Assignment #12

What does Gene mean when he says “I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war end before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there” (204). Who/what is his enemy? Why does he contradict himself there? What was his war?

As the final chapter comes to an end, Gene tells us about how his last year at Devon has affected his entire life- so much that, fifteen years later, he can retell all this pretty accurately. I think that he contradicted himself twice in that quote- for one, if you don't feel strongly about the enemy, they are not exactly your enemy at all. It might be his community's enemy, but since he "never developed an intense level of hatred" towards them, they are not his enemy. He contradicts himself more strongly, however, when he at first states that he never killed anybody, and then says just a sentence after that that he killed his enemy.

I don't believe that the real enemy of Gene was very apparent at all- at first I thought that it was his guilt, but he never killed it. His guilt would always be there- the belief that he had killed his best friend. And then, I thought: perhaps his enemy was the jealousy and envy he felt towards Finny. Even when Finny fell off the tree and broke his leg twice, Gene never truly let go of the resentment. At the end, however, when Finny died, Gene let go of the jealousy (partly, obviously, because there was nothing to be jealous of anymore), because the impact of the death made him realize that he didn't really have anything to be envious of.

Even if Gene harbored some sort of bitterness towards Finny, the 'golden boy' was always a part of Gene. Whenever something happened with Finny, Gene was really affected by it as well. When he mentioned Finny's funeral on page 194 (this was not in the Assignment 12 reading, but rather the page right before it), Gene said that: "I did not cry even when I stood watching him being lowered into his family's... I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case." It's clear from this bit of evidence how much Finny's death influenced Gene - he even felt that Finny's death was his own.

Why does this final chapter really wrap up the book? Who- or what- do you think was Gene's true enemy, if he even had one?

(Pages 195-204) On page 201 Gene says that wars were made by something ignorant in the human heart. Do you agree with this statement?

At this point in the book Gene has lost his best friend and has had to grow up a lot. Instead of worrying about minor things, Gene now has huge issues to consider and worry about. He begins to think more of the meaning of things and the big picture. On page 201 Gene explores his feelings about war. He thinks to himself that "it seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart." After carefully exploring his feelings on the war Gene comes to the conclusion that war isn't to be blamed on generations; they happen because of the way people are and human nature. He comes to the conclusion that war is something that just happens and will always happen.

I think Gene could not have put it any better. After all, everyone is human and we are all programmed the same way. We all do things based off of emotions, and we are all similar. I don't think that certain groups or time periods are more likely to be involved in a war than others. It's just when things happen people react a certain way, and that is to be expected.

Do you think that war is something necessary and unavoidable, or do you think that it's something that we as a world can end for good?

As Gene Describes the war he says that he never killed anyone, hated his enemy etc. Why does he contradict himself? Who is his real enemy?

As the book comes to a close, Gene describes the war and the way he feels about his highschool experience. Gene believes that the war he fought, in his life, ended before he ever put on a uniform. The war to find himself and defeat his enemy (The subtle jealousy and hatred for finny) took place long before he was holding a gun (Pg.204) He claims that he killed his enemy. It is clear that Finny is dead. From what gene tends to imply his "enemy" died with Finny. It is not completley clear exactly what his enemy was however. Possibilities for this mystery could be the jealousy, the part of him connected to finny, the guilt, or others. Of course, every problem relates to Finny.

When one observes this book it is clear that it is not based on Gene and Finny's friendship. More clearly and precisley it is based on Gene and the effect their friendship has on him. Hence the narrator roles and the outcome. As soon as Finny died, Gene went to war, the thing Finny said didn't exist became reality for Gene as soon as Finny was dead. This makes sense because they are connected; Gene was a part of Finny. Its all ironic because Genes real enemy was himself but Finny had to die for it. The PURE part of Gene had to die for him to go to war and live his life. Its funny simply because he tells the truth when he says that he "didn't kill anybody" because he didn't; Finny was only a part of him.

Why else is it ironic? How does the way Gene reacts to Finny's death, prove the previously stated point?

Chapter 12: Explain the significance of the last paragraph: "I did not cry….you do not cry in that case."(pg. 194)

Well, as everybody knows Finny dies from operation, which makes Gene depressed and wishes he was dead. But before the operation was in action Gene and Finny had reunited their friendship by Gene telling Finny that he caused him to fall by accident which Finny forgave him for. Gene was excited that he finally told Finny that he caused him to fall off the tree and that Finny does not hate him anymore. After they made up with each other, Dr. Stanpole told him to come back around five o'clock which was when the operation was going to finish. Gene goes to classes and can't wait to see Finny again with a fixed leg. He even skips the meeting of the Commencement Arrangements Committee to see his friend Finny again. When he comes to visit Finny, Dr. Stanpole talks to Gene one on one, which gives Gene a bad feeling and the bad feeling was the horrifying message of the death of Gene's best friend Finny.

