Objects/Places
Devon School: An all-boys preparatory school in rural New Hampshire. Its campus grounds are well maintained and surround the old stately buildings where classes are held. The Devon River and the Naguamsett River flow through the middle of the school's property.
Marble staircase: Inside the First Academy Building, it is here that Finny falls and breaks his leg for the second time. Fifteen years later Gene returns to this spot. A moon is carved into each of its white marble steps.
Tree: Designated as the meeting place of the Super Suicide Society, the tree is used to train seniors for the war. Finny convinces Gene, despite his fears, to repeatedly jump out off one of its branches into the Devon River. Gene intentionally shakes the tree's branch to cause Finny to fall, breaking his leg. He returns to this spot fifteen years later.
Summer Session (of 1942): Class during the summer months was not normal at Devon, but the war made it necessary to accelerate students towards graduation before they were drafted into the military. Gene and Finny became friends while roommates at the Summer Session.
Upper Middler: A term used for a third-year student at Devon. Gene and Finny's academic class was accelerated to condense their third year curriculum into the Summer Session so that they would be seniors that following year. The war and the need for enlisted soldiers cause this rush.
Pink shirt: Finny's pink shirt was an emblem of his patriotism and support of the war. He wore it proudly to Patch-Withers' home, explaining its importance to him. After his accident, Gene puts it on and feels special, like 'some Spanish grandee.'
Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session: This club was formed by Phineas during the Summer Session. Its function was to have a group of schoolboys meet and watch each other jump out of the tree into the river. However, he and Gene are the only ones who are able to do it because the others are afraid to jump.
Blitzball: Finny invented this playful sport to mimic what he thinks it is like in the war. Short for 'blitzkrieg ball,' he excels at the game due to his athletic talents. It is very popular among the schoolboys.
A. Hopkins Parker: A plaque near the swimming pool displays his name, dated from 1940. Finny breaks his swimming record without any practice and refuses to tell anyone. Thus A. Hopkins Parker remains the record holder for swimming.
Train: Gene takes a train from his home in the South while returning to Devon. He stops at Finny's home near Boston for a visit before continuing.
Winter Session: The carefree Summer Session at Devon School is followed by the Winter Session. Then life becomes much harsher because of the instructors and the war as it increasingly affects the boys' lives.
Naguamsett River: Although the Devon River is clean and pure, the Naguamsett's waters are so grimy that Gene needs to shower after falling into it while fighting with Quackenbush. The Devon Winter Carnival takes place near this river flowing through the middle of the school's campus. It is called the 'lower river' since the Devon flows above it.
Devon River: Its waters are clean and pure, flowing inland through the campus. It eventually flows over a small waterfall into the Naguamsett. A dam separates the two rivers; Devon is the narrower of the two. The tree Finny fell from is above it.
Butt Room: A dingy room in the dormitory basement where the boys go to smoke cigarettes. Brinker's crowd first questioned Gene here about Finny's accident. He later speaks to Mr. Hadley about the war in the Butt Room.
Troop train: Gene rode a train to visit Finny late in the summer. In the winter he shovels the tracks to let this train filled with troops for the war continue on its way.
Devon Winter Carnival: A festival created by Finny in celebration of the winter season. It consists of athletic games at which Gene excels. Brinker brings cider, Chet Douglass plays his trumpet, and Gene has made snow statues depicting figures around campus such as the Headmaster. It is ended early because of Leper's request for Gene to visit him.
Homer's Iliad: This book is burned by Finny to create 'the sacred fire of Olympus,' thus opening the First Annual Devon Winter Carnival.
Section Eight : A military discharge for mentally illsoldiers. Leper Lepellier is a Section Eight since he is unable to bear the pressures of his army post in the United States and becomes unbalanced by what he experiences there. He does not last long enough to even fight in the war.
1944 Olympics: Finny had dreams of being in the Olympics himself and declares that Gene must compete in his place after the accident. He begins training Gene to be ready for the 1944 Olympics. Gene realizes this is just another one of his friend's fantastic delusions just as he thinks that the war is fake. He does learn from the athletic training, however, and conquers his fear of sports.
First Academy Building: A classroom building where Gene and Finny are interrogated by Brinker about the fall from the tree. Inside is the marble staircase Finny falls down and above the building's entrance are words in Latin, 'Here Boys Come to Be Made Men.' Gene returns here fifteen years later.
Assembly Room: The room upstairs in the First Academy Building where Gene and Finny are interrogated by Brinker. Its walls are filled with old portraits of forgotten people who were once known at Devon School. The boys' voices echo loudly since the great space is designed to handle large audiences.
The Cage: The Field House intended for athletic use out on the playing fields. Here seniors receive war training during the Summer Session. A wooden tower stands nearby.
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