Post by morganmassino on Oct 28, 2015 23:18:59 GMT
Similes are very important in A Separate Peace and they are used very often throughout the novel. An example of a simile very early on in the book is when Phineas wants to go to the river after the party and "he forced compliance by leaning against me (Gene)... like a police car squeezing me to the side of the road, he directed me unwillingly toward the gym and the river" (29). This comparison emphasizes the strong influence that Phineas has on Gene throughout the book. Gene follows Phineas throughout much of the story. Similar to how a driver must pull over to the side of the road for a police officer, Gene feels as if he is not given a choice and he must comply to Phineas' wishes.
Another example of a simile comes up when Gene is thinking about the war as he says, "So the war swept over like a wave at the seashore, gathering power and size as it bore on us, overwhelming in its rush, seemingly inescapable, and then at the last moment eluded by a word from Phineas; I had simply ducked, that was all, and the wave's concentrated power had hurtled harmlessly overhead..." (109). This particular simile touches on two major aspects of the book: war and the bildungsroman. It illustrates how the war and the idea of enlisting hang over the heads of everyone at Devon and are always in the back of their minds. This daunting war cuts childhood short and forces many characters to mature quickly and often move towards adulthood before they are ready. Also, Gene states how he is "eluded by a word from Phineas." This, again, shows the strong influence that Phineas has on Gene. While Gene is thinking about war and more adult-like things, innocent and childish Phineas comes in and drags Gene back closer to childhood, precluding his maturation. This is just one example out of many of when Phineas keeps Gene from getting out of the liminal state and reaching adulthood.
Obviously, there are tons of similes and metaphors throughout A Separate Peace, so feel free to add some more!!!
Another example of a simile comes up when Gene is thinking about the war as he says, "So the war swept over like a wave at the seashore, gathering power and size as it bore on us, overwhelming in its rush, seemingly inescapable, and then at the last moment eluded by a word from Phineas; I had simply ducked, that was all, and the wave's concentrated power had hurtled harmlessly overhead..." (109). This particular simile touches on two major aspects of the book: war and the bildungsroman. It illustrates how the war and the idea of enlisting hang over the heads of everyone at Devon and are always in the back of their minds. This daunting war cuts childhood short and forces many characters to mature quickly and often move towards adulthood before they are ready. Also, Gene states how he is "eluded by a word from Phineas." This, again, shows the strong influence that Phineas has on Gene. While Gene is thinking about war and more adult-like things, innocent and childish Phineas comes in and drags Gene back closer to childhood, precluding his maturation. This is just one example out of many of when Phineas keeps Gene from getting out of the liminal state and reaching adulthood.
Obviously, there are tons of similes and metaphors throughout A Separate Peace, so feel free to add some more!!!