Since he heard that message he was depressed and felt that he caused all this to happen. Gene felt like he was the murderer of Gene because he felt like he caused him to die all the tension and confusion. The tension started with Gene pushing Finny off the tree, after trying to hide the truth, then Finny realizing that Gene caused his fall which made him get furious and burst out the assembly room, and fall down the stairs. When Gene says," I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case", I believe he says this because he wished he was the one who fell off the tree and died from the operation. All this guilt gets to his head and makes him wish he was dead. Wishing he was dead at the funeral of Finny he does not cry because if it is your funeral you obviously don’t cry because you are dead. Gene changes after Finny's death because he does not want to be noticed anymore and does not feel like he deserves a life.

Chapter #12: Explore the significance of the campus literally being invaded by the war.

In chapter twelve, an unused section of land from Devon is donated to the war. As said in the book, " It wasn't the essence of Devon, and so it was donated, without too serious wench, to the war." This is significant in many ways. Throughout the book, one of the major events/ themes was the war, and a conflict was that is was slowly but surely creeping into the every day life of Devon. At the beginning of the novel, in the summer session life was fun, chill, and completely war free, but as the summer session ended we started to see how the war was effecting the community of Devon. This was farther shown when the students want to enlist, when some teachers leave for the war and mostly when Leper becomes transformed by the war. But throughout all of this, the war is still separate and has not fully penetrated Devon. But now it literally has penetrated Devon every second of every day and the sight of it isn't possible to escape, due to the fact that a war camp is literally next to the school.

Something else significant about Devon being invaded by the war is that throughout the novel it was shown that the community of Devon could only find an escape from the war at Devon. At the winter carnival it was as if the war didn't exist, or in the daily conversations and just fun and games of the kids they always had moments of escape from the reality that was not shown to them at Devon. But now that the war is at Devon, there is no escape from it, and everything about the school experienced by Gene and his friends will seize to exist. "As i crossed the Far Common I saw that it was rapidly becoming unrecognizable" (this quote is then followed by a long list of things that make it different), this shows that Devon is different and will not be how Finny new it.

One question I thought of was, do you think that the war taking over Devon was one of the main reasons Gene enlisted?

4) Gene reflects on Phineas’ impact on his life at the bottom of page 202 and top of page 203. In this passage, what do you think Gene means when he s

In the beginning of this chapter Gene was stating how the war has started creeping in on there personal life an now is definitely in there life. The Devon campus has changed in many different ways. "The Far Common was different... But the bricks had been laid a little too skillfully, and the woodwork was not as brittle and chipped as it should of been." (page 195-196) This quote shows how the Gene describes the Devon campus. Then Brinkers dad, Mr. Hadley comes and talks to the boys about what they are planning to do after the graduate Devon. Gene told Mr. Hadley that he has joined the Navy and that he was being sent off to Pensacola.

“Phineas alone had escaped this.” (202) I think Gene means that Phineas does not have to have to join the war and that he escape the hardship of possibly dying due to the war. Phineas got to miss out on the war and the hard times that came with only having one usably leg. He missed out not dwelling about he can not play sports. He also escaped from Gene and his friendship. If he would of survived the surgery their friendship would have been different.

I think that he escape all the hard times by the way that he lived. Phineas was an innocent character that cared only about sports, competition, an friendships. Throughout the whole book he did not think that war was real until right before he died.

If Phineas had survived what would Gene and his friendship have been like? Would they still be friends or would Phineas had found other friends? If you were Finny before he died would you have been thinking about joining the army with only one leg?

1) At this point in the novel, the main action has wrapped up now that Finny is dead and the boys are graduating, but now the war has quite literally

"The Far Common could be seen from the window of my room, and early in June I stood at the window and watched the war moving in to occupy it. The advance guard which came down the street from the railroad station consisted of a number of Jeeps..." The war now is literally creeping into Devon high school. This is showing the falling actions of the book after Finny died. This was a good way to wrap up the story because the war has been looming in the background of the story and now after the climax and the end of the problems of Gene and Finny's friendship the war comes into the story as the main ending. This war sends off all of the friends into different directions in life.

"From my locker I collected my sneakers, jock strap, and gym pants and then turned away, leaving the door ajar for the first time, forlornly open and abandoned, the locker unlocked. This was more final than the moment the headmaster handed me my diploma. My schooling was now over." This sentence is describing Gene leaving Devon once and for all to start possibly a new life and forgetting his past. He is going to the war now, becoming a man. The troubles that Devon put Gene through were now over and he had no obstacles to overcome. He was gladly leaving Devon to the war.

What obstacles do you think would come up upon Gene in the future?

If there were to be a sequel what would it mainly be about?

Chapter 12: Is Finny's death surprising? Why? Is this the climax? Does it seem like a logical climax for the novel?

While Dr. Stanpole was setting Finny's bone, some of his bone marrow went into the blood stream, traveled up to his heart, and caused it to stop. Finny's death was not surprising. The reader knows that something even worse than the fall will happen to him. Finny's death becomes more evident throughout the novel. When the doctor says "...a much cleaner break I think, much cleaner. A simple fracture (Pg 180)." It is clear that the problem is not this simple. While reading the book, you know that either Finny or Gene is going to die. They depend too much on each other and keep each other from facing reality. Finny is the most unreal character in the book; he is pure and innocent. No real person is as kind and perfect as Finny, and this is why Knowles made Finny the one who dies.

