Test and Divergent

The book I will be presenting to you today is called Divergent by Veronica Roth. The genre of the book is science fiction, dystopian society, action and adventure. You guys are probably wondering what does divergent mean? Or what does it mean being a divergent? Firstly, divergent means tending to be different or develop in different directions. Secondly, being a divergent is very different. It is different because the world they live in is based on having each person fit into a faction and since Divergents don’t, they are more likely to rebel and to disrupt the peace of the factions. As you can see, in Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago, 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 year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives.

For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society. Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

The reason why I chose this book because it is hyped as the new hunger games and it has the same dystopian society. Also I chose this book because it shows the journey how Tris becomes brave, selfish and Divergent. Plus the zip lining and the fear things she had to go through. Furthermore, it has great life lessons that everyone should know. For example, “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 main point. Lastly, Divergent is a very unique book because it tells how the future Chicago is going to be like books and I really enjoyed the actions, emotions, and adventures. Overall this book is phenomenal.

One interesting part of the novel that I can relate to

One interesting part in Divergent that I can relate to is the dog scene. On page 14, at the Aptitude Test. During the Aptitude test, when the dog arrived out of nowhere, Tris was frightened. She was afraid that the dog would have done something to her. First she thought of running but, she knew that the dog will be faster than her. She was trying to make a decision until the dog begin to come closer to her and started to growl. Tris had no choice so she chose to run as fastest she could. I can relate to that horrified situation because I remember I was at the same position as Tris. In grade 5, afterschool I chose to runaround my whole neighborhood once for practice because I had a 600 meters tournament in Track and Field. When it started to rain I was on my way back home until I saw this huge German shepherd.

The dog began to jump insane on the car. I started to make my own decision what to do next but I thought I should just wait for the dog to leave. Unfortunately, the owner’s leash broke and the demented dog started to chase me. I had no choice but to run. Sadly, the dog caught up and