Assignment 6 pg. 86-102 Question 4-Justin Ma

Part of this reading focuses on Leper. How is he characterized? What do we learn about him? Provide some specific details from the reading to support your answer.

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Leper is characterized, through the words of Gene, as rather absent minded and one who is most often taken by surprise. He mentions Leper is often sketching during chapel, therefore for the most part not listening, and does not switch easily from one train of thought to another. Leper is rather curious and innocent for his age, finding interest in beavers and their dams while everyone else is working. From this chapter we learn that Leper does not appear to be one to take things for granted, and someone who likes to take things slow and enjoy himself. “They’re ruining skiing in this country, rope tows and chair lifts and all that stuff. You get carted up, and then you whizz down. You never get to see the trees or anything. Oh you see a lot of trees shoot by, but you never get to really look at trees, at a tree. I just like to go along and see what I’m passing and enjoy myself” (Knowles 95). This shows that he prefers slow hikes and treks instead of the thrill of speeding downhill, because he appreciates the beauty of nature and wishes to not miss any of it, and is even called a naturalist by Brinker. Leper enjoys himself just by looking at scenery, even if by himself, something you could call a gift that very few have. He also appears to be rather innocent for his age, seeming to be oblivious to even when others are teasing him, and continuing to openly express how interesting the beaver dams were. He acts younger than the other boys, and has his own list of priorities with looking for beaver dams higher than helping with the war, and often obtains a blank expression as if he lost interest. In this chapter it appears that Gene and Leper are growing apart as Gene has had to deal with a lot and has changed a good amount over the summer, while Leper does not seem to be maturing and is staying the same, leaving Gene and Leper heading in different directions and parting ways.

JJ Ma