This is not the climax of the novel. The climax of the novel was Finny's second fall. Everything builds up to this fall. When Finny sates how he can feel his bone getting stronger, he is foreshadowing that it will be broken or hurt again. Finny dying is not a climax, as it wraps up the novel. Finny now knows the truth about his fall from the tree, but he runs away because he does not want to face the harsh reality. He convinces himself that Gene had a sudden "impulse" and Gene backs up this thought. Finny dying is a logical ending for the novel. Finny must die now that he and Gene both know the truth. Their dependence on each other dies prior to Finny's physical death, when Brinker forces them to recall the truth. Part of Gene has died with Finny "I [Gene] could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral...(Pg 194)."Can you think of any other evidence from the book which foreshadows Finny will die? How will the school respond to Finny's death? Do you think it was necessary for Finny to die?

1) Is Finny's fall, and ultimately his death, something you can blame on Gene? Why or why not? If he is not to blame, then who is?

I do not believe that Finny's death can be blamed on Gene. His fall off of the tree was Gene's fault, but his fall down the stairs was not. It is hard to to blame anyone for his death because it is not an obvious answer. Unlike with the tree nobody pushed Finny down the stairs. This death was foreshadowed at the beginning of the book though. When you read this chapter you kind of expect someone to push Finny down the stairs. When Gene visits them in the beginning you end up expecting it to be him that pushes Finny down the stairs. It was surprising that no one was specifically to blame for this incident though. Gene cannot be blamed because although Gene was involved in the truth that made Finny upset, that was not Gene's fault. Gene tried to tell Finny the truth and he did what he could to mend their friendship and when the truth finally struck it drove Finny crazy, but it was not Gene's fault.
I believe that Brinker could be blamed for Finny's fall. It was Brinker's idea to have that ceremony and he knew it would have a negative affect on at least one of them (Finny or Gene). The ceremony was ultimately what made Finny upset. If the ceremony had not happened then Finny would have never have had to find out the truth. And the truth is was made Finny sad, confused, and slightly crazy for a brief minute or two. So either Brinker could be blamed or just the plain truth could be to blame. Sometimes the truth can be the most painful thing in life to deal with.
Questions:
Have you ever had an incidence where you were afraid to tell a friend the truth because you knew it would hurt them? Did they ever find out? And if so how did this effect your friendship? How do you think Finny was feeling when he found out the truth? And what kinds of thoughts do you believe were running through his mind? How do you think Gene felt?

Chapter 12: Explain what Gene means when he says, "Phineas, you wouldn't be any good in the war, even if nothing had happened to your leg."

Throughout the book, all Finny ever wanted was fun. He wasn't all for teams, but wanted every individual person to have fun and enjoy. In chapter 3, Gene told us that one of Finny's main beliefs was that "everyone always won at sports (p.35)". In Finny's opinion, the fun was found in playing, not winning and losing. A war is based off of winning or losing. Gene just learned that Finny wanted to be in the war, and he almost seems at a loss for words here. Gene knew that even in a simple snowball fight, Finny was not the type of person who could keep a side. Gene attempts to explain this to him by saying: "you'd make a mess, a terrible mess, Finny, out of the war(p.191)". This was because Finny would not know who to fight for, and according to Gene, fight on several sides.

I find Gene’s statement very true. Finny doesn’t dislike anybody. How could you even imagine Finny picking up a gun and shooting people. There isn’t a person in this book that Finny hasn’t liked. Finny simply is too pure to kill. I also doubt that a person like Finny could find reason for the war. He is full of forgiveness and understanding. He was even able to understand why Gene could push him off a tree. Most of the people in this world couldn’t forgive someone after they had ruined their life. Do you think Finny has always been interested in the war or did it start after his accident? At this point in the chapter do you think Gene was trying to be nice to Finny after seeing his anger? Do you think that after learning this from Finny, Gene’s war views have changed?

#11. 2) Does Finny's death surprise you? Why or why not? Does it seem like a logical climax for the novel? Is it the climax?

In chapter 11, the story hits its climax at the very end, but in chapter 12, the story is in its falling action. The chapter starts off with how the injury is treated, and how Finny is taken off to the infirmary. Gene starts to feel awful, and wishes none of this has ever happened. He goes to the infirmary and tries to get in through the window. Finny starts thrashing around, until he falls off of his bed. Gene feels like he doesn't know what to do, and exits back through he window. Gene wanders around the campus, from the stairs in which Finny fell, to the gymnasium. Gene feels that something has changed there, but he does not know what. Gene does not find his way back to his dorm, and falls asleep in the gym. When he wakes up he is asked to take some of Finny's things to the infirmary. He has a brief talk with Finny, a sincere and conclusive talk. Little did Gene know was that this was the last time he would see Finny. The rest of the day proceeded in a blur. At 5:00, Gene finds out the bad news that Finny has passed away. Gene did not feel much sadness, only "...an extremely cold chill along my back and neck, that was all." (p.193) This was one of the things that I was confused about.

