A Separate Peace Theme Analysis

An effective novel immerses the reader into a memorable journey, the reader connects with the characters, the reader connects with the theme, the reader learns morals from the novel, the reader is astonished by the symbolism and styles, and the reader is fully immersed in an unforgettable experience. A novel connects to its reader and relates to life through effective use of themes and literary styles. Each novel is unique in the theme depicted and the styles used. However, for a novel to be a part of the English curriculum, the reader must relate to the theme and the various styles throughout the novel. John Knowles’s, A Separate Peace, should remain in the AP curriculum as it demonstrates a mature style and a relevant theme that in order

for one to mature one must undergo a hardship.
Knowles applies the theme of maturation suggesting that, in order for one to mature, an individual must experience a hardship.

Becoming mature and learning how to become mature is a theme relevant to the English II students as they transition from adolescence to adulthood, therefore, the book should remain in the AP curriculum. Throughout A Separate Peace, Gene’s maturation is portrayed through his experiences at Devon. Gene is quickly changed when his “knees bent and [he] jounced the limb… [soon after, Finny] broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud” (Knowles 60). The fall of Finny marks a turning point in the novel. Gene changes from an innocent boy who played carelessly on the fields of Devon, to a mature Gene who not only realizes the errors of his ways, but feels regret in the face of his actions. Gene realizes the mistake he has made, Finny was never jealous of him, he (Gene) “was not of the same quality as [Finny]” (Knowles 59). The experience of handicapping Gene’s best friend, Finny, changes Gene from the innocence of a child to an adult. Due to his actions, Gene undergoes internal conflict over his irrational actions and the consequences it played on Finny’s life. The battle over Gene’s innocence represents Gene’s coming of age and maturity. Gene witnesses his maturity when he returns to Devon fifteen years after he studied there. Gene sees the tree he once played with, the tree he made memories in, the tree he used

to jump into the river, and the tree that changed his life forever. Years later the same tree which held so many memories “seemed to [be] standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are not merely smaller in relation to your growth, but that they are absolutely smaller, shrunken by age... [for] the old giants have become pigmies while you were looking the other way" (Knowles 14). Gene undergoes a complete transformation throughout his schooling years at Devon. The school and tree which once seemed colossal and was a prominent part in Gene’s life, daunting his years at the school, now, fifteen years later have become overshadowed by the experiences of his life. Similarly, students in high school or even in college face monumental challenges when it comes to growing older. They must learn to cope with increased responsibilities and facing their fears alone, without the guidance of adults. They must deal with their mistakes by themselves and learn to live with their actions much like Gene does. A Separate Peace should remain in the AP curriculum because the theme is relatable to high school students who are trying to become mature and make difficult decisions for their future. The theme of maturation in A Separate Peace coherently connects with the lives of AP students thus should be kept on the AP curriculum.
A Separate Peace should not be removed from the AP curriculum because John Knowles effectively uses imagery and symbolism to immerse the reader into his writing.

Knowles’s writing provides AP students an example of effective writing using imagery and symbolism. After Phineas breaks his leg, Gene remembers “Phineas… balancing on one foot on the prow of a canoe like a river god, his raised arms invoking the air to support him, face transfigured, body a complex set of balances and compensations, each muscle aligned in perfection with all the others to maintain this supreme fantasy of achievement, his skin glowing from immersions, his whole body hanging between river and sky as though he had transcended gravity and might be gently pushing upward with his foot” (Knowles 75). Knowles uses excellent imagery which demonstrates the intricate details of Gene’s memory of Finny before his tragic fall. Knowles effectively uses this imagery by creating a sense of nostalgia, describing each detail of Finny even down to the muscle on his body, even hinting that Finny symbolizes Christ. This level of description in imagery is important for AP students to acquire and without this novel the students would not be learning how to effectively use imagery and would indirectly harm them. Knowles also demonstrates his use of symbolism in the novel. When Finny’s bone breaks, Finny tells Gene that he believes that the “bone [is] supposed to be stronger when it grows together over a place where it’s

been broken once” and that “in fact [Finny] think[s] [he] can feel it getting stronger” (Knowles 155). Knowles uses symbolism within the characters dialogue to describe the relationship between Gene and Finny. Finny being an optimist, believes that Gene and Finny now have a stronger relationship than before. However, like Finny’s bone, Gene and Finny’s relationship is also broken. Knowles’s excellent use of symbolism teaches AP students the proper use of symbolism and the effectiveness it has if used correctly. If A Separate Peace was removed from the AP curriculum, students would not be able to observe the excellent styles Knowles uses in his novel.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles uses the theme of maturation along with a wide variety of style to make the novel unique. Knowles immerses the common AP student in his novel by using a theme that relate to the students life as they escape their adolescence phase. Similarly, Knowles teaches students how to effectively use imagery and symbolism to broaden the reader’s view of style. A Separate Peace is a novel that appeals to AP students and must be kept as an integral part of the AP curriculum.