A Separate Piece Literary Essay Example

there is a sense of impending tragedy for Finny that leaves readers wondering about his fate.

During his visit to Devon, Gene notices a staircase that leads to Finnie's tragic accident. On page five, he acknowledges the surprising fact that even though the stairs are old and made of hard marble, the middle of each step has shallow wear. This oversight becomes significant when Finny falls and fractures his legs. As we continue reading, we observe a recurring inner conflict in Gene as he goes through different emotions.

The central focus of the events in John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" is Gene's increasing jealousy towards Finny. At Devon, Finny is regarded as the perfect boy who excels in all areas of life. Through Gene's recollections, readers gain insight into both what transpired and his feelings towards Finny. The author establishes a bond with readers by presenting these events and enabling them to empathize with Gene's emotions. By incorporating flashbacks, audiences can witness the progression of events and observe how things have changed from the past to the present.

The book is centered around Gene returning to Devon and experiencing a flashback. This flashback reveals the story of life at Devon and helps us to connect with the character. John Knowles has structured the narrative as if Gene were recounting a story directly from his journal without any alterations. In my view, the main literary element to focus on is the flashback. It sets the stage for the plot of the story, which revolves around how Gene caused his best friend's death but was ultimately forgiven. The flashback is therefore a crucial component

of this book.