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Divergent
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Divergent: Book 1

Divergent (2011) (edit title/settings)

by Veronica Roth (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every... read more

Summary edit see section history

16 year old Beatrice has always felt different from the rest of her family. She has been raised as an "Abnegation" child, meaning that she has been trained to be selfless. Being selfless has never come naturally to Beatrice, especially because it involves wearing only grey clothing, only... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

16 year old Beatrice has always felt different from the rest of her family. She has been raised as an "Abnegation" child, meaning that she has been trained to be selfless. Being selfless has never come naturally to Beatrice, especially because it involves wearing only grey clothing, only being able to look in a mirror every three months, and not being able to ask questions. She has always thought that when she turned 16 and was able to choose her own faction, that she would leave her family behind to try another faction. When Beatrice takes her test to find out what fraction she'll join, she's a little shocked to find out not only is she different from everyone else, but she'll have a choice to make. Her results reveal that she is suited towards three different factions, making her "Divergent"- a dangerous thing that she cannot mention to anyone. She can choose to stay in "Abnegation", or she can leave her Abnegation family forever by selecting to join another faction.

During the choosing ceremony, where all 16 year olds decide which faction they will join, Beatrice's brother selects the "Erudite" faction, and Beatrice selects the "Dauntless" faction. Beatrice immediately begins initiation into the Dauntless faction- a dangerous three stage process where initiates are ranked according to how well they do. During the initiation process, Beatrice changes her name to Tris, gets tattoos, learns to shoot guns, and faces her own fears. She learns that her Abnegation qualities are what leads her to be such a strong candidate for the Dauntless. Along the way, her Dauntless initiation trainer Four pushes her to become stronger and stronger. Tris becomes good friends with fellow initiates Al and Christina. Several initiates form relationships, including some that must be kept secret.

However, it soon becomes clear that there are problems among the factions. Dauntless leader Eric seems suspicious, while the Erudite publish flyers containing lies about members of Abnegation. Big changes are in store for the members of all factions.

Characters edit see section history

  • Beatrice Prior: aka Tris. A sixteen year old from Abnegation
  • Four: One of the Dauntless instructors who is 18 yrs old. Is in charge of training the non-Dauntless-born initiates, such as Tris, Al and Christina.
  • Christina: A good friend of Tris. Originally from Candor, she is a transfer initiate into the Dauntless.
  • Jeanine Matthews: Leader of Erudite. Always questioning and picking at the Abnegation Government. Covets power.
  • Tori: A Dauntless, placement testing administer. She is also a tattoo artist.
  • Eric: A cruel Dauntless leader with greasy hair, and many piercings and tattoos. He is also a teacher for the initiates along with Four.
  • Peter: A Candor transfer into Dauntless who shows every indication of being a sociopath. Evil and always wants to be the best no matter what what it takes to get there. Tries to take out competition by mutilating or murdering them.
  • Caleb Prior: Tris's older brother, although they are born in the same year.
  • Uriah: A Dauntless-born initiate who becomes friends with Tris. Younger brother of Zeke.
  • Will: An Erudite transfer initiate. A friend of Tris and Christine.
  • Marcus Eaton: Tris' father's coworker and a leader of Abnegation. Apparently devastated because his son transferred from Abnegation to Dauntless.
  • Molly Atwood: A Candor transfer. Friends with Peter and Drew. Also known as "The Tank". Quite rude and evil to Tris. Not very smart.
  • Drew: A Candor transfer initiate in Dauntless. Is friends with Peter and Molly.
  • Tobias Eaton: Marcus’s son, who chose to leave the Abnegation faction for Dauntless.
  • Zeke: Uriah's older brother, a popular Dauntless in the faction.
  • Marlene: A Dauntless-born initiate. Friends with Uriah.
  • Susan Black: Tris's neighbor. Has feelings for Tris' bother, Caleb.
  • Myra: An Erudite transfer initiate. Edward's girlfriend.
  • Lynn: One of the Dauntless-born initiates.
  • Edward: An Erudite transfer initiate. Myra's boyfriend.
  • Robert: A neighbor and friend from Abnegation. Susan's brother.
  • Shauna: An older Dauntless who was an initiate with Four.
  • Rita: A Dauntless-born initiate.
  • Lauren: A Dauntless leader. She trains the Dauntless-born initiates during the stages of their initiation.
  • Max: A Dauntless Leader.
  • Albert: aka Al. A fellow initiate who is big, friendly, kind, and always scared. Finds each stage of the initiation process very difficult, and often cries and has nightmares. Has a crush on Tris.
Show all 26 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Somewhere inside me is a merciful, forgiving person. Somewhere there is a girl who tries to understand what people are going through, who accepts that people do evil things and that desperation leads them to darker places than they ever imagined. I swear she exists, and she hurts for the repentant boy I see in front of me. But if I saw her, I wouldn't recognize her.”
    Beatrice (Tris) Prior
  • “If you really are one of us, it won't matter to you that you might fail. And if it does, you are a coward.”
    Eric
  • “You chose us. Now we have to choose you.”
    Eric
  • ““Moths," repeats Will. "You're afraid of moths?" "Not just a cloud of moths," she says, "like...a swarm of them. Everywhere. All those wings and legs and..." She shudders and shakes her head. "Terrifying," Will says with mock seriousness. "That's my girl. Tough as cotton balls." "Oh, Shut up.””
    Will and Christina
  • ““Fear doesn't shut you down; it wakes you up. I've seen it. It's fascinating." He releases me but doesn't pull away, his hand grazing my jaw, my neck. "Sometimes I just...want to see it again. Want to see you awake.””
    Four
  • “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”
  • “Mom used to say that politeness is deception in pretty packaging.”
  • ““I like to think I’m helping them by hating them,” she says. “I’m reminding them that they aren’t God’s gift to humankind.””
  • ““I ignore my fear,” he says. “When I make decisions, I pretend it doesn’t exist.””
  • “Awkwardness aside, it is nice to be liked.”
  • “I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”
  • “But becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it, that’s the point.”
  • “....it’s when you’re acting selflessly that you are at your bravest.”
  • “....sometimes it isn’t fighting that’s brave, it’s facing the death you know is coming.”
  • “I might be in love with you. I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.”
    Four
  • “Spiek”
    Four
  • “Are you a human Tris?”
    Four
  • “I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up to another.”
    Will
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • I believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.
    Highlighted by 440 Kindle customers
  • “But becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it, that’s the point.”
    Highlighted by 371 Kindle customers
  • Human reason can excuse any evil; that is why it’s so important that we don’t rely on it.
    Highlighted by 282 Kindle customers
  • Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.”
    Highlighted by 278 Kindle customers
  • Those who seek peace above all else, they say, will always deceive to keep the water calm.
    Highlighted by 267 Kindle customers
  • “I like to think I’m helping them by hating them,” she says. “I’m reminding them that they aren’t God’s gift to humankind.”
    Highlighted by 267 Kindle customers
  • Mom used to say that politeness is deception in pretty packaging.”
    Highlighted by 241 Kindle customers
  • That is death—shifting from “is” to “was.”
    Highlighted by 239 Kindle customers
  • ‘We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.’”
    Highlighted by 234 Kindle customers
  • I have never been carried around by a large boy, or laughed until my stomach hurt at the dinner table, or listened to the clamor of a hundred people all talking at once. Peace is restrained; this is free.
    Highlighted by 152 Kindle customers
Show all 28 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

