A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions

1. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal Directions • You will be keeping a dialectical journal (notes) for A Separate Peace. This will be a MAJOR GRADE! • This may be on loose sheets of paper; however, you will have to keep up with them until we are finished with the novel. • You will need to record all characters and their descriptions (as they are introduced). • For each chapter (1-13), you will need to make AT LEAST 7 journal “entries.” AT LEAST 2 of the entries should be important/pivotal quotes that are analyzed and interpreted by you, and they MUST include author’s purpose! • The other 5 entries for each section may include: Characterization, Diction, Figurative Language, Elements that are Specific to the Time Period/Society, Tone & Mood, Author’s Purpose, Theme, etc. • Each entry should be at least 3 sentences! • Overall, you will end up having at least 1 page per chapter.

2. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 1 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • *Think of the descriptions of the seasons vs. the speakers state of mind • Description of the School • Characterization: Names and Descriptions • Purpose (or potential reasons) for the Flashback • Description of the Tree (what could a tree symbolically represent?) • Why does Gene spend so much time reminiscing about the tree? • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship • Presence of War

3. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 2 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • The importance of eating ALL meals at Devon • Definition of a “leper” • How is Phineas “the essence of this careless peace”? • Describe Finny’s charisma • Gene’s feelings about Finny getting “caught” (tie for a belt incident) • Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session • Finny saving Gene’s life

4. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 3 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War

5. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 4 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Sunrise • Biblical allusion: Lazarus • Chet Douglass • Leper Lepellier’s jump • Enmity*** • Finny’s jump– “unnatural thud” • Predictions?

6. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 5 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Gene’s word choice (diction) when discussing Finny’s possible injuries • Gene’s imitations of Phineas, and how it makes him feel • Hospital room conversation– complexities of both characters • Suspense (about to confess) • Admission of guilt: how was Gene hurting Finny even worse? • “The biggest lie of all”

7. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 6 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Parallel between Finny’s absence from Devon and the scenery of Devon (look at how it is described in his absence). • Comparison of the previous summer’s events to “gypsy music” and “gypsy ways.” • Gene’s description of one of Finny’s great moments: the canoe. (Look at the diction and how he describes the event.) • Cliff Quackenbush • Mr. Ludsbury’s accusations and Gene’s thoughts about them • Long-distance phone call conversation (what does this say about Finny? Gene?) • Gene’s purpose: what does this mean (other than having a “creepy” connotation)?

8. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 7 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Presence of Finny despite his absence from school. • Brinker’s accusation and Gene’s reaction. • Connection of winter and the war’s presence. • The boy’s treatment of Quackenbush vs. their treatment of Leper • Gene’s power in enlistment. • Finny’s return

9. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 8 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Finny’s return and saying prayers • “Hand me my crutches, will you?” • Enlistment and Finny • Peace vs. war at Devon • The Olympics: Finny’s hope for himself, or Gene • Shift in Gene’s view of Finny (after the run)

10. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 9 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Leper’s enlistment • Phineas’s lack of enthusiasm regarding Leper’s enlistment. • The Devon Winter Carnival • Brinker and the cider (Brinker’s breaking of rules) • The telegram

11. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 10 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • The journey to Leper • Gene’s sudden disregard for rules (Gene’s character’s development) • Change in Leper: “Psycho” • Leper’s accusation • Reality of war

12. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 11 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Gene’s need to see Finny • “No one was going to win or lose after all”(Knowles 154) • “Sure. There isn’t any war” (Knowles 158) • Brinker’s plan • Finny’s realization about the war. • The trial • Irony of the last witness • White marble stairs

13. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 12 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • Gene’s lack of help during the crisis • “He was by nature someone who carried others” (Knowles 179) • Gene’s vigil through the night • “You want to break something else in me” (Knowles 184) • Finney’s forgiveness • “An operating room and a war” (Knowles 193) • Why does Gene not cry?

14. A Separate Peace Dialectical Journal DirectionsChapter 13 • What to look for: • Point of View (reliable vs. unreliable narrator) • Atmosphere/Mood (how it makes the reader feel) • Tone & Diction (what types of words are used so that you KNOW the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?) • Characterization: Names and Descriptions (why would the author describe them in this manner?) • Evidence of antithesis/foil and the dynamics of the relationship (Envy) • Presence of War • The invasion of Devon • “Why talk about something you can’t do anything about?” (Knowles 197) • Mr. Hadley- symbolism • “Nothing…had broken his harmonious and natural unity. So at last I had” (Knowles 203) • Phineas-filled nature