How does the novel formulate US/American national identity? What does it mean to Gene to be an American? What about Brinker? Finny? Use evidence from the text to support your claim.

Consider how Brinker’s dad responds to Brinker and Gene’s discussion about enlisting. How does bring up a generational gap in perceptions about the war? What are the stakes for Mr. Hadley’s view of the war? How do the other adults in the novel support or refute Mr. Hadley’s formulation of the war?

Based on the evidence in the text, do you think that Gene intentionally jostles the branch to knock Finny to the ground? How does this decision affect the rest of the narrative? How would a different conclusion change the story?