The setting takes place in a futuristic Chicago. The Sears Tower is now known as the Hub. The whole setting is not very developed.
  • Chicago: where the dystopian society lives and where the main part of the story takes place

Organizations edit see section history

  • Abnegation: The Selfless, Color: Grey, Choosing ceremony symbol: grey stones. Symbol: Joined Hands
  • Dauntless: The Brave, Color: Black, Choosing ceremony symbol: hot coals. Symbol: Fire
  • Erudite: The Intellectual/Knowledgeable, Color: Blue, Choosing Ceremony symbol: Water Symbol: Eye
  • Candor: The Honest, Color: Black and White, Choosing Ceremony symbol: Glass. Symbol: Scales
  • Amity: The Peaceful, Color: Red and Yellow, Choosing Ceremony symbol: earth. Symbol: Tree

First Sentence edit see section history

There is one mirror in my house.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Chapters 1-39

Glossary edit see section history

  • Divergent: Someone who isn't defined by one way of thinking like in the 5 normal factions.
  • Abnegation: A group of selfless people who make up the government.
  • Dauntless: A group of brave people who protect the city.
  • Erudite: A group of smart people that are the scholars and scientists.
  • Candor: A group of honest people that are lawyers and judges.
  • Amity: A group of peaceful people that are caretakers and counsellors.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Flame: Dauntless
  • Helping hands: Abnegation
  • Eye: Erudite
  • Tree: Amity
  • Justice Scale: Candor
  • Bravery: Dauntless, The group that takes risks so they may appear to be brave.
  • Family: This can be the people you are born from or it can be the people in your faction that you develop close bonds with.
  • Trust: Sometime a difficult thing to obtain since so many people tend to have their own agendas.
  • Finding Yourself: or understanding yourself
  • Fear: Something that is tested during simulations. They can be created or intensified by the simulations.
  • Corruption: Corruption of Both the Dauntless faction, as well as the Erudite faction.
Show all 11 Themes entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in Divergent. (standard series)

Followed by Insurgent.

This book is in Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2011. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Veronica Roth (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Anne Delcourt (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN: 9780062024022
Page Count: 487

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

There is some romance (references to intimacy), some drinking, and a fair amount of violence. No language above the word "hell."

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Insurgent
  • Wither
  • Matched
  • Crossed
  • Delirium
  • Across the Universe
  • Enclave
  • The Hunger Games
  • Catching Fire
  • Mockingjay
  • The Roar
  • Birthmarked
  • The Giver
  • Incarceron
  • Uglies
  • Inside Out
  • Feed
  • Glow
  • Legend
  • Fever Crumb
  • The Sky Inside
  • Revealing Eden

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