To me, Finny's death surprised me, although I did have a hunch that something was going to happen. There was an unbelievable amount of tension in this chapter and I knew it was going to lead up to something, I just didn't know what. I thought that something minor was going to happen, because the climax had already happened. I didn't think that something was going to top it. It does seem like a logical climax to me. This is what the whole story leads up to, and is very conclusive. It concludes Finny and Gene's relationship, on a extreme, but necessary level. It is only necessary because there was so much conflict in there relationship, it would be hard to wrap up. Although it seems like a logical climax, I don't think that it is. I think the climax is when Finny falls from the stairs. There is much more tension building up to that moment than Finny's death. Finny's death seemed as quick and sudden, that it didn't feel like a solid moment. That is why it is not climax. Why do you think Gene didn't feel anything when Finny died? Do you think Gene was surprised at his death? How did this chapter emotionally impact you?

Chapter 12- If Finny had survived his operation, do you think Gene and Finny could remain friends?

When Leper came onto The Devon school he popped the bubble of peace, exposing the horrors of the reality outside the campus gates. Most of all, he revealed the truth that both Finny and Gene were denying: that Gene was responsible for "shattering" Finny's leg and their trust within their friendship. Finny finally accepted the truth and broke down in sadness. He stated the following when Gene came to visit him in the hospital: "'You want to break something else in me! Is that why you're here!' He thrashed wildly in the darkness, the bed groaning under him and the sheets hissing as he fought against them." (p.184-185.) This quote displays the mental pain that Finny is facing while realizing that his best friend has caused his entire world to crumble.

Because of the reasons above, I do not believe that if Finny had survived the surgery, they could have been friends again. When Finny first shattered his leg, their friendship and trust shattered with it. Then it began to slowly heal, although, never fully gaining its previous state. When Phineas fell down the marble stair case, it created the final crack in their friendship, and later proved to be unfixable.

If Finny had survived, what changes do you think Gene's life would have?

What impact did Finny's friendship have on Gene's life?

Final Reflections...

Answer at least one of the following questions in a thoughtful, focused paragraph. Try to use a quote for support. Also, make sure to ask your own questions to push the discussion.

1. Is this a story about Gene or Finny? Why?
2. What lessons can be learned from reading this novel? How can you relate to this novel on a personal level?
3. How is the reader meant to feel about Gene? Do we judge him for his actions? Condemn him for them? Or is he a sympathetic character?
4. Some have said that Finny's death feels unwarranted, others say it's necessary for the novel's logical conclusion. What do you think?
6. What would O.G (Old Gene) say to Y.G.(Young Gene) in a letter 15 years after he graduated from Devon?
7.If you could sit down and talk to John Knowles about his novel, what would you ask?
8. Create an "elevator pitch" for the novel and then explain your thinking.

2) Does Finny's death surprise you? Why or why not? Does it seem like a logical climax for the novel? Is it the climax?

The end of the chapter definitely comes as a surprise to most. Things were getting heated up in the auditorium, but one wouldn't think that all this talk about "shattering" would only shatter finny more. It is a reasonable climax for this novel, however the series of events that added up to the fall didn't hint his death enough.

I feel as though knowles knew where he wanted to go with the story line, but his writing didn't quite get the reader there. The auditorium scene was unnecessary in a way. In my opinion it just created confusion and overwhelmed the reader.

Leper's back and acting psycho, Brinker's Being stuck up and annoying as always and all his friends are there as well; i felt like he could get the same effect by just having Finny and Gene argue until Finny falls. My poin over ally is that although i admire the way knowles chose Finny's death, i don't think he did it in the best manner. What do you think? Do you fell like a different event could have the same effect? Is this the best way to set up a climax?

2) Discuss the irony of the dialogue between Finny and Gene on the second half of page 155.

Finny and Gene are in their dorm room after the snowball fight occurring earlier in the chapter, at the Fields Beyond. Gene ask Finny "do you think you ought to get into fights like that? After all there's your leg-" This is ironic because Gene was an avid member of the snowball fight, and after all he did help end the fight by bombarding Finny with snowballs. During the fight it had not occurred to him the possible risks of hurting Finny, he was caught up in the moment. This scene further characterizes Gene, showing that he is impulsive and often does not think before he acts. These traits are shown previously in the novel when Gene jounces the limb during his and Finny's double jump, and when he fights quackenbush.

Later in the page Finny asks "Isn't the bone supposed to be stronger when it grows together in a place where it's been broken once?" Gene replies "Yes, i think it is." This is ironic because previously in the book, Dr. Stanpole had told Gene that Finny would never walk again. Now Gene is implying to Finny that his leg will be even stronger than it was before. Gene is still in denial that Finny is permanently crippled, because he doesn't want to face the guilt. Finny goes on to say that he can feel his leg getting stronger, and Gene replies "thank god," but covers it up when Finny doesn't understand him. This shows that Gene still desperately wants Finny to get better, and is trying to believe that he will. If Finny gets better than everyone will forget about his accident, and Gene can stop fearing that someone will find out he jounced the limb.

Questions:

1. Do you think Gene truly believes that a broken leg is stronger once it heals, or that he is just trying to make Finny feel better?

2. Do you think that Finny actually feels his leg getting stronger, or is just saying that to stop Gene's worries?

Chapter ten: Discuss Leper’s return and its impact on Gene and Finny before Brinker’s trial. What does Leper represent now that he is back at Devon?

