What does this quote mean?
What is the significance of the quote?
How does this quote relate to the novel as a whole?
How does the quote connect to other ideas in and beyond the novel?
“There isn’t any question that we are conforming in every possible way to everything that’s been happening and everything that is going to happen” (p.23)
“We were careless and wild, and I suppose we could be thought of as a sign of the life the war was being fought to preserve,” (p.24).
“It was only long after that that I recognized sarcasm as the protest of the people who are weak,” (p.29).
In such a non stop game, he also had the natural advantage of a flow of energy which I never saw interrupted,” (p.39).
“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
“No I just wanted to see if I could do it,” (p.44)
“It was a courageous thing to say exposing a sincere emotion nakedly like that at the Devon school was the nest thing to suicide,” (p.48)
This quote is relevant to the novel because this is blitzball the game that Finny invented. He created the game based on his athletic ability so that he could excel at a sport and make sure he had no real competition. This game also creates some competition between Gene and Finny because Gene wants to be just as athletic or maybe even more athletic. The competition between the two friends will eventually lead to jealousy which is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel.
ReplyDelete“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
ReplyDeleteThis quote was spoken by Gene reffering to his best friend, Finny. Though he would never admit it he is haunted by this fact every day.
The significance of this quote is...
This quote shows that Gene is constantly reminded of Finny's success and popularity throughout high school. Being his best friend, Gene is well aware of all of Finny's desirable traits that he lacks. Gene is a very jealous person and can not even bring him self to admit to Finny how much he means to him in fear that he will show signs of weakness.
How the quote relates to the novel as a whole...
This quote will come up throughout the novel and serve for motivation to some of Gene's thoughts and actions. One of the biggest being him shaking Finny off of the tree and causing him to be put in a wheel chair. Jealousy will be a common theme that runs throughout the book as well and my hypothesis on what the lesson the book is trying to get across is that we should not let jealousy motivate our actions and acting impulsively is never a good idea.
How does the quote relate to other ideas beyond the novel...
Jealousy, being one of the darkest and most powerful unseen forces of the world is a common theme in many other novels/movies and is something that most of us face every day. In the movie, Moulin Rouge, The Duke is driven mad by jealousy because the woman he loves is in love with someone else. This litteraly drives him mad and causes him to try and kill Christian, the man whom the woman is in love with. To the Duke, Christian seems perfect and has everything that he could ever want.This strong feeling of jealousy runs through A Separate Peace prominately and will also drive Gene to act impulsively and possibly do some things that he may regret
“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
ReplyDeleteThis quote means that Finny do a lot of things that affect Gene because Finny is athletic and very competitive, Finny's athleticism made him broke the record at their school. The significance of this quote is that Gene is building up a feeling of jealousy between him and Finny because of Finny's actions and they might end up fighting or hurting each other and Finny's humility as well made Gene jealous because Finny broke the record at their school at swimming but Finny didn't want to tell to anybody and Gene felt a little bit jealous because Finny broke the record and he want keep it as a secret. This quote relate to the whole book, it shows how Finny's competitiveness made him different from his other peers because his the only one who is strong, fast and athletic, and Gene is much more of academic, intelligent and smart. Finny is taking advantage of his athleticism throughout his peers, he invented this blitzball and he knows all the rules and he's good at it but his friends that he's playing with doesn't know how to play blitzball.
-Aedjet Simoy
“It was only long after that that I recognized sarcasm as the protest of the people who are weak,” (p.29).
ReplyDeleteThis quote means that Gene believes that sarcasm is weak peoples form of fighting. This displays how Gene has a very judgmental attitude about others, in addition to himself, seeing how he previously stated that he used to be sarcastic. Considering how Gene stated how the summer spoken about in the novel was his sarcastic summer, the reader can infer that Gene was weak throughout the novel and now as he looks back he sees how weak he was. In addition, this allows the reader to know that much of Gene’s dialogue will be sarcastic later in the novel, and thus they should not believe everything that he says. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden was extremely sarcastic and lied often. He used his lies and sarcasm to hide behind because he was not strong enough to be honest with anyone, including himself. This is also seen in society when it seems that the strongest people can lie and have sarcasm, but in reality they are the weakest.
