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?

Chapter 8: What do Gene’s observations about the changes in Finny reveal about Finny? About Gene? (109-114)

In this chapter, Finny is enraged of not being able to what he used able to do and takes out that anger on people such as Finny. Now that Finny is back, I believe he wants everything his way because he believes just because he is cripple you need to do what he says. Gene is trying to take care of him and just make Finny feel the best he can. Finny is more dissatisfied than ever in the book and Gene is friendlier towards Finny.

Gene is now being more arrogant and is whining about everything. For example on page 104, “Oh Christ, it’s not made up. What is all this crap about no maids.” In this quote he is just thinking about himself and not about the people in the war. In this chapter he repeatedly says that there is no war going on as if he did not care about the war. He is also being more commanding to Gene because every day he tells him to get his crutches as if he was a slave and he made Gene miss a class. Finny is criticizing Gene too much; for example, he makes fun of the way he dresses and gets angry at Gene because he quits crew. I think Finny is trying to transform Gene in to him. He was also furious when Gene told him that he was going to enlist into the war. Finny is still the same old Finny, but he gotten a little worse. I truly believe that all the frustration in Finny’s head is getting to him and making him grumpier and hating is life more. I believe Finny is also scared because he knows that sooner or later Gene will go to war and might never see his friend again.

Gene knows that Finny is angry because of all the difficulties he has moving from place to place. He knows that Finny needs support to get through this depressing era for Finny. In this chapter Gene is like Finny’s slave because he does everything that Finny commands. I believe he is doing this because he knows he caused it and feels bad for him, and he knows he has to be there for him. There are many moments in this chapter when Gene comforts Finny when he is getting angry. In this chapter I believe Gene is caring for Finny like a maid and is trying to make the friendship between each other better. Gene is trying to be the best friend he can possibly be for Finny.

Have you ever had a friend that has changed for the worse? How did the friendship turn out? What do you think is the best way to solve a problem like this?

Chapter #8 (pages 117-120) What effect will Finny's ambition to train Gene for the Olmpics have on their friendship?

Finny all along had an athletic goal of performing in the ’44 Olympics but that goal was shattered along with his leg when he fell off the tree, PG 117 “And now I’m not sure… in shape by 1944.So I’m going to coach you for them instead.” At first when I read this I thought it was a joke, so did Gene but Finny didn’t. So that shows that Finny actually believes the Olympics were a possibility. Then on PG 120 Gene somehow shown that he had athletic qualities with that six in the morning run, and it also mentions Finny was determined to achieve this goal. Finny wants to get to the Olympics through Gene by coaching him.

So if Gene and Finny are changing, Gene into the athlete and Finny into the coach the friendship would change. But with the war going on that dream will be very hard or impossible to achieve. But with this goal setting the bar very hard for Gene the relationship will change; Gene will become the athlete when it is usually Finny.

Do you think Gene will be able to achieve this lofty goal of the ’44 Olympics under the coaching of Finny?

Will this hurt, tighten, or change the their friendship?

How do you think the war will effect this goal will it destroy, help, or make it more difficult?