Set during the height of World War II, John Knowles' novel tells the story of two friends at a private boarding school in New England. Gene Forrester, the narrator, looks back on his high school days, reflecting on his guilt and pain from a traumatic experience involving a close friend. Essential Questions What causes jealousy between friends? How should we deal with guilt? Does competition bring out the best or worst in people? In order to live realistically, do we need to accept evil in the human heart and in the world around us? The Cherokee Tale of the Two Wolves provides insight into the central conflict of the novel. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8CHjX8HauA&version=3&feature=oembed World War Two Crash Course and connection to A Separate Peace www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q78COTwT7nE