviously devastating news to him, but we never see him down about it, he keeps his head up strong through his recovery. What Finny doesn’t know, though, is that Gene was actually the one to push him off of the tree, causing his leg to break. Gene has come to Finny’s house to tell him this secret that he’s been keeping and to apologize. When Gene does break the news to him, we see something that we haven’t seen before, a break in Finny’s cheerful, animated personality. He starts to get more aggressive toward Gene saying threats like, “I’m going to hit you if you don’t sit down” (Knowles 70) and “I’ll kill you if you don’t shut up.” (Knowles 70) But Gene quickly tries to switch up the conversation, and after a moment of awkward silence, he does just that. Gene did a good job in owning up to Finny and that was definitely the correct move, but Gene did not handle the situation after he told Finny well at all. When Finny started to threaten Gene, Gene didn’t try to defuse the conversation at all, but instead just ended up adding more wood to the fire! For example, when Finny said, “I’m going to hit you if you don’t sit down.” (Knowles 70) Gene replied with, “Hit me! You can’t even get up! You can’t even come near me!” (Knowles 70) It’s pretty obvious that this is the exact opposite of what somebody should do in this situation, Gene should be trying to calm Finny down. If I were in Gene’s shoes, I would probably try to say something like, “ I’m sorry.” or “I don’t know what I was thinking.” or maybe, just listen to Finny and sit down! Gene and Finny will make it through this bump in their friendship, but I think that’s going to take effort from both sides, once Finny calms down and Gene can come up with a better apology, hopefully this fight can be put to rest.

Will Finny and Gene be able to be friends again? Why was Finny being so aggressive with Gene? Do you think Gene did a good job apologizing? What would you have done if you were in Gene’s shoes?

Assignment #4 (Pg. 61-71) : Briefly explain Gene’s visit to the infirmary. How does Finny act? Why? Does this feel “realistic”? How does Gene’s visit impact Finny? (Graham)

After Gene breaks Finny’s leg in chapter 4, he is overcome with guilt as he knows that he has severely injured his best friend. Sometime after the incident, Dr. Stanpole tells Gene that Finny could see visitors, and tells him to go visit Finny. However, in his encounter with the doctor, Gene learns that Finny’s fall was so bad that he wouldn’t be able to continue playing sports. At this moment, Gene's guilt grows even bigger, as he realized that he had robbed his best friend of his passion. As his guilt hits him, he says, “I grabbed my head, finger digging into my skin, and thinking to be kind, put his hand on my shoulder. At his touch I lost all hope of controlling myself.”(Knowles, 64) After learning of his friend's dire condition, Gene enters Finny's room. Although Finny attempts to make light of the incident, Gene automatically asks questions in an attempt to jog Finny’s memory. He asks questions such as, “What happened there at the tree?” and “How did you fall?” as if he didn’t already know the answer. It’s pretty obvious that he’s trying to see if Finny remembers what happened. For a moment, it seems like Finny had a slight notion that Gene may have been the cause of his fall but he quickly dismisses that idea. This shows how strong the bond between Gene and Finny is, as Finny couldn’t imagine Gene doing something like making him fall off the tree. Another interesting part of their discussion is how they interacted with one another. Although this book is set back in the 1940s, their discussion in the infirmary seemed very realistic for two people our age and I could imagine it going down exactly like this in real life. Although Finny was drugged during the time they were talking, he was still his bright and cheerful self. On the other hand, Gene seemed distressed and defensive, such as someone may act while confronting the person they wronged. Also, Gene ended up not confessing to Finny about what really happened, which I imagine most people around their age would not do. 

Do you think Finny knows that Gene made him fall? How would Finny react if he found out? If you were Gene, would you have had the guts to confess?

Assignment #4 (Pg:61-71): What is guilt? Do we all have it? Is it part of being human? Can someone live guilt free? (Julio)

Guilt is a feeling someone gets after doing something wrong, intentionally or accidentally. Depending on how conscious of a person you are, it will/can happen many times throughout your life. As Finny and Gene are about to jump off the tree together, attempting a "double jump", Gene steps onto the branch causing Finny to lose his balance, fall, and shatter his leg. Gene states, " 'I burst out crying into my hands; I cried for Phineas and for myself..." (Knowles 64), showing that while he is worried for Finny's safety, he knows what happened was his fault. People talk about what happened for several days, and no one blames Gene for anything, and although he does feel guilty for some time, he gets over it. The text states, "That night I slept easily.... and I was confronted with myself and what I had done to Finny." (Knowles 62). Gene changes how he feels about what he did by "confronting" himself, and thinks that since he entered that mindset, his fault is gone and should move on. Although to many this wouldn't be right, Gene apparently finds it possible to move on guilt free and sleep easily at night.