-Lauren Jacobowitz
•“It was a courageous thing to say exposing a sincere emotion nakedly like that at the Devon school was the nest thing to suicide,” (p.48)
ReplyDelete•This quote means to display their emotions in Devon you have to be courageous. This is showing Gene’s opinion about showing his emotions.
•This quote is significant because t to show your emotions to someone in Devon you have to be brave, maybe because people in Devon has costume judging people or they can’t keep it in secret.
•Knowles uses the theme of characterization. He uses it to differ Finny and Gene, because Finny can share his emotions easily but Gene can’t. He is using the boys to show how hard it is to share our emotions with other people.
•In the “Catcher in the Rye” the protagonist Holden had the same kind of problem than Gene because he couldn’t show his emotions, but the only difference is that he not had anyone to share it. In my opinion to show emotions to the friends is not a bad thing to do, because is better you share your fallings than you keep all for yourself maybe it can make you feel sad or depressed.
Gabriela Ravanelli
“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
ReplyDeleteThis quote means that Finny is accepted and praised by people at everywhere he goes and whatever he respond. This quote is significant because Gene had seen what a charismatic and manipulative person he was through the school life with him. How this quote relates to the noble as a whole is that he was always admired by his teacher even though he broke school rules. When he created a new type of game, a lot of students were willing to join in it. Therefore Gene sincerely felt himself inferior to Finny because he knew himself doesn’t have such an ability. And he thought that he could not be better than Finny. The characteristics of Finny had made Gene jealous of him because he doesn’t have a talent what Finny has. Everyone wants to be perfect to be satisfied but the talents what we have individually are different. Therefore it is a natural thing to desire to have the ability what you don’t have and also desire to have. It leads to cause the feeling of jealousy. But sometimes jealousy makes friends motivate each other and it might be a good way to improve their abilities. If your friend has the talent what you don’t have, you don’t forget to praise him and practice and learn form him to exceed. It is wise way to utilize the feeling of jealousy efficiently to develop your talent and expand your possibility.
“In such a non stop game, he also had the natural advantage of a flow of energy which I never saw interrupted,” (p.39)
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because I was amazed at the admiration of Finny that Gene shows in this quote. I thought this quote was a good representation of Gene’s jealousy of Finny, and Finny’s ability to always be the best.
This quote means that in the game of Blitzball that Finny created, Finny was dominating because of his amazing athletic skills. Gene saw and took note of this, and was clearly admiring it.
This quote is important because it shows how even though Gene has negative towards Finny because he is jealous of him, he still admires him. Even though Gene usually secretly gets angry inside when Finny does so well in things, this quote shows an instance where Gene admits to himself how Great Finny really is.
This quote relates to the novel as a whole by demonstrating the theme of jealousy. Through Gene’s thoughts, it is Knowles shows how Gene talks about Finny’s greatness. Jealousy is a recurring theme throughout the book because compared to Gene, Finny is remarkable, especially when it comes to athletics. This quote also represents how Gene secretly can admire Finny, since he’s thinking and observing his amazing skills. Or maybe Gene isn't admiring Finny. He could just be even angrier at Finny in this instance because he talks about the “natural flow” that Finny has and Gene obviously doesn't.
This quote connects to other ideas because this idea of jealousy vs. admiration is very common between teens. A lot of friends will admire each other, but instead of being happy for each other they will be jealous and angry. This also connects to Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye because Holden would often talk about Stradlator, and how good looking he was and how he could get girls so easily. Holden was truly admiring this, but he was probably jealous inside.
