Monday, February 22, 2016

What are two examples of irony in A Separate Peace?

Although there are many examples of irony in A
Separate Peace
, two examples are:


1)  In many
cases, Finny has power over Gene's actions.  For example, he convinces him to go to the
beach, resulting in Gene failing his first test.  Gene changes his mind about enlisting
because of Finny's return to school.  However, in the end, Gene's jouncing of the limb
causes Gene to have a significant amount of power over what happens to Finny.  It is
ironic that although Gene is jealous of Finny's abilities, it is Gene who actually has a
great deal of power over what happens to Finny.


2)  In
chapter 2, Finny "practically saves" Gene's life when he grabs Gene's arm when he loses
his balance on the limb. This is ironic because Gene later jounces the limb, resulting
in Finny's death.  The name "the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session" is also
ironic because Finny ends up dying as a result of the club's actions and Gene feels as
if he has died too.

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