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A Separate Peace: Final Novel Review

Total questions: 58

Worksheet time: 29mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

True or False: John Knowles was born in West Virginia but set his novels in New England.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

2.

True or False: John Knowles served as a pilot in World War II.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

3.

True or False: John Knowles attended the Devon School, an elite boarding school, in New Hampshire.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

4.

True or False: During World War II, the draft age was lowered to 18.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

5.

True or False: Although the U.S. entered World War II, day to day life for Americans at home was NOT affected.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

6.

Who said it? "Why the hell should I think about you? Did you ever think about me?... Like a savage underneath" (145).

a)

Finny

b)

Gene

c)

Brinker

d)

Leper

7.

Who said it? "I'll bet he cracked up, didn't he? Leper found out the army was just too much for him" (157).

a)

Finny

b)

Gene

c)

Mr. Hadley

d)

Brinker

8.

Who said it? "Your war memories will be with you forever, you'll be asked about them thousands of times after the war is over" (199).

a)

Finny

b)

Gene

c)

Leper

d)

Mr. Hadley

9.

Most of the story is told in this form:

a)

present

b)

literal

c)

flashback

d)

figurative

10.

During the war, boarding schools placed a great deal of emphasis on ______________ and preparing seniors for war.

a)

physical training

b)

rowing on the crew team

c)

manners

d)

academics

11.

Which of the following is a rule of "blitzball?"

a)

There is no tackling.

b)

There is no running.

c)

There are no teams.

d)

There are no rules in blitzball.

12.

Upon returning to his old school, what TWO places does the now grown Gene want to see?

a)

the gym

b)

the marble stairs

c)

the tree

d)

the Butt Room

13.

The summer session takes place during what year?

a)

1942

b)

1945

c)

1965

d)

1939

14.

What is Finny's "mantra?"

a)

"Ducks fly together."

b)

"We are the boys of summer."

c)

"You always win at sports."

d)

"Carpe Diem!"

15.

What does Gene identify as the "moment in history" that defined him?

a)

World War I

b)

World War II

c)

Finny falling from the tree.

d)

Leaving the south to live in New England.

16.

What school record does Finny break?

a)

sprinting

b)

wrestling

c)

blitzball

d)

swimming

17.

Gene's internal conflict is mostly his...

a)

insecurity

b)

arrogance

c)

impulsivity

d)

shyness

18.

Why does Gene believe Finny is distracting him from studying?

a)

Finny is inconsiderate and doesn't care about Gene's grades.

b)

Finny needs Gene to help him.

c)

Finny is insecure and cannot jump out of the tree by himself.

d)

Finny is trying to sabotage Gene because he is jealous.

19.

When Finny is in the infirmary the FIRST time, what does Gene lie about?

a)

Not being at the tree when Finny fell

b)

Trying to reach out and grab Finny when he fell

c)

Leper being the one who shook the tree limb

d)

Gene never lied to Finny.

20.

Who moves into Leper's room once the winter session begins?

a)

Brinker

b)

Chet

c)

Gene

d)

Finny

21.

What part of campus does Gene compare to "a dungeon?"

a)

under his bed

b)

the gym

c)

the Butt Room

d)

the crew house

22.

Why doesn't Leper help the boys shovel snow off the train tracks?

a)

Leper is protesting the war.

b)

Leper is skiing and looking for beaver dams.

c)

Leper is afraid of trains.

d)

Leper is swimming and looking for snails.

23.

Identify TWO traits that define Leper.

a)

introverted

b)

aggressive

c)

humorous

d)

naturalist

24.

Who does Finny claim created the "fake" war?

a)

fat old men

b)

skinny old men

c)

Germans

d)

the British

25.

How does Finny respond to Gene's confession?

a)

Finny denies it.

b)

Finny screams at Gene.

c)

Finny laughs it off.

d)

Finny has no reaction.

26.

Even though Brinker is popular, why is Gene not interested in hanging out with Brinker at the start of the winter session?

a)

Brinker doesn't take school seriously.

b)

Brinker cannot replace Finny.

c)

Brinker represents the end of the summer session

d)

Brinker is only interested in sports and the war.

27.

Why does Finny tell Gene regarding sports?

a)

Gene must play because Finny cannot.

b)

Gene cannot play if Finny can't.

c)

Gene must continue the tradition of blitzball.

d)

Gene must beat Finny's swimming record.

28.

When Brinker FIRST states Gene intentionally hurt Finny, what tone does he use?

a)

Brinker is trying to intimidate Gene.

b)

Brinker feels sorry for Gene.

c)

Brinker is joking and being sarcastic.

d)

Brinker is aggressive and angry.

29.

Why does Gene decide NOT to enlist?

a)

Gene thinks Finny needs him.

b)

Gene is afraid to go to war.

c)

Gene thinks Finny will try to enlist if he does.

d)

Gene wants to protest the war.

30.

Why does Leper enlist in the war?

a)

He is inspired by Brinker.

b)

He doesn't want to stay at Devon.

c)

He views recruitment propaganda of ski troops.

d)

He wants to make his parents proud of him.

31.

Why does Gene suggest Brinker's enlistment would have had a greater impact on the other boys?

a)

Brinker is a coward.

b)

Brinker has a stronger presence at the school.

c)

Everyone hates Brinkers.

d)

Brinker wants to quit school.

32.

What winter "tradition" does Phineas invent?

a)

the great Blitzball race

b)

the winter carnival

c)

Oktoberfest

d)

a snowball fight

33.