After returning from a section eight discharge, it is evident throughout the chapter that Leper has gone crazy. Although Leper had always been the more quiet, innocent person out of the three, Knowles picks Leper as the character to go crazy to try to give the reader a sense of how much war can change someone. Although he has always stood out to be different, this unique characteristic of Leper being able to see reality better than almost anyone else just outlines the fact that he is one that is not to be overlooked. This sense of reality comes crashing down on both Finny and Gene in this chapter. Throughout the novel, Finny and Gene have been living in a fantasized world, where war does not exist. Even when Leper had decided to enlist, Finny wanted to believe that the war was not going on so badly, that he was okay with lying to himself to get there. Once Gene had shown signs of enlisting as well, Finny wanted Gene to stay with him so badly that he made up a story about war not existing to put him in this make believe world as well.

Since Leper is a symbolism for the reality of war, him being back creates tension between Finny and Gene’s friendship. Once he has returned, Finny and Gene are able to have a new understanding about the war going on. As stated on page 163, “And you told me about Leper, that he’s gone crazy. That’s the word; we might as well admit it. Leper’s gone crazy. When I heard that about Leper, I knew that the war was real, this war and all the wars.” This triggers the conversation about if Gene really did push Finny out of the tree, now that they are both being honest with each other, as it says on page 164: “Anyway,” Finny said, “ then I knew there was a real war on.” “Yes, I guess it’s a real war all right, but I liked yours better.”

Some questions I thought of for further discussion are: What do you think, in your own words, Leper represents? Do you think that this has changed throughout the novel? If so, how? Another question I thought of was: What do you think Gene and Finny symbolize? Do you think that this has/will change over time as the characters mature?

Chapter 10: Why does Finny act the way he does? What is really going on inside his head? How is this a reoccurring theme throughout the novel?

During this chapter, Finny acted in a reflection of how he has externally acted throughout the book. Throughout the novel, Gene could easily predict how Finny would act next but he had trouble understanding Finny's internal thought-process. At the end of the trial, Finny displayed the entirety of his internal conflicts. Finny acted that he really trusted his friends and didn't believe that they would do anything to harm him.

When Finny and Gene went to the beach in the summer, Finny told Gene that Gene was his "best pal (p.48)." Finny exposed himself to show Gene that he trusted him entirely. When Gene told Finny that he had purposely pushed him off the tree limb, Finny told Gene that he "makes [him] sick (p. 70)." Finny showed Gene that he hated the thought of the person he trusted the most being untrustworthy. Throughout the second half of the book, Finny endured the external pressures that Gene was out to get him. At the trial, Brinker brought the climax of these external pressures and caused Finny to push back. Finny told the court that he "just didn't care (p. 177)."

Finny ran away from the truth by simply standing up and walking away. In Finny's mind, he was on the edge of a cliff. During the novel, Finny found ways of overcoming the wind and the weight of his own body (Brinker and Finny's internal conflicts) by climbing close to the ultimate summit of the cliff where he was on top of the world (best friends with Gene). In the trial, Finny finally pushed away the wind permanently and pulled himself to the top of the cliff.

How should Gene respond to Finny's tremendous internal efforts? Have you ever felt pulled down from something and the urge to overcome it? How did your peers respond to your external efforts? Also, how does this relate to Atticus Finch's efforts to overcome racism in the deep south?

What is the irony in Gene and Finny's conversation on page 155?

Gene and Finny are in their dorm after the huge snowball fight on the Fields Beyond. During the fight it never occurred to Gene but then he decided to inquire whether what Finny was doing was safe. This is ironic because Gene was a part of the group that had attacked Finny at the end of the snowball fight. Remember what it said on page 155, "We ended the fight in the only way possible; all of us turned on Phineas." Notice the keywords of the sentence: "we" and "us". These words show that Gene was a part of the mob. Gene also said on the same page right before the break, "I thought it was pretty funny, didn't you?" This shows that not only did Gene join the mob but he thought that potentially hurting Finny again was funny.

Another thing that made this situation ironic was that Gene had been feeling so much guilt for hurting Finny, but he was given the opportunity to attack Finny he didn't even think twice about his decision. Gene was also laughing at the fact that he attacked a disabled person. Gene should have been the first person to be against the attack. Although Gene did join, a good thing was that he was able to let go and have some fun. Gene was able to stay calm and not yell at Finny for thinking that he was going to become as good as new.

Some things to think about:

• Why was Finny grinning even when he was getting pummeled by about nineteen other people?
• Can a broken/shattered leg fix to the point that it is stronger than it was before?
• Do you think that Gene actually believes that Finny's leg is growing stronger?

4.) 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?

