A Separate Peace by Dan Knowles

A SEPARATE PEACE
The theme "rite of passage" was used in the novel A Separate Peace, by John Knowles. This moving from innocence to adulthood was contained within three sets of interconnected symbols: summer and winter, the Devon and Naguamsett Rivers, and peace and war. These symbols served as a backdrop upon which the novel was developed. The loss if Gene Forrester's innocence was examined through these motifs.
The summer and winter sessions symbolized Gene's loss of innocence. During the summer sessions, the boys of Devon were carefree and showed no respect for the rules, while the…