Will Gene confess what he did to Finny? Should Finny forgive him? How will Finny view Gene if he  eventually confesses?

Chapter 3: Re-read the last paragraph on page 48 (end of chapter 3). What happens here? Why is important? Why doesn’t Gene respond? What do you think holds him back? What is the “truth” he refers to at the very end of the quote? (Daisy)

In the last paragraph, Finny tells Gene that he is his "best pal".  This is important because Gene grows more envy for Finny because of his ability to attract people and be good at everything and feels he's friendship is forced in a way. Gene was held back to respond by his true feeling of Finny which is the truth that he feel's envy. While Finny and Gene are jumping off the tree Gene believes that Finny saved his life but later realizes he is what caused him to be in danger in the first place. "Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn't have been on that damn limb except for him" (33) This quote shows that Gene is realizing Finny may not a friend who looks out for the other. During this part of the book Gene see's more of Finny's character and how they interact with each other which makes him grow more envy for Finny.

What exactly happened in the tree and who do you think was responsible? Why do you say this? (Charlotte Trodden)


Over the summer, Phineas (Finny) and Gene create a club, the Super Suicide Society. Each night, they meet at the infamous tree on school grounds and plummet into the river from one of the trees branches. Once atop the tree, Gene stands on the branch and starts bouncing on it, causing Finny to lose his balance. Finny then falls through the tree and lands on the riverbank, injuring his leg. On page 60 it says, "Holding firmly to the trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud." (Knowles 60). Although it might not have been intentional, Gene's actions caused Finny to fall. When Gene bounced the tree branch un and down, it caused Finny to lose his balance, making Gene responsible for Finny's fall. Gene might have done this because he was upset about the fact that he was jealous of Finny and all of his achievements, but Finny was not jealous of him, contrary to what he thought. Additionally, when Finny fell, Gene did not seem to show much remorse or care at all that he just injured his best friend, further pointing to the fact that Gene could have possibly made Finny fall intentionally.


Why might Gene be jealous of Finny? Does Finny realize how Gene feels? Does Finny realize that it was Gene's fault that he fell in the first place?

Assignment #3: Why does Gene’s “fear” disappear at the end of the chapter? What was the fear? How is it connected to what happened in the tree? (Katherine)

Gene’s fear disappears at the end of the chapter as he realizes what he’s done to Finny. His fear in the moment was jumping off the tree branch into the water with Finny. However, the real fear that Gene feels has to do with his fear that he is a bad person. Gene realizes what that the competition he has been having with Finny is in his head, and feels that he is a bad person for thinking this, and that “[Gene] was not of the same quality as [Finny]” (Knowles 59). When Finny fell off the tree branch and “hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud” (Knowles 60) Gene watches, stunned, noting it as the “first clumsy physical action” (Knowles 60) he had ever seen Finny make. Gene now fully realizes that it was completely his fault, and he did it completely out of jealousy of Finny. Gene now needs to get off the branch and see the damage that he knows he has done, so he jumps off with “every trace of [his] fear forgotten” (Knowles 60). He doesn’t allow himself to be fearful because he is so worried about Finny, witht that feeling completely replacing the jealously he felt earlier. Gene is no longer fearful after Finny falls because he needs to see his friend. 

Reading #3: On pages 52-54, how does Gene’s view of their relationship change? (Be sure to explain his usage of enmity). What does he think of it? How do you know this? Why does he feel this way? Do you think it is accurate? Why or why not? (Rhys)

Gene’s view of his relationship with Finny changes from one of friendship to one of rivalry when he realizes they are “even in enmity” (Knowles 53). When Gene uses the word enmity, he means that he and Finny have equal hostility towards one another.  He believes that Finny is just as envious of him as he is Finny. Gene feels that if he is head of the class, that will match Finny’s athletic ability, and they would be even. Gene thinks that although he is envious of Finny’s athletic ability, Finny wishes that Gene wasn’t as smart. After Gene thinks about being head of the class, he decides he did hate Finny “for breaking that school swimming record… but Finny hated [Gene] for getting an A in every course” (Knowles 53). Gene concludes that Finny’s activities were set out to wreck Gene’s studies. When Finny begs him to play blitzball or meet with the Suicide Society, Gene thinks Finny’s real intention is to sabotage his grades. From a reader’s perspective, Gene’s jealousy and hostility toward Finny are one-sided. This acknowledgment demonstrates a definite change (on Gene’s side) from friendship to rivalry. 

How will Gene and Finny’s relationship turn out further in the novel? Will they still be friends? Will Gene become a better student?  

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