Illustration of two pairs of legs standing on the branch of a large tree

A Separate Peace

by John Knowles

Start Free Trial

What are the major events in the novel A Separate Peace?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

I'm assuming you've read the novel, so my references to events will be just that--short, quick references.

  • The frame (beginning and end) - Gene comes back to Devon school and re-examines the events of those years
  • Summer school and the Suicide Society
  • Finny and Gene do all sorts of things (beach, blitzball, etc.) but not much schoolwork
  • Gene comes to the erroneous conclusion that Finny wants Gene to fail
  • Gene jounces the limb and Finny falls
  • Before school begins again in the fall, Gene tries to confess but Finny refuses to hear him
  • Gene wastes his athletic abilities on being a manager; he and Brinker decide to enlist
  • Finny stays home until Thanksgiving, then returns.  Gene's plans to enlist evaporate
  • Training for the Olympics, Winter Carnival, and note from Leper
  • Gene visits Leper and is faced with his guilt by a rather crazy Leper who has gone AWOL
  • Finny now denying the war even exists
  • Brinker conductsa mock trial which reveals Gene's guilt and Finny's doubts; Leper testifies
  • Finny falls and is taken to the infirmary
  • Gene tries to apologize to Finny but is rebuffed
  • Gene returns to the infirmary and is able to have a lucid and reconciliation moment with Finny
  • Gene finds out Finny has died
  • Brinker's dad comes and presents an idealized view of war and serving in the military; Brinker is angry and disillusioned
  • Back to the framed story and a pensive Gene--who enlisted but never really had to fight

 

 

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial