Summary As the last chapter opens, the war has come to Devon in the form of the Parachute Riggers’ School. The School occupies the Far Common, with jeeps, trucks, and sewing machines. Gene goes with Brinker to the Butt Room, where they have a talk about military service with Mr. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 13Summary and Analysis Chapter 12
Summary After Finny’s second fall, Dr. Stanpole arrives to take charge. He tells Gene that Finny has broken his leg again, but that it appears to be a simpler fracture — “much cleaner” than the original injury. Against orders, Gene follows the doctor’s car taking Finny to the infirmary. There […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 12Summary and Analysis Chapter 11
Summary Shaken by what he has learned about Leper, Gene returns to Devon, wanting to see Finny again. He finds him in the middle of a chaotic snowball fight, in which all the boys end up playfully attacking Finny. Gene worries that Finny may injure his leg again with such […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 11Summary and Analysis Chapter 10
Summary In this chapter, Gene travels by train to Leper’s house. As he stops for coffee, he concludes that Leper’s “escape” must have been from spies. The legend of Leper, created in fun at Devon, seems to have come true. As Gene approaches the house, he notices Leper watching him […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10Summary and Analysis Chapter 9
Summary The chapter opens with the enlistment of Leper Lepellier, who decides to join the ski troops. The first recruit from the class, Leper simply makes up his mind and goes quietly, without any fanfare. Brinker begins to connect any triumphal news of the war with Leper, and the Devon […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 9Summary and Analysis Chapter 8
Summary As the chapter opens, Finny teases Gene and complains about the lack of maid service in the dormitories. When Gene says that the inconvenience is minor, considering the war, Finny murmurs his doubts about whether there really is a war at all. The next morning, as Finny bounds around […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 8Summary and Analysis Chapter 7
Summary This chapter opens when Brinker Hadley, a leader of the senior class, visits Gene in his room. Brinker teases Gene about having a room to himself, suggesting that Gene has “fixed it” that way on purpose. Gene laughs off the remark uneasily, feeling as if Brinker is hinting that […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7Summary and Analysis Chapter 6
Summary In this chapter, Gene returns to Devon for the Winter Session and notices immediately that the freedom of the summer days has come to an end. The ordinary business of the school term as well as changes due to the war now dictate life on campus, creating an atmosphere […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6Summary and Analysis Chapter 5
Summary As the chapter opens, Gene hears from the school doctor, Dr. Stanpole, that Finny’s leg has been “shattered” in the fall. Numbed by the terrible accident and fearing that he will be accused of causing it, Gene stays in his room. There he dresses in his roommate’s clothes (including […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Chapter 4
Summary The boys ride back from the beach to Devon, arriving just in time for Gene’s trigonometry test — the first examination Gene fails. Blitzball and the Suicide Society occupy the rest of the day and evening, and Gene begins to suspect that Finny is deliberately keeping him from studying. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4