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...

It is the beginning of the fall at Devon, and Finny is still at home. Instead of playing a sport, Gene decides to become the assistant crew manager. When he shows up late at the crew house, him and Cliff Quakenbush, the crew manager, already get off to a bad start. Quakenbush insults Gene and bosses him around throughout the day, having a "furious arrogance which sprang out at the mere hint of of opposition form someone he had at last found whom he could consider inferior to himself," Page 78. Finally Gene gets angry at Quakenbush's careless insults, and his complete ignorance of everything that had happened during the summer session, and snaps when he calls him maimed. He punches him, and they roll into the river.

This fight is significant because it shows Gene defending Finny. "I didn't know why for an instant; it was almost as though I were maimed. Then the realization that there was someone who was flashed over me." That someone is Finny, and he is now maimed because of what Gene did to him. Gene feels bad about shattering Finny's leg, and when Quakenbush insults a "maimed" person, Gene has to defend Finny. This relates to Gene's building guilt for jouncing the limb, and Quakenbush is just making it worse by reminding him that he maimed Finny. Quakenbush is so disdainful towards Gene because he doesn't know who he is. He knows nothing of the summer session, and believes that Gene is trying to take his place as manager, and looks down on him. Do you think that Quakenbush will find out about the summer session and feel bad for Gene?

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

1.) 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?

The fight between Gene and Quackenbush (p. 77-79)  is significant for a few reasons. For example the fight takes place in the fall. This is a negative thing because at the beginning  of the book Gene elaborates on how he does not like fall because it is cold and all the leaves begin to fall off.  Fall is also negative because Finny is not there with him during this time, which makes him feel even worse.  Since the fight happens in the fall it adds to Gene's feelings and shows how important the event is in the book. 


The overall reason why the fight between Gene and Quackenbush is because Gene was already upset that Finny wasn't at school,  that it was his least favorite season, and the way Quackenbush was treating just made him lose control. The main thing that sent him over the edge was the fact that Quackenbush used the word "maimed." The reason why this made him so upset is because it showed that Quackenbush was implying that he was a "cripple or was wounded and was unable to preform certain functions." Obviously, Gene did like that Quackenbush saw him that way and that is why Gene got very upset and hit him. This whole incident relates back to the beginning of the chapter when Gene was upset about the whole situation he was in which concluded in all of the hectic actions afterward.


Questions: 
1) Why do you think that Quackenbush was mean to Gene in the first place?
2) Do you believe that Gene got in the fight purely because he was upset about Finny or do you think there was something else going on in his mind?
3) Do you think there was a spacific reason the Gene decided to be in crew that symbolized other things in the book (explain)
4) Why do you think that Quackenbush used the word maimed? was it because he truly thought that or for some other reason?

Assignment #5 (72-85): 1.) Explore the significance of the fight with Quackenbush. Why does it happen? What exactly sets Gene off? How is related to h

The fight started with Gene slapping Quackenbush across the face after Gene was called a maimed son-of-a-b****. They fall into the river still fighting and as Gene is leaving he says "The next time you call anybody maimed you better make sure they are first."(p.79) Gene's anger built up from being looked at and talked to by Quakenbush as if he was disabled added onto the fact that Finny wasn't with him in Devon. Ultimately the anger becomes too powerful and the situation becomes another one of Gene's acts of impulse.

Gene fought this fight for Finny and himself. "I fought that battle, that first skirmish of a long campaign for Finny."(p.79) Along with the fact that he is fighting for Finny this is foreshadowing many more fights to come. As long as Finny is gone Gene will get himself into trouble defending Finny and himself. "But it didn't feel as though I did it exactly for Phineas. I felt as though I had done it for myself." (p.80) This also shows that he not only did it for Phineas, but also did it for himself. He needed to prove that he could stick up for himself as long as Finny was gone. He felt very insecure without Finny by his side, but now realizes he can stand on his own.

What do you think this fight foreshadows for the rest of the time Finny is gone? Will Gene be focused on school when he is always trying to defend Finny? Will Finny be an inspiration or a distraction to Gene? Why? What will happen to Gene when Finny does come back?

Chapter #5- (4.)Re-read the last sentence of chapter 6 (p84-85). Explain what is happening in the quote (establish context) and then explore and explain the last part “I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas” (85).

