Download A Separate Peace – Pre

A Separate Peace – Pre-reading Ch. 3
Before you read:
Although Gene does not want to attend meetings of the “Super Suicide Society,” he attends the meetings, stating, “Otherwise, I
would have lost face with Phineas, and that would have been unthinkable.”
 What does this tell us about Gene’s attitude towards Phineas?
 How important is Phineas to Gene’s self-identity? (What role does Phineas play in Gene’s perception of himself?)
While you read:
Pay attention to
 Finny’s personal rules.
 The effect of the war on the seniors.
 Gene’s description of Finny’s physical ability.
 Gene’s view of America and the war.
 Finny’s openness/honesty.
Discussion Questions:
 Gene describes Finny’s mind as being the “opposite” of his. What does he mean by this?
 What is significant about naming the game “Blitzball”? What makes Finny so good at the game?
 Why doesn’t Finny want Gene to tell people about what happened at the pool?
 Is Gene honest when he tells Finny that Finny is “Too good to be true.”?
 How is Finny emotionally stronger than Gene?
Vocabulary:


Venerable
Perilous


Anarchy
Cordial


Insidious
Blitzkrieg
A Separate Peace – Pre-reading Ch. 3
Before you read:
Although Gene does not want to attend meetings of the “Super Suicide Society,” he attends the meetings, stating, “Otherwise, I
would have lost face with Phineas, and that would have been unthinkable.”
 What does this tell us about Gene’s attitude towards Phineas?
 How important is Phineas to Gene’s self-identity? (What role does Phineas play in Gene’s perception of himself?)
While you read:
Pay attention to
 Finny’s personal rules.
 The effect of the war on the seniors.
 Gene’s description of Finny’s physical ability.
 Gene’s view of America and the war.
 Finny’s openness/honesty.
Discussion Questions:
 Gene describes Finny’s mind as being the “opposite” of his. What does he mean by this?
 What is significant about naming the game “Blitzball”? What makes Finny so good at the game?
 Why doesn’t Finny want Gene to tell people about what happened at the pool?
 Is Gene honest when he tells Finny that Finny is “Too good to be true.”?
 How is Finny emotionally stronger than Gene?
Vocabulary:


Venerable
Perilous


Anarchy
Cordial


Insidious
Blitzkrieg