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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the narrator of this story?

2. What does Gene dress in?

3. Who is impressed with Gene's hard work?

4. Who lives across the hall from Gene?

5. What does Finny want Gene to do for him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gene do one night that leads him to conclude he "will never stumble through the confusions of [his] own character again?"

2. What does Gene realize about the rivalry between Finny and himself?

3. What does Gene remember as he pauses near the river on his way to an appointment at the Crew House?

4. Compare and contrast Brinker and Leper.

5. After Gene leaps from the branch into the water, how does Finny respond?

6. What happened to Finny as a result of the fall from the branch?

7. What does Finny decide to do in celebration of the first Allied bombing of Central Europe?

8. Who is the narrator of "A Separate Peace"?

9. What seemed so much larger to Gene, as told by him, when he was younger as opposed to now?

10. What sport does Finny think is a horrible addition to the summer athletics program?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The perception of the war is one that seems to change during the novel as well as fluctuate from the start to the finish of the novel.

Part 1: List the people in the novel who support the war. How do they show this support?

Part 2: List the people in the novel who do not support the war. How do they show their displeasure?

Part 3: What do you think the boys think of the war in general? Is this a 'good' or a 'bad' war? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The trial that seeks to prove Gene's guilt in Finny's accident is a haunting scene that seems to have numerous outcomes, beyond that which occurs in the Assembly Room.

Part 1: Describe what happens during the trial scene between Finny, Gene, and the others present.

Part 2: How does the trial affect Gene?

Part 3: How does the trial affect Finny?

Essay Topic 3

The scene when Finny and Gene are on the beach playing hooky is a touching one, though it seems while it is very important to both boys, the reactions are different from what the reader expects.

Part 1: Describe what happens between Gene and Finny when they are on the beach.

Part 2: Why can't Gene respond to Finny's statement?

Part 3: What does this scene seem to reveal to Gene (and to the reader) about Finny?

(see the answer keys)

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