What was Finny's intention in creating the winter carnival?

a)

the carnival distracted the boys from the war

b)

the carnival distracted the boys from thinking about enlistment

c)

the carnival helped alleviate the boredom of winter

d)

All of the above

34.

What event interrupts the carefree mood of the winter carnival?

a)

Leper had been killed in action.

b)

Leper sends Gene a telegram saying he escaped.

c)

Leper sends Finny a telegram saying he escaped.

d)

Leper is creeping in the bushes and spying.

35.

Leper reveals he is discharged from the army because

a)

He is deemed mentally unstable

b)

He is deemed physically handicapped.

c)

He is deemed too lazy for war.

d)

He is unable to fire a gun.

36.

Why does Leper refer to Gene as a "savage underneath?"

a)

Gene pretends he is Leper's friend but bullies Leper.

b)

Gene pretends to be Finny's friend, but he sabotages Finny's grades.

c)

Gene pretends to be mentally sound, but he is also hallucinating like Leper.

d)

Gene pretends to be Finny's friend but purposely caused the fall at the tree.

37.

Why does Gene run away from Leper and tells him to "shut up?"

a)

Leper's stories of the military frighten Gene.

b)

Leper is lying and making up stories.

c)

Leper tells Gene that Finny doesn't really care about him.

d)

Gene is jealous that Leper was able to enlist.

38.

What event confirmed the reality of war for Finny?

a)

reading the newspapers

b)

listening to the radio

c)

seeing Leper in the bushes

d)

listening to Mr. Hadley's war stories

39.

Why does Brinker hold a mock trial?

a)

Brinker wants Finny to admit Gene intentionally hurt him.

b)

Brinker wants Gene to admit he intentionally hurt Finny.

c)

Brinker wants to destroy Gene and Finny's friendship so Gene will enlist.

d)

All of the above.

40.

When first questioned by Brinker, what does Finny try to do?

a)

run away

b)

ignore the questions

c)

incriminate Gene

d)

protect Gene

41.

Who is Brinker's surprise witness?

a)

his father

b)

Finny

c)

Leper

d)

Gene

42.

Finny runs out of the mock trial and the Assembly Hall because...

a)

Finny wants to prove he can still move on his own.

b)

Finny cannot face the truth that Leper may reveal.

c)

Finny can't think of anymore fake answers.

d)

All of the above.

43.

Upon breaking his leg for the second time, what reality does Finny finally face?

a)

He is going to be drafted.

b)

The war has made Leper insane.

c)

Gene did shake the tree branch.

d)

He is never going to play sports again.

44.

What truth does Finny reveal to Gene concerning his conspiracy of the war?

a)

Finny made it up because he knew he wouldn't be able to serve.

b)

Finny made it up because he's afraid Gene will enlist and leave.

c)

Finny made it up because he is afraid to be drafted.

d)

Finny made it up to help Leper feel better.

45.

Why does Gene insist Finny would be "no good" at war?

a)

Finny can't maintain his focus.

b)

Finny can't run.

c)

Finny is too optimistic.

d)

Finny hasn't studied enough.

46.

At the end of Chapter 12, why does Gene reveal he did NOT cry at Finny's funeral?

a)

Gene felt responsible for Finny's death,and he felt guilty for crying.

b)

Gene is embarrassed to cry in front of others.

c)

Gene knew Finny wouldn't want him to cry.

d)

Gene felt that part of himself died with Finny, and he couldn't cry for himself.

47.

The jeeps and troops taking over Devon symbolize...

a)

the end of innocence and reality of war

b)

the rebirth of innocence and end of war

c)

the patriotism felt by Americans during this time

d)

the strict academic environment of the Devon School

48.

How does Mr. Hadley feels about Brinker and Gene's plans following graduation?

a)

Mr. Hadley is ashamed that they are not protesting the war.

b)

Mr. Hadley implies that the Navy and Coast Guard are not as dangerous and therefore not honorable

c)

Mr. Hadley implies that the boys should not enlist but continue their education.

d)

Mr. Hadley is proud of his son and Gene's choices and congratulates them both.

49.

What do Brinker and Finny both believe about war?

a)

The war is not real and created by fat old men.

b)

Young people are forced to fight because of older people's actions and decisions.

c)

Young people have more energy and pride and are meant to serve others.

d)

They both believe enlisting in the Navy is the safest choice.

50.

How does World War II serve as a symbol in the novel?

a)

WW II represents the patriotism of young people

b)

WW II represents the loss of innocence and childhood beliefs

c)

WW II represents all the evil and hatred in the world

d)

WW II represents the need for people to respect each others' differences

51.

Identify the FOS: "I had all the time in the world."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

hyperbole

d)

idiom

52.

Identify the FOS: "Slowly he was driven beneath a blizzard of snowballs."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

personification

d)

hyperbole

53.

Identify the FOS: "If Phineas had been sitting here in this pool of guilt, how would he have felt?"

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

idiom

d)

hyperbole

54.

Identify the FOS: "There was a brief interruption, brief as a drum beat, in the continuous flow of his walk."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

personification

d)

idiom

55.

Identify the FOS: "Our footsteps fell guiltily on the marble floor."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

personification

d)

hyperbole

56.

Identify the FOS: "The Summer Session closed... to me it seemed irresolutely suspended."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

hyperbole

d)

personification

57.

Identify the FOS: "What's everyone beating around the bush for?"

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

hyperbole

d)

idiom

58.

Identify the FOS: "I felt like a wild man who had stumbled in from the jungle."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

hyperbole

d)

personification