"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination." --John Lennon

The environment of people and events in a Separate Peace cause Finny to be very imaginative. Early in the novel Finny and his friends are bored and trying to think of something to play. Bobby Zane says lets think of something that has to do with the war, and he later adds the name Blitzkrieg. Blitzkrieg means a swift, sudden military offensive, usually by combined air and mobile land forces in German. Finny takes control of the situation and say lets just call it Blitzball, and everyone agreed. Finny then lays out the rules after the game was played improperly. " You don't use your arms when you knock the ball carrier down . . . No. You keeps your arms crossed like this on your chest, and you just but the ball carrier. No elbowing allowed either . . . Not when you have been knocked down illegally. The ball carrier retains possession in a case like that. So it is perfectly ok, you still have the ball. Go ahead."(29) This situation shows finny's imagination. Obviously there was no right way to play this game, but Finny makes the rules and guidelines to this game as it proceeds. As Gene and Finny's other friends play the game, he yells and instructs them on how to play. Finny acts, and is the dominant creator of Bliztball, and demonstrates his imaginative mind.

The surrounding environment (Devon) has certain guidelines and rules that should be followed, not broken. At this point in the novel Gene and Finny are conversing and Finny plans on breaking the rules. " Swimming in pools is screwy anyway ... the only real swimming is in the ocean ... lets go to the beach." (37) This said by Finny, shows his rebellious attitude towards his school, life, and peers. Finny knows that leaving Devon to go to the beach was forbidden. This journey risks expulsion if anyone found out. There is nothing wrong with swimming in pools, but Finny has to be difficult and uses this as an excuse to go to the beach. This action demonstrated by Finny shows his yearn to rebel.

In a Separate Peace the environment plays a substantial role in the novel. The atmosphere surrounding Finny causes him to be non-competitive, imaginative, and rebellious. Considering, that his peers are not athletic this causes Finny to become non-competitive. If there is not any other talent other than Finny: Finny cannot be competitive. Finny uses his imagination and turns it into reality. Considering the war going on, during the time of Finny's stay at Devon School, he uses his imagination based on real life situations. He takes the word blitzkrieg, which is a military tactic used in WWII and thinks of Blitzball. He then describes and creates the rules of the game as it is played. Finny also can be very rebellious in the captive environment provided by Devon. He goes to the ocean to swim because he does not appreciate the pool. By doing this he risks his stay at Devon, which he currently attends. The surrounding environment affects all of these traits Finny obtains.

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