What two places does Gene see when he visits Devon at the beginning of the book?

What two places does Gene see when he visits Devon at the beginning of the book?

• A. The tree, and the staircase
• B. The gym and the library
• C. The pool and the chapel
• D. The dormitory and the courtyard

Answer: (A)

The question tests your recall of the opening setting Gene notices as he returns to Devon, using landmarks to anchor the memory and mood. When Gene visits Devon at the start, he first notices two iconic spots: the tree by the river and the staircase of the main building. The tree stands as a symbol of their reckless youth and the friendship with Finny, while the staircase represents the school’s ordered, adult world encroaching on that old freedom. These two landmarks frame his sense of nostalgia and foreshadow the suspense and tension that drive the story. The other options point to places that aren’t the first, most memorable anchors described in that opening scene, so they don’t fit as neatly with how Knowles introduces Devon.

The question tests your recall of the opening setting Gene notices as he returns to Devon, using landmarks to anchor the memory and mood. When Gene visits Devon at the start, he first notices two iconic spots: the tree by the river and the staircase of the main building. The tree stands as a symbol of their reckless youth and the friendship with Finny, while the staircase represents the school’s ordered, adult world encroaching on that old freedom. These two landmarks frame his sense of nostalgia and foreshadow the suspense and tension that drive the story. The other options point to places that aren’t the first, most memorable anchors described in that opening scene, so they don’t fit as neatly with how Knowles introduces Devon.