Simran Shah

Ms. Bisbal
Pre-AP English 1
4 November 2015
A Separate Peace Analytical Paragraph
In the novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles two high school boys, Gene and
Phineas, form a strong relationship over the course of their time at Devon. As the school year
advances, Gene begins to envy Finnys popularity and athletic abilities, causing him to harm
Finny. Gene realizes that jealousy can cause harm to relationships, and as a result, lead to
negative feelings, through Knowless of imagery, to describe the desolate and obscure
atmosphere, in the assembly room and butt room.
In chapter eleven, the dark atmosphere of the assembly room, described as a deadened
look and opaque, develops the theme of jealousy and denial, during Finnys interrogation, by
describing the environment of the assembly room (Knowles 166). Knowles uses opaque and a
deadened look to portray the somber and flat feeling, that Gene experiences, in the assembly
room, and they foreshadows the serious mood of the upcoming interrogation (Knowles 166).
Knowles expresses the blurring atmosphere, in the assembly room, to depict Finnys
confusion, and loss of memory about his injury. The blurred atmosphere also symbolizes
Genes confused state, of whether he should tell the truth about harming Finny, or deny it
(Knowles 168).
In chapter seven, the butt room was introduced as a hangout location for Devon students.
The hazy and depressing develops Devons denial of the war, by describing a dark
environment, and somber mood in the butt room (Knowles 88). The butt room is described as a

dungeon and ash colored to give the room a depressing mood, and they imply that the butt
room was felt like a trap to Gene, by adding a negative connotation to the room (Knowles 88). In
chapter nine, the Butt room was used as a place to talk about Lepers enlistment into the war.
Brinkers made up stories about Lepers heroic actions, in the war, were told, to other students,
to avoid believing the reality and cruelty of the war, as stated in the quote, For a few days the
war was more unimaginable than ever. We didnt mention it and we didnt mention Leper, until
at last Brinker found a workable point of view (Knowles 126). The stories of Leper started
when Brinker found a workable point of view to see the war in an unrealistic and imaginative
way to instead of accepting reality (Knowles 126). Also in the butt room, Gene denies harming
Finny, and makes up stories about Finny falling off the tree. The butt room was a common place
for students to escape reality, but eventually the students were forced to face the truth, about the
war, and their harmful actions.
Knowles use of environment and location portrays Genes and Devons denial of the
truth. While the boys at Devon were denying the war was real, by imagining stories, Gene was
denying he had purposely pushed Finny off of the limb. The novel portrays that jealousy can
cause harm to a relationship, by using Gene and Finnys friendship. The Butt room and the
assembly room were both used places to hide the truth, but eventually the truth reached Devon,