    In the end of chapter six, Mr. Ludsbury tells Gene that he has a long distance call for him. When Gene first see's the number he thinks he is in for it. When Gene calls the number he is surprised to hear a cheerful tone in Finny's voice as he enthusiastically starts talking to him. In the beginning of this quote on page 84 when Gene says, "I'm too busy for sports." He feels as though because Finny can't play sports anymore he can't either. I think what he is saying is that since he ruined sports for Finny that if he doesn't play them anymore than their even.
    In the last part of this quote when Gene says, "I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Finny." Gene is saying that he gets to in a way "take over" Finny's position as being really good at sports. He is saying that he will become Finny as in he will get his personality, status and skill. What Finny is thinking when he says this to Gene though, is actually different then what Gene has in mind. I believe Gene is already feeding his wild imagination more ridiculous ideas and that this could be foreshadowing an upcoming climax involving Gene taking this too far.
     I believe that the last part of the quote was also foreshadowed earlier in the novel during our last reading. On page 62 Gene puts on Finny's clothes in attempts to almost bring his presence back, but also I think he wanted to see what it felt like "to be Finny." Gene during the course of the whole novel has envied Finny and everything about him. Gene has always wanted to be in Finny's shoes and at the end of this chapter he believes that that has been his purpose in life. Now that this opportunity has presented itself to Gene I believe that he will be very excited to take advantage of it.
     Here are some questions for thought:

1. What are your opinions on foreshadowing in this chapter? Have you made any connections from foreshadowing in the past or can you make any for the rest of the novel?
2. Do you think that because of this event Gene and Finny are now "friends" again? Why or Why not?
3. Do you believe that they could ever be in a friendship where they are completely honest with each other?
4. Do you think Gene will go overboard trying to take Finny's place? 

Pages 60-71: 6.) What is guilt? Do we all have it? Is it part of being human? Can someone live guilt free?

On page 32, Finny saves Gene from a near death experience. On page 60, Gene jounces a limb that shook Finny resulting in Finny falling off and having a shattered leg. Gene thinks to himself "I spent as much time as I could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where I was, even who I was"(page 62). In the dictionary guilt means a feeling of remorse or responsibility for some offense. Guilt can be used in many different circumstances. In this circumstance, Guilt was used in regret of a decision that Gene had during a split second moment. Just like Gene, guilt is all internal.

Everybody has guilt. Guilt doesn't have to be a big thing. Everybody has to make decisions which lead to people having regret and guilt. Gene made the decision to have Finny fall off the tree, but if he didn't maybe Finny would have even better than Gene. Then, Gene would become even more envious and forever have guilt that he was too scared to shake the tree. Guilt is a part of being human. There is no such thing as a guilt free life, but there is a way to deal with guilt which can result in guilt not taking over you.

What is the difference between guilt and regret? How will Gene try to cope with the guilt he has? What does going to Finny's house show about Gene's character. What will Gene's guilt do to affect there friendship?

Chapter 5: 4) Briefly explain Gene’s visit to the infirmary. How does Finny act? Why? Does this feel “realistic”? How does Gene’s visit impact Finny?

Before even going into the infirmary Gene started crying. He learned that Finny will never be able to play sports again and that he shattered his leg. Dr. Stanpole says "There is no such hope" (page 64) Gene was told that he had to be cheerful for Finny when he entered the infirmary. When Gene entered the room he saw that Finny was lifted a little off the bed and had a cast on his left foot. In the beginning Finny was in a better mood then Gene making many jokes. Gene ask how did Finny fall. Finny said "I just fell" (page 65) Gene looked more shocked then Finny did. Finny had this feeling that Gene did something, but then he apologized for having it. Gene was about to tell Finny what really happened until Dr. Stanpole came in and Gene had to leave.

During the visit when Gene came Finny acted happy. He was making jokes and was in a better mood then Gene was. Finny even says to Gene "You look worse than I do" (page 64). Gene was surprised that Finny could act in such a good mood after his leg had just been shattered. I think Finny acted this way because Finny doesn't know that Gene was the one who jounced the limb on purpose. Finny thought how could he be in a bad mood with Gene here because he never did anything to hurt me. It was just me. I was the one to fall.

I do not think that this is realistic because instead of Gene feeling guilty Finny is the one feeling guilty. Finny says "I'm sorry about the feeling I had" (page 66). As I was reading this I could not believe that Finny was feeling guilty about a thought that he had that was correct. I think the visit Gene made to Finny impacted Finny in a negative way. I think this because it put more guilt on Finny for something he didn't even do.

Why do you think Finny never actually told Gene what the feeling he had was about? Do you think that Finny will try to do something to get back at Gene for what he did? As the rest of the book goes on do you think guilt will impact Genes decisions? Do you think Finny will ever accept the truth that Gene was the one who hurt him?