A Separate Peace Lesson Plan

Author Background

Kind of Activity:

Classwide Discussion

Objective:

Understand how John Knowles' autobiography influenced A Separate Peace

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1

Structure:

In this activity, students will research John Knowles and have a class discussion about how his background informed the novel A Separate Peace.

First have students read John Knowles' interview "A Special Time, A Special Place", and have them take a look at the photo essay at Exeter's Separate Peace site to get a sense of the setting. Then have students split into groups and discuss, based on what they've read so far:

- What parts of the novel are autobiographical?...