A Separate Peace

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. As the Devon boys enjoy their summer in 1942, the specter of war looms in the background.

• In what ways does war disrupt the lives of the Devon boys? (topic sentence)
• Find 2-3 examples from the text to substantiate your answer.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, consider the following: In what ways is the theme of War Encroaching on Peace of the Devon boys literal? In what ways is it metaphorical?

2. Throughout his narration, Gene is preoccupied with the idea that Finny is a possible rival, as opposed to a genuine friend.

• Why does Gene believe Finny is more foe than friend at times? (topic sentence)
• Find 2-3 examples from the text to substantiate your answer.
• Consider the friends’ final conversation. How does their ultimate interaction comment on the theme of Competition and Rivalry?

3. Consider the final chapters of the novel.

• Do you think it was necessary for Finny to die in this narrative? (topic sentence)
• Find 2-3 examples from the text to explain why you believe it was or was not necessary for Finny to die.
• What does Finny’s death teach us about The Loss of Innocence?

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. A Separate Peace is rife with symbolism; in fact, some critics have even found elements of allegory in the text. What is the most significant symbol in the novel? How does that symbol recur throughout the novel? What does it represent, both within the world of the book and in relation to the world of the reader, and what evidence in the text supports your claim that it is the most significant?

2. The story is told entirely from Gene’s perspective. Do you think he is a reliable narrator? Are there any elements of his story that you question or doubt? What are some factors that you think affect the way that he tells the story? How would the tone of the story change if another character narrated it?

3. Since the novel takes place at an all-boys school and concerns the WWII draft, the characters are nearly all men. What are the functions of the few women in the novel? Which women appear or are mentioned? What purpose do they serve in the novel?