“He could shine at everything” (p.40)
ReplyDeleteThis quote means that Finny could be good at anything he does. This quote is significant because it symbolizes the agony that Gene must go through while watching his best friend Finny succeed at everything he does unlike Gene. This quote relates to a novel as a whole because it shows the on-going theme of competition that Gene has with Finny throughout the book because Finny doesn’t try to succeed at the things he does and this upsets Gene because he has to go that extra mile just to be close to Finny’s level. Another theme that this quote brings up is the internal conflict, the protagonist throughout the novel knows that he is not as good as Finny athletically or socially so this is one of his driving forces through out the novel that keep him striving for that one once of recognition from someone, but the internal conflict is: should the protagonist be happy for his best friend or should he strive to beat his best friend. I predict that the Protagonist will go back and forth on each of the choices he could make throughout the novel. This quote connects beyond the text in many ways because I personally believe that each human being is in some what shape or form jealous of their neighbor (neighbor meaning another human) because if someone is better than you at something you will want to out do that person not only to beat them but for your own satisfaction, or another example would be if someone has a lot of money and one does not, the person who has less money will be jealous of the material items the person with more money has because its human nature. Humans are greedy. In the movie Slumdog Millionaire the antagonist sells his brothers autographed picture of a famous man in India this shows that the antagonist is jealous because he did not have the picture and he knew it meant a lot to his brother so he decided that since he did not have one neither could his brother because he was jealous.
- Erika Gunderson
There isn’t any question that we are conforming in every possible way to everything that’s been happening and everything that is going to happen” (p.23)
ReplyDeleteThis quote is Gene's thoughts about draft and his future. This quote means that he doesn't care whether he will be drafted or not or even what will happen in his future. It seems like he doesn't have a dream of his future and he just want the way it happens. This quote is important because it shows how adolescents in this term(During WWII) had no freedom for their future because of the draft and they needed to be not only physically but also mentaly prepared for the draft. This quote relates to a novel as a whole because it shows the setting of this book. The setting is a literary element that the auther uses to show the mood and the back ground of the book. The setting in this book is adolescents during WWII. This quote connects to Holden from the book "The catcher in the rye". Holden has a freedom to decide his future but he was too weak to do it. A lot of
adolescents today who has a freedom to decide their future but coudn't should read this book.
“It was only long after that that I recognized sarcasm as the protest of the people who are weak,” (p.29).
ReplyDeleteWhat does this quote mean?
This quote means that people only use sarcasm when they have no other idea of how to express themselves, and that using sarcasm is easy to use and thus the weak minded enjoy using it.
What is the significance of the quote?
The significance of the quote is that earlier in the book Gene says that it was his sarcastic summer, the same summer he met Finny. This quote signifies that something happened over the summer that made Gene eventually realize sarcasm, which is interconnected with FInny, shouldn't be used.
How does this quote relate to the novel as a whole?
This quote relates to the novel as a whole because it discusses Gene's future thoughts with his present actions. This quote brings to mid what cause Genes frame of mind, from accepting sarcasm to rejecting it. This scene will play out later in the novel and will involve Gene and Finny, and it will be the deciding scene of the book, the momentary turning point that decides Gene and Finny's friendship and Gene's future thoughts of his time at Devon.
How does the quote connect to other ideas in and beyond the novel?
This quote connects to ideas in the novel because the fact that you have future Gene and current Gene involved in one quote foreshadows that this quote could potentially be the start of a very important scene. This quote connects to important ideas outside the novel because many people use sarcasm in real life as a nasty way of instead of explaining, exploiting other peoples mistakes. Overuse of sarcasm can lead to the destruction of relationships, and if the novel follows this course where will Gene and Finny's friendship end up?
“It was a courageous thing to say exposing a sincere emotion nakedly like that at the Devon school was the nest thing to suicide,” (p.48)
ReplyDeleteWhat does this quote mean?
This quote means, showing emotion is a big thing in Devon school, showing emotion in Devon school is like suicide.
What is the significance of the quote?
