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 moment tests your sense of how Knowles uses place to signal memory and meaning. Gene’s first glimpse of Devon centers on two landmarks: the tree on the hill by the river and the staircase by the main building. The tree is the emblem of their impulsive, boyish risk-taking and also the site of the fateful incident that reshapes Gene’s relationship with Finny. The staircase, orderly and prominent in the school’s architecture, stands in contrast as a symbol of Devon’s structure, rules, and social expectations that subtly shape Gene’s choices and feelings. Together, these two spots frame the tension between daring and discipline that the novel explores from the very start. The other locations listed aren’t the iconic pair that anchors his initial memory upon returning to Devon.