'A Separate Peace', by John Knowles Quiz

Answer: Gene and Finny

Gene and Finny are best friends in the book. They both attend Devon school in 1942 New Hampshire. Gene is the main main character, and the book is written from his first-person perspective. He is paranoid, excels academically, and has no distinct personality.

His actions seem to always build around those of others. Finny, on the other hand, also known as Phineas, is outgoing, athletic, and has a distinct personality. He is one to think of new ideas, but always includes Gene and/or the other boys at school.

Answer: Gene

Gene travels to his home in the South when there is a break in school. Finny, on the other hand, lives in Boston. Leper lives in the hills of Vermont. I don't think any of the other characters' homes are mentioned, but it is clear that they mostly seem to come from afar.

Answer: Jump from a big oak tree into the river

There is a large oak tree with rungs up the trunk from which the boys often jump. At first, Finny is willing to jump but Gene is not sure. Eventually, Gene jumps while the other boys watch. At a later time, Gene and Finny go to the tree alone and plan to set a precedent by jumping off of the limb into the river at the same time.

However, when they are standing on the limb, Gene supposedly "subconsciously" jounces the limb, causing Finny to fall on the bank of the river. Finny suffers a broken leg, and through the rest of the book, Gene is faced with the fact that he has broken Finny's leg and ruined his prestigious sports career.

However, it is not made clear that Gene deliberately knocks Finny off, and the reader must decide for himself/herself whether or not Gene is at fault!

Answer: Finny

Finny breaks his leg when Gene supposedly knocks him out of the tree, you know the story. Towards the end of the book, Finny rebreaks his leg after a fight with Gene. When Dr. Stanpole tries to replace the bone, a small amount of marrow escapes into Finny's bloodstream and stops his heart, thus taking his life.

Answer: Leper

The telegram from Leper says something like "Gene, I've escaped. Come visit me at Christmas retreat. Urgent" (I don't remember the exact wording, but he is trying to say that he's quit the ski patrol of the army and gone to his home in Vermont, where he usually goes on Christmas break from school). Gene goes to visit him to find that he has gone mad.

Answer: Winter

Finny and Gene plan a winter festival with music, hard cider, games, and prizes. My opinion is that Finny thinks of the idea so his best friend Gene can take his place by winning the athletic games. However, Gene is interrupted by the telegram from Leper.

Answer: Shoveling snow from the railroad tracks

When snow blocks the nearest train tracks, a train carrying army recruits cannot continue on its way. The Devon boys shovel the snow away so the train can proceed. It's one of many instances in which the war breaks a "separate peace".

Answer: Finny

Finny's reason for storming out of the room is not clearly stated by the author. My opinion is that when it's suggested that Gene is responsible for Finny's injury, and Finny denies it (Gene is his best friend), he really feels that it IS Gene's fault, and so, can no longer contain his anger.

Answer: Late at night

It is clear that the trial takes place late at night because the other boys have to take Gene and Finny from their dormitory to the auditorium after everyone is supposed to be asleep.

Answer: Finny

As I said above, Finny dies when Dr. Stanpole is resetting his broken bone, and some marrow escapes into his bloodstream, stopping his heart. It is a disheartening ending to a morally depressing book (in my opinion, of course!). Well, I hope you enjoyed this quiz. Thanks for playing!