1. Competition/Compete Competition (noun) – Definition – the act or process of competing Compete (intransitive verb) – Etymology – Late Latin competere to seek together, from Latin, to come together, agree, be suitable, from com + petere to go to, see – Definition – to strive consciously or unconsciously for an objective (as in a position, profit, or prize); to be in a state of rivalry http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

2. Symbol The Olympic runner is a symbol of competition because the Olympics is a worldwide effort for countries to come together for the purpose of striving for international recognition.

3. Personal Connection Scott plays on a basketball team. Scott plays video games. Scott plays paint ball. Chase participates in Scholar’s Bowl. Chase has entered essay contests. Chase has run for state attorney general at Boys State.

4. Evidence of competition in A Separate Peace Brief wrestling match on the turf (pg.763-764) Finney is disgusted with Devon’s summer athletic program. (pg. 773) Blitzball (pg. 774-775) Finney breaks the school swimming record. (pg. 777) Gene aspires to be head of the class. (pg.782) Gene believes Finney wants to sabotage his grades so that Finney is “way ahead of” him. (pg. 783)

5. Evidence cont’d.

6. Thesis In A Separate Peace, Gene and Finney compete with each other in both conscious and unconscious ways.