English 2: A Separate Peace Notes

A Separate Peace 

• Archetype: templates for types of characters based on ancient myths, epics, etcetera (developed by Adler and Jung)
• Stereotype: templates for types of characters based on stories, novels, movies, etcetera from the 20th and 21st centuries 
• Trope: an expected plot-line or arc for a “type” of character in 20th and 21st century stories, tv shows, films, games, etcetera
• The hero’s journey: a classic set of steps, people, and trials that ancient heroes hand to master to become heroes (developed by Joseph Campbell)  
• Opening questions & Discussion points
• What is the difference between a friend and a rival? Explain.
• What are common student stereotypes? Explain.
• Why is it dangerous to make assumptions about people? Explain.
• Setting
• Prep Schools/Single-sex Schools
• WWII (1943/1944)
• Main Characters
• Gene: narrator, “try-hard”
• Finny/Phineas: best friend, rival, “jock”
• Leper/Elwin Lepellier: outsider, “nerd”
• Brinker Hadley: wanna-be best friend, “over-achiever”
• Major Themes—
• trust yourself versus trust others (Gene’s struggle)
• fear = anxiety + depression (also, Gene’s struggle)
• coming of age
1. childhood: selfishness and dependency
2. loss of innocence: the discover that everyone is human some people are evil
3. awakening: the realization that choices matter and actions have consequences
4. age of reasons: when a person begins to make decisions based on understanding choices, actions, and consequences
5. independence: when a person is responsible for himself/herself and able to take care of his/her business
6. interdependence (able to be a partner) versus co-dependency (inability to take care of self, thus needs others to do it)
• Motifs (images that keep popping up)—the “unusually hard” marble stairs, the tree
• Redemption Arc—the main character does something “unforgivable” and spends time wallowing in guilt, avoiding people/things that are reminder, then (after a lot of soul-searching and pushing on the part of others) starts to become a better person and learn from his/her mistakes