SETTING
TIME: A Separate Peace starts out in 1958 but the whole story is a flashback from 1942-1943.
PLACE: The Devon School, a private school in New Hampshire.
PLACE: The Devon School, a private school in New Hampshire.
CHARACTERS
Gene Forrester
Gene is the narrator of the book. He is very intelligent and even mentioned about wanting to be the class
valedictorian. He is also athletic but not as athletic as his best friend, Phineas. Gene admires his best
friend but has a unsteady love/hate relationship with him. He shows a lot of uncertainty, cautiousness and
jealousy at times. Gene is the protagonist of this book.
valedictorian. He is also athletic but not as athletic as his best friend, Phineas. Gene admires his best
friend but has a unsteady love/hate relationship with him. He shows a lot of uncertainty, cautiousness and
jealousy at times. Gene is the protagonist of this book.
Phineas (Finny)
Phineas is Gene's best friend and roommate. He is a talented athlete and admired by many.
He is also good at persuading people which is how he always gets away with things. He is one
of the few boys that were "happy' in the summer of 1942 (WWII). Phineas is definitely the "daredevil"
friend and he does influence Gene to do daring things like jumping from the tree but they are never
for devious reasons. Finny is has a different approach to life than the other characters.
He is also good at persuading people which is how he always gets away with things. He is one
of the few boys that were "happy' in the summer of 1942 (WWII). Phineas is definitely the "daredevil"
friend and he does influence Gene to do daring things like jumping from the tree but they are never
for devious reasons. Finny is has a different approach to life than the other characters.
Brinker Hadley
Brinker seems the most independent in the book. He is also intelligent and is Gene's competition for class
valedictorian. He seems like a leader and is one of the first to talk about enlisting in the army.
Brinker is the most mature in the book because he is always thinking about fighting in the army. Brinker is definitely
a character foil to the free-spirited Finny.
valedictorian. He seems like a leader and is one of the first to talk about enlisting in the army.
Brinker is the most mature in the book because he is always thinking about fighting in the army. Brinker is definitely
a character foil to the free-spirited Finny.
Elwin Lepellier (Leper)
In the beginning of the book, Leper declined to jump out of the tree and that gave me a first impression
that he is shy and the 'isolated' friend. Leper is timid, and it was a surprise when he was the first person from
Devon school to enlist. He comes back from the war suffering from insanity. He seems like a good friend
because he was present the day of Phineas' accident, but he did not rat out Gene during Brinker's testimony.
that he is shy and the 'isolated' friend. Leper is timid, and it was a surprise when he was the first person from
Devon school to enlist. He comes back from the war suffering from insanity. He seems like a good friend
because he was present the day of Phineas' accident, but he did not rat out Gene during Brinker's testimony.