The significance of this quote is the importance of exposing emotion. If showing emotion is next to Suicide, that must mean that the school is closed and not open minded. I also think this is because of the time setting.
How does this quote relate to the novel as a whole?
This quote relates to the novel as a whole because it is going to tell us if the friendship between Gene and Finny is real or not. In this quote I can definitely tell Gene is not so pleased with the opened emotion.
How does the quote connect to other ideas in and beyond the novel?
If Gene wasn't so pleased with the "naked emotion" is he ever going to be pleased with the "friendship" between Finny? That was what I thought as wrote this journal. I think that Gene isn't going to accept the emotions and always think their friendship as a temporary competition friend
In such a non stop game, he also had the natural advantage of a flow of energy which I never saw interrupted,” (p.39).
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote because i thought it demostrated a visual image of Finny's athletic ability.
This quote is when Gene describes how swift Finny's playing was during a game of the sport he created entitled 'Blitzball.'
This quote is important to the book because it shows greater depth into the jealous relationship of Gene and Finny as time goes on.
This quote relates to the book because as Gene is jealous of Finny's athletic abilites. Finny is jealous of Gene's academic capabilities so this will play out later on in the novel.
Jelousy is common between even the best of friends. Sometimes, envy can turn into hate or rage and thats what breaks the bonds of even the tightest of friends.
“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is explaining Gene’s thoughts towards Finny. Gene believes Finny succeeds at everything he does. This is Gene’s jealous opinion towards his best friend, Finny.
The importance of this quote is to show the jealous rage that Gene expresses in his internal conflicts towards Finny. Gene believes he is not greater or superior than Finny because Finny is an excellent athlete and Gene is not. Since Gene is so caught up with Finny’s athletic abilities, He does not realize until chapter four that they are even in competitiveness. Gene is a very smart and well educated student but a poor athlete, Finny is an impressive athlete but a poor student. In their case, it “evens out the score.” Gene and Finny both, shine at everything in a different perspective.
This quote relates to the novel as a whole because it deals with the theme of competitiveness and jealousy. Gene is caught up in his internal conflict with Finny being “perfect.” Gene thinks Finny shines at everything he does because Finny excels as an athlete and is courageous at the things Gene is afraid of; for example jumping off the tree. Finny is an idol for Gene because in Gene’s eyes, Finny can succeed in everything. This is a reason why Gene is jealous and very competitive towards Finny; Finny doesn’t realize this because he is never jealous of anyone.
This quote connects to the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, because Holden talks about his sister Phoebe as though she were older than him. Holden looked up to his little sister because she was extremely smart for her age and she did not care what other people thought of her; she spoke her mind. Although Holden was never quite jealous or competitive towards Phoebe, he always looked up to her the way Gene looks up to Finny.
“He could shine at everything,” (p. 40).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is stated by Gene and he is saying that Finny can shine at anything. He is very athletic and doesn’t let people forget it.
The significance of this quote is that Finny invented a game called blitzball and it is a game that shows off his athletic ability.
This quote relates to the novel as a whole because throughout the novel people will see that Finny tries his best to be the best at all actvities.
This quote relates to other ideas beyond the novel because in the "Cather in the Rye" by J.D Salinger, Holden's 'friend' Stadlater always did his best to look the best and in Holdens eyes was a player.
"He could shine at everything," (pg. 40)
ReplyDeleteThis quote sort of points out Gene's jealousy towards his best friend, Finny. Gene is jealous of Finny's athletic ability and thinks Finny succeeds in everything he does.
The significance of the quote is that, it isnt right to be jealous of your best friend, even if jealousy is a natural occuring emotion.
The quote relates to the novel as a whole because throughout the novel jealousy is an occuring conflict, Gene is always feeling jealous of Finny no matter what he does.
This quote relates to other novels such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Sallinger because in the story Holden see's stradlater as a "shiner" at everything but in his mind Stradlater wouldnt shine in a good way. Not like Gene and Finny's relationship.