This part of the book when Gene goes to visit Leper is a very important part in the novel. It makes the reader think about everyone's personality in the book and how it has changed since the begining. This scene made me think, as a reader, a lot about Leper and how he went from a small shy sweet boy to this furious beast after he came from the war. 
Getting to the question above, Leper is now past being weird with his snail collections and beaver damns, he is  "psyco"and "mad" and seems to be angry with everyone. Even though he said that the war made him this way "A section eight discharge is for the nuts in the service, the psychos, the Funny Farm canidates." 
Then, Later  on in the chapter Gene is talking to Leper and he flips his lid and starts yelling at Gene and telling him he was always a "savage underneath." This statement is ironic for two main reasons. First of all Leper is known as a sweet boy and as Gene said a boy who "you wouldn't think could have that much anger inside of him" so it is very ironic and odd that he would be the one to say that. The second reason why this is ironic is because Gene is not very mean and fierce, so basically Leper is telling a lie. 
Lastly, this whole situation and anger that Leper is creating in general is ironic because he invited Gene, his "Best friend" to come all the way to see him, then Gene shows up and Leper yells at him the whole time. Since no person unless they were evil would do this to somebody, it must mean the Leper really is in fact, "mad." This chapter and fight was so important because it showed the significance of the reocurring theme within the book, war. It displayed how cruel war can be. How it can turn an innocent little boy into a evil monster who calls people "savages."


Questions to think about:
1) Do you really think that Leper is a psyco?
2) Do you think that Leper is right and that Gene is actually a savage (think jouncing the limb hatred for Finny?)
3) You read  in the chapter that Gene said he went to war a year after he visited leper. Why do you think he does this if he saw what war can do to a person?

Assignment #9 (138-151): 4.) Since Leper is “section 8” (“for nuts in the service”), explore the irony of Leper’s statement “always were a savage unde

In chapter 10, when Gene goes to Leper's house in Vermont, he sees Leper's transformation. Leper has gone from a peaceful naturalist to a moody, insane, "psycho" young man. Leper first accuses Gene of causing Finny's fall (p. 145), and then states that he was "always a savage underneath. (p. 145)" Leper's symbol in the book has changed drastically. He was the symbol of calm and peace. The new, post-war Leper is a lunatic. That is the reason he was given a "Section 8 Discharge", for the "nut cases". An example of his craziness is on page 145 when he accused Gene. When Gene kicks him to the ground he keeps laughing and crying. Another time is on page 149 ("Would they bother you if you did.........would they bother you.") He is thinking of the image of an arm of a chair being a human arm. The final time in the chapter when he is bonkers is on pages 150-151. He just can stop spewing out the gory details of the army. It is as if he is just talking without knowing. Even when Gene tells him to shut up and leaves him, he is still talking to himself. Leper has now emerged as a new figure in the book. The crazy toll the war takes on everyone.

Answer 2 or 3 of these questions:

Will Leper be cured?

Will Leper and Gene ever be friends again?

Is Leper going to tell everyone about the truth of Finny's fall?

What is Leper a symbol of now in your opinion?

Will this affect the reality of the war to Gene?

Chapter 10: Why might the mention of Brinker trigger Leper’s violent reaction? Think about what you know about role so far.

The reason that Leper broke down into sobs when Gene brought up Brinker's head on a woman's body was because the idea went against the idealistic views that Leper has in his head. It reminded him of an incident in the army that ended up getting him discharged for a mental illness. The same mind that always appreciated the perfection in trees and beaver dams couldn't handle such a backwards thought as a mans head on a woman's body, so he just broke down. This was the reason that Leper couldn't handle being in the army. Once he starteed realizing that war is not all just skiing around, and that there are some harsh realities that one has to face, he says "Everything began to be inside out." (P. 150). He begins wondering "Am I [psycho], though, or is it the army?" (P. 150), which shows that he's questioning the army's diagnosis of him.

I think the reason Leper saw weird things in the army, and not at Devon, is because he was comfortable at Devon. When he went to the army, everything became tougher and more stressful than back at Devon, and that made him nervous. This nervousness made him imagine things, which made him more nervous, completing a vicious circle. In the end, he had a series of big hallucinations, which he handled by screaming as loud as he could, and thats what got him kicked out of the army. Do you think leaving the army was best for Leper? Do you think that if Leper returns to Devon, he'll stop hallucinating?

Chapter 10: What causes Gene to attack Leper? The answer needs to involve a literal and figurative exploration of what occurs here (middle 145).

In chapter 10, Gene walks over to Leper's house after receiving a message from Leper saying that he has escaped and that he needs Gene to meet him at his "CHRISTMAS LOCATION" (137), which is his house. After Gene arrives Leper tells Gene that he is a savage because he purposely knocked Finny out of the tree. Gene attacks Leper after hearing this because he doesn't want other people to know about his secret. He doesn't want others to know who he really is and therefore attacks Leper in order to make him stop making accusations and also to make it seem to Leper as if his accusations are false.

In a more figurative sense, Gene attacks Leper because he doesn't want to face the truth. He wants his friends and the people around him to continue falsely seeing him as a peaceful, kindhearted boy. Gene wants the secret of what he did to Finny to stay between only him and Finny, and as a result does whatever it takes to keep up his image of goodness. You can see this when Gene tries to deny the incident and push the blame onto Leper by saying, "It was a mistake, he said something crazy. I forgot myself - I forgot that he's, there's something the matter with his nerves, isn't there?" (145 - 146). In this passage Gene pushes the blame onto Leper by saying that Leper is crazy and therefore said something crazy that sparked something within himself. Gene doesn't want others to see him as he sees himself. He thinks that he is a savage, and that "Leper was closer to the truth" (146) than his mother when he imagines her, or any other person in the world, thinking that he is a good boy.

