The Peace of Our Reunion

The sun bounces off the house, “reifies it”; showing that this home is important to the man (“Alzheimer’s” 10). The speaker again uses personification to connect the hard work the man has put into his life and his home with the actions of the sun as it “strikes the iron grillwork like a smithy” (11). However, this hard work is being destroyed by Alzheimer’s disease, represented by the “sparks…, [that are] burning in the bushes--” (12). Further emphasizing the man’s fleeting thoughts, the author breaks up the poem by using only two words on the next line: “The rosebushes—“(13). This is also a turning point in the poem that signifies the change in the speaker’s feelings towards the man. From this point forward, the tone is somewhat sad rather than

The sky was always blue holding sunshine rays in her world. Her name was Rosaline Deponte, my great-grandma. The continuous smile that she showed on her face reminded us how precious life is and to not take things for granted. Cold wood floors that could easily freeze toes, single-walled construction, shut rows of jalousie windows, and the smell of warm sweet bread on the counter 24/7, that was Rosaline’s house.

“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have” (Socrates). Humans are selfish, they wish for more even when there is no more to give. This is shown in many books through parallels between texts. These parallels allow readers to become connected with the text on a deeper level. People must read in between the lines to get a clear understanding of the author's message. John Knowles, author of A Separate Peace, has woven an intelligent story which at a glance seems like the story of two boys friendship, but underneath explains the reason behind why people are ever jealous. Through the use of biblical allegories and character parallels, A Separate Peace, meticulously portrays the human impulse

cold blast for the enemy. The winter lives to destroy the warmth of the summer

In his novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles demonstrates that, to achieve adulthood, one must lose innocence and acknowledge this loss.

Crafted by author John Knowles in the late 1950’s, A Separate Peace is a heart-wrenching Bildungsroman narrated by a pensive Gene Forrester as he reflects upon trials and tribulations at his alma-mater, the Devon Boarding School. In an attempt to process the tragic loss of his best friend and coping with his own responsibility in his friend’s death, Gene returns to the campus to confront his progressive loss of Finny in both his plummet from the tree by the river to his tumble down the marble staircase. At a glance, Finny and Gene’s relationship appears to be a story of tragedy as Gene must forever carry the loss of his very best friend, but as the novel progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Gene and Finny’s relationship before Finny’s accident was far from being black-and-white. Diving deeper into the text, Gene reveals his true feelings about Finny that fluctuate from Finny being an object of obsession to being a source of resentment. As the story is told from Gene’s point of view, the reader is submerged into the realm of Gene’s odd fascinations with Finny and the manifestations of his feelings of hatred and idolization as he acts out in odd ways, such as mimicking Finny’s facial expressions and clothing and developing conspiracy theories in which Finny is planning Gene’s academic downfall. Gradually, the picture painted of the teenage Gene Forrester of A Separate Peace becomes more and more distorted as Gene’s sanity is called into question. His

The garden was something she built with her own hands just like her home that she cherishes and accomplished something that only men were viewed in the society as being able to complete such a feat. Her building and taking care of the garden shows her passion and determination in life, as it is something she crafted and learned on her own with no ones

“Mrs. Manstey’s View,” a short story about the end of an old woman’s life, has a strong theme of the importance of nature. The titular woman has very little left in her life besides a small home with an extraordinary view of gardens and flowers. Indeed, early in the story, she states, “Mrs. Manstey’s real friends were the denizens of the yard, the hyacinths, the magnolia, the green parrot…” This dedication to her view causes a huge upheaval when a neighbor plans to expand her house, cutting off the view mentioned in the title.

7. The setting is used as a reflection of the woman's inner emotions. The sun shines and birds sing with no sign of gloom because she is not actually mourning as she thinks to herself. The lack of sorrow from the woman cause the setting to seem even more lovely to her as she realizes she is feeling joy. The details used by the writer portray a sense of well being and positivity. The woman reaches out towards the window as if her joy is tangible, this is a vey important

In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the characters, and their innocence is

In the 1950s, 15 years after his graduation from Devon, an all boys school in New Hampshire, Gene Forrester returns. While walking through the campus, Gene thinks of his experiences at Devon during World War II, especially during the summer of 1942, when he was a 16 year old boy.

“She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life.” Speaks of hopefulness and rebirth

The book A Separate Peace by John Knowles tackles a variety of complex ideas and realities of this harsh world. The main story line built around Gene a young boy in a boarding school during the time of World War II thats where the harsh realties come in. OnA Separate Peace the main theme in this book is the growth of Gene and the identity he builds for and around himself with his peers and the authority figures he interacts with. Through out the novel you can see Gene’s envy and jealously for his “best friend” Phinias and how the envy manifests itself into creating his identity in solely being Phinias’s best friend because Gene himself can not be Phinias.

"The Chrysanthemums" introduces us to Elisa Allen, a woman who knows she has a gift for growing things, but it seems to be limited to her garden. Diligently working in her garden, Elisa watches as men come and go, living their lives unconfined, wondering what it must feel like to have that freedom. That emotion is revealed as Elisa gases at her husband and acquaintances talking, "she looked down toward the men by the tractor shed now and then." As she tills the soil for her chrysanthemums Elisa tills the thoughts in her head. The garden she so desperately maintained represents her world. A world that will only flourish if nourished. Emotional nourishment and stimulation is what Elisa lacked and longed for. The garden is limited in space to grow and so is her marriage. The garden is safe, non-threatening and so is her world. The garden contains many different elements that make it what it is, although unseen, and if the proper nourishment is not given it will die, as with Elisa.

“You’ll make a lovely bouquet for my kitchen,” she whispered to the fragrant blossoms. Standing straight, she made her way to her home, looking over her shoulder at the dirt road passing along the side of it. It had been busy in the recent months, but today, it remained empty, stretching out into the horizon and into the small village below.