ch 7

"But I was used to finding something deadly in things that attracted me; there was always something deadly lurking in anything I wanted, anything I loved. And if it wasn't put there, as for example with Phineas, then I put it there myself"(101).


The part of this quote that interests me the most is the last part about Phineas. At least Gene infers that he loved Finny (as a friend or something else I do not know). The messed up part of it is how Gene states that he knows that it is his fault that this deadly thing between them exist. This also may be foreshadowing to a death later on in the story.

Why does Gene get a trill when Brinker says he is going to enlist on page 100?

ch 6

"and I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas"(85).

Throughout the novel, Knowles does a very good job of leaving a cliff hanger at the end of each chapter. Gene is still confused with who is really is. I think Gene wants to be similar to Finny, but simply does not fit into that personality. He is trying to mold himself into someone that resembles Finny, which is driving him insane.

If Gene really wanted to be a part of Phineas, why did he push him off the tree in the first place?

ch 5

"So I have to forget it. I just fell," he turned away to grope for something among the pillows, "that's all." Then he glanced back at me, "I'm sorry abou that feeling I had" (66).

This quote shows Phineas's true character. He is extremely loyal to his friends, especially Gene. Finny thought about the possibility of Gene purposely pushing him off the tree but is too loyal to even dwell upon that idea. He feels sorry for even thinking for a second about it. This is Phineas's best quality.

Will Finny's loyalty with Gene backfire?

ch 4

Chapter 4

"Finny had deliberately set out to wreck my studies. That explained blitzball, that explained the nightly meetings of the Super Suicide Society, that explained his insistence that I share all his diversions. The way I believe that you're-my-best-friend blabber!"(53).

This quote is a turning point in our recognition of Gene's character. His envy toward Phineas has drove him insane. He creates his own little fantasy world in which he is the center. Gene forces himself to believe that Finny is sharing the same envy toward him that he has toward Finny. Gene tries to make up excuses to bring peace to his very confused mind.

Is Gene insane?

ch 2 and ch 3

Chapter 2

"This time he wasn't going to get away with it. I could feel myself becoming unexpectedly excited at that"(27)

This quote reveals Gene's jealousy towards Phineas. He does not realize it yet, unexpectingly feeling excitement when Phineas is about to get into trouble. He ends up getting away with it like always, which angers Gene.

Will Gene's jealousy toward Phineas grow too big for him to handle?

Chapter 3

"For me, this moment-four years is a moment in history- was the war. The war was and is reality for me. I still instinctively live and think in its atmosphere"(40).

This quote demonstrates the huge impact the war had on Gene's life. He seems to be totally enveloped by it and still has not gotten over it. It still has an affect on him up to this day. However, it is still unknown to be positive or negative.

How has the war shaped Gene into the person he is?

asp ch1

"The tree was tremendous, an irate, steely black steeple beside the river. I was damned if I'd climb it. The hell with it. No one but Phineas could think up such a crazy idea"(14).

This specific quote has two major purposes that are very signifcant. The first is to transistion from the present to the past, and the second is to introduce Phineas, who seems to be a very imporant person in the narrator's childhood. The tree serves as a symbol that represents the connection that the narrator had with Phineas.

why did the narrator come back to visit Devon High?

Narrator - man that goes back to his highschool 15 years after he left. He finds a tree that triggers his memory during the summer going into junior year. He remembers his best friend at the time, Phineas. Sarcastic, scared, follower, athletic, short

"-always made me laugh, as Finny knew, so I had to laugh, which made me feel less sarcastice and less scared"(15).

Phineas - is the narrator's best friend at the time of the flashback. A dare-devil type of kid that isnt afraid of anything. Rebellious, athletic, leader, strong, brave

"He of course saw nothing the slightest bit intimidating about it. He wouldn't, or wouldn't admit it if he did. Not Phineas"(14).