What do you think will happen to Leper in the future?

How do you think this event will affect Gene further on in the book?

Do you think Gene is really the savage that he is accused of being?

1.) Gene spends the first part of the chapter traveling to Leper’s house. Choose two or three phrases of description about the landscape (location, we

"As I walked briskly out the road the wind knifed at my face, but this sun caressed the back of my neck (p.141)." The sun is Devon and the winter carnival and most importantly Finny. Gene is stepping away from all this happiness to go see Leper. The wind is "knifing" at his face, Gene is headed away from his "separate peace" at Devon and into trouble, into the reality of the war. This line also shows that Gene is nervous and curious. He knows he is headed into reality but he is curious enough to press on. He doesn't want to face the reality of the war but he is so curious that he needs to go see his friend and find out what the war is like.

"Everything else was sharp and hard, but this Grecian sun evoked joy from every angularity and blurred with brightness the stiff face of the countryside.(140-142)"Although this quote is in the same paragraph as the first, the symbols are different. In this quote Knowles uses the sun as a symbol for Gene's friendship with Leper. Grecian is relating to ancient Greece, and Greece is a very warm place. So the "Grecian sun" represents Gene's old and happy friendship with leper. The countryside represents the scariness of the reality of the war with its hard sharp lines and it also represents what Leper has become. Gene doesn't know that Leper was destroyed by the war, his old bright friendship with Leper blurs the "stiff face" of the reality.

Why does Knowles use so many symbols as Gene approaches Leper's home? What else could some of theses symbols represent?

By Andrew

Chapter 10: Irony of Leper Accusing Gene of Being A Savage Underneath (138-151)

In chapter 10, Gene visits Leper in Vermont after getting a letter that he ‘escaped’. When Gene arrives, Leper starts insulting him and saying he was always a savage underneath. This comment is very ironic because in this chapter, Leper’s dark side is shown. He accuses Gene, insults him, and starts spilling out his feelings. Before the war, Leper represented the innocence at Devon. He didn’t care about much, and went with the flow. After the war, he had become a monster. The war changed him in a negative way, “’A section eight discharge is for the nuts in the service, the psychos, the Funny Farm candidates.” In this case, the war turned him into a nut case. Leper is now starting to realize what the war did to him.

Leper was the one with a savage underneath. He was hiding his anger behind his innocence. The war broke the wall. Going to war brought out his evil side. Leper even admits that the war changed him, “‘you’re thinking I’m not normal, aren’t you? I can see what you’re thinking—I see a lot I never saw before’ –his voice fell to a querulous whisper—‘you’re thinking I’m going psycho’” (Page 143).

Do you think Leper will ever go back to the war? Why?

Will Leper return to Devon? Why or why not?

Will Gene and Leper’s friendship be repaired, even though Gene left him standing in the snow alone?

Chapter 9- 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?

In this chapter the United States ski troops came to Devon School to show a video. It showed the people skiing in the war and after the movie finished Leper was amazed. It changed his perspective about skiing and the war. He hadn’t really thought of the war and enlisting but when he saw the video it seemed nice to him so he decided to enlist. A short time later he was gone. He was the first person to enlist from Devon. They didn’t talk about it for a while until Brinker started saying what he read in papers is what Leper did.

It is ironic that Leper enlisted first into the war because throughout the past readings he doesn’t show very much interest, and all the others are talking about it and excited but not Leper. For example, when Gene was on his way to go shovel off the railroads Leper is out skiing, they started talking and its like he was in his own world. Leper is a shy, quiet person, not like Brinker, a guy who tries to impress and it’s those people who are talking about enlisting. Brinker seems strong and would be more prepared for war then Leper who doesn’t seem like the type to go. Also on their way back from shoveling they ran into Leper skiing back. He seemed excited about his skiing and liked being out in the woods with nature. He also just ignored the mean comments Brinker made. Brinker on the other hand was disappointed with the school and the people and wanted to enlist right away. Then Leper enlists, but not because he wants to go fight for his country but because he saw this video and it seemed nice and almost lovely.

How will this experience change Leper? How will it change the other characters? Do you think it will make people want to enlist or not?

What is so ironic about Leper being the first boy at Devon to enlist in the war?

In chapter 9 Leper decides to enlist in the army. After seeing a film on the ski troops, Leper is lured into enlisting. I think that it is very ironic that Leper was the first boy to enlist because he is usually quiet, and enjoys collecting snails, and spending as much time as he can in nature. Leper hadn’t really thought about the war until he saw the movie about the ski troop. Once he saw the film, he was immediately drawn into the idea of joining the war. To him, the ski troop looked like “skiers in white shrouds, winging down virgin slopes, silent as angels” (pg. 124). All wars are bloody, dark, and times of sorrow, but this film made the ski troop look like heaven to Leper. Not only is it ironic that Leper was the first boy to join the army, but it is also ironic that his image of the war was, in a way, peaceful.

