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.
Good job Gram. You did a good job of making your response very clear. I will answer your first question.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe that this telegram makes the war seem more real to Finny. Before this point in the novel, Finny has been trying constantly to push any thoughts of war aside. By saying that this does not exist, it is easier for Finny to cope with the pain of not being able to enlist due to his leg injury. When Finny receives the telegram, it is showing that this force of reality cannot be obtained anymore, and sooner or later it is going to come crashing down. I think that this could very well give Finny a new understanding about the war, and that he can now can learn to accept that this realization is inevitable.
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ReplyDeleteI agree that the timing of the note was horrific. The telegram ruined the peace. For once, Gene was not thinking about the gruesome war. Finny did not actually believe the note was from the Olympic Committee, but thought it would be about a positive topic. Finny is shocked when he reads the note, and is unable to read it aloud. Gene will be forced to join the army so he can find Leper. Then together, they will escape from the war. Gene doing this will make Finny angry at him for leaving him at Devon alone.
ReplyDeleteThe timing of the note was terrible. Everyone is having a great time and just enjoying peace and harmony. The war is a distant thought. Finny was even making jokes, such as when he says that the note is from the Olympic Committee. Then, as the book states, "And is as this which drained away as I watched Finny's face pass through all the gradations between uproariousness and shock." It totally changes the emotions of the chapter. Finny finally seems to get that the war is very real, and it is actually going on.
ReplyDeleteLeper's safety depends on Gene since he is the only one that "gets" Leper. Gene was the only one that understood Leper when he was looking for the Beaver Dam (94-102). Leper feels that Gene will understand his sense of urgency and need of help. I feel that Gene will go and try to find Leper so he can help and save Leper. This will create some conflict between the boys and Gene, since Leper is not the most "popular" or "respected" kid on the campus of Devon. But, I still think Gene will risk not just his status, but his life to save Leper.
Yea, I think that this telegram shows Finny how it really is outside of Devon. I think that Finny actually understands how hard war is. I think Gene will go and fine Leper. But I do think there will be some hurdles into getting there. I think Finny is going to understand in a way, but will also be really mad since he wants Gene to go to the Olympics for him. I agree with Max about how Gene is the only one who can come and help Leper. I think this because Gene actually understands Leper and I saw this when Leper and Gene talked about the dam. I think that Gene will join the war and Brinker will come. I think that Brinker will start to understand who Leper is. Do you think that Gene and Brinker are going to go and find Leper together? If the Christmas Location is his house then how did he find it when he was in war?
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the "christmas location" definitely means Leper's house, because an address could be anywhere, and why would Leper need to be rescued when he was at his house? The timing of the telegram is unfortunate, however I think that Finny is more shocked by the note than the fact that it was signed "your best friend." I'm sure it will bother Finny later, and change his newly resurrected relationship with Gene. I think that Gene will go to save Leper, and when he does, that will bother Finny even more.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a really good job Graham! The one thing I disagree with is that the Christmas location definitely means Leper's home. My guess is that the Christmas location could be a name from an earlier discussion they had and that is why Leper said that. I think that the telegram was definitely a wake up call for Finny. Finny has been trying to believe that the war is not real, but my guess is this telegram swayed his opinion. After Finny read this I think it made him realize this war wasn't something to joke around about. Leper's safety depends on Gene because he escaped war which means he isn't safe. He cannot go back to Devon because they will report to the war where he is. I think Leper needs Gene's help to get to his home. I think that Gene won't go help Leper. Gene has tried so hard to protect and help Finny that I don't think he will give that up just for Leper. I think he believes that Leper will be fine and that Finny needs him more than Leper does. I do think that Gene and Finny's friendship will suffer from the way Leper ended that letter.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think that Finny was shocked because Leper said Gene was his best friend, it seemed to me that Finny was surprised that Leper was in trouble and that the telegram was so random and unexpected. I think Leper's safety depends on Gene because he seems to be an outsider and Gene is his only friend, so Gene is the only one he can depend on. Gene will go find Leper because Gene is the kind of person that won't leave a friend hanging and he is reliable. Leper also needs some support because usually when there is trouble it is better to have someone to back you up. I also agree with Indra that Finny is also shocked because he starting to realize that Leper, a long time friend, is actually experiencing the war that Finny does not believe is real.
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