Nobody thought that Leper would be one of the first boys to join the war. I thought that Brinker would be the first to enlist. I viewed Leper as quiet, nerdy, and mainly interested in nature. I pictured Brinker as strong, tough, and prepared for the war. Leper, in my mind, is the last person I would’ve expected to join the war. On page 95, Leper, describing his experience of skiing, says, “I just like to go along and see what I’m passing and enjoy myself.” This quotes shows me that Leper likes to take time to notice his surroundings. I think that during the war, Leper will have no time to notice the scenery around him. On page 93, Gene says “Leper stands out for me as the person who was most often and most emphatically taken by surprise.” This quote foreshadows what the war will be like for Leper. I think Leper will be shocked when he realizes what the war is really like.

How will Leper's decision to join the war affect the rest of the characters, and how will his enlistment affect the rest of the book?

What do you think Leper's experience be like in the war?

If Gene or Brinker had been the first to enlist in the war, how would our understanding of the book be different?

Assignment #8 (123-137): The “separate peace” moment is shattered by the arrival of the telegram from Leper. Explore the significance of the timing of

The timing of the telegraph, from Leper is significant because Gene has just won the winter festival, and Finny thinks that the telegram could be from the Olympic committee asking for Gene to compete in the 1944 Olympics. Instead it is a note from Leper saying that he has escaped, he needs help, and that he is hiding at the Christmas location. Gene has just felt like he made it up to Finny, for breaking his leg, by winning the Winter Festival, but unfortunately Leper signs the note, “your best friend.” This timing is bad because Gene has just strengthened his friendship with Finny, and the way that Leper signed the note makes it seem like Leper is Gene’s best friend and not Finny. Finny is obviously upset when he reads this because instead of reading the note aloud to everyone he reads it to himself and his expression changes to shock.

The telegram says that Leper has escaped. He most likely escapade from the horrors of the war, which he was fighting in. It also says that he went to the Christmas location. The Christmas location is Leper’s house. You can tell that the Christmas location is his house for two reason. One it says that he doesn’t want to give Gene an address, and two because during Christmas many of the boys went home to celebrate with their families.

Does the telegram make the war seem more real to Finny? Why does Leper’s safety depend on Gene if he already escaped? Will Gene go find Leper?

Chapter 9: Why is it ironic that Leper is one of the first to enlist?

When the Devon boys are shown a video of ski troopers, Leper is almost immediately drawn to them. It has been made quite obvious in the book, the Leper enjoys skiing, but none of the Devon boys ever thought that he would enlist in the Ski Troops. Leper has been characterized as a boy who loves nature and peace. When all the other boys were shoveling snow at the railroad tracks, he didn't go because he was searching for a beaver dam. He would collect snails, and Finny even states that Leper is "good with plants and shrubbery,"(p.129). It is ironic that Leper enlists because the nature-loving, peaceful, almost hippie-like boy is the last person you would expect to enlist to a war.

Even thought it doesn't seem like Leper to enlist, the reason why he enlists seems to be a little more like him. When he says "Everything has to evolve. Or else it perishes," (p.125), you can begin to figure out why he would enlist. Leper was referring to himself in that phrase. He's saying that he's meant to go to war. He's saying that going to war is the only way that he can, in a sense, "survive". Leper thinks that war will help him learn about life, and give him experiences that he wouldn't be able to have elsewhere. When Leper says this, he's saying that he wants, or has, to change, in order to become who he's truly meant to be.

Do you think Leper made the right decision to enlist?

Do you think he will last in the war? Or do you think he will be taken out because of his peace-loving ways?

Chapter 9 (123-137) #2 Leper is the first of the boys to enlist. Based on the conversations and narration in the previous few chapters, is it ironic?

In this chapter, Leper is convinced that the army would be best for him. A recruiter from the U.S. ski troops showed up. He showed a video of the ski troops skiing down the mountain. They went fast and looked like true men, and to Leper, this was enough to make him enlist. Compared to the navy and army, this was much cleaner and seemed more interesting to Leper. First, let me describe Leper. He is a young man who does things on his own. He also likes to go were the wind takes him. For example, when he went skiing by himself on page 94, Gene asks him where he's going and Leper responds with "I'm not going anywhere." This just shows how Leper is a strange individual who does things on his own terms.

It is ironic that Leper was the first one to join because he is the opposite of what an American soldier is supposed to be. Back then and still today, soldiers are portrayed as loud, tough and people who take action. Leper is far from loud and during the Blitz ball game on page 38, Leper is standing outside the game watching instead of take action, or taking part in the game. When Leper saw the skiing video, he was amazed at how quick and fast the skiers were moving and that was the reason he joined the army. He's going in there thinking it's all about swift runs down the mountain. Perhaps he may have forgotten what William Sherman said which was "War is hell." I think Leper will soon realize that war is not all about skiing down a mountain at high speeds. I have to agree with Finny when he said, "If someone gave Leper a loaded gun and put it at Hitler's temple, he'd miss."

My questions for you are...

1.) Is Leper going to succeed in the army? Or, do you think he made his decision too quickly without thinking?

2.) Who do you think will be next to enlist? Which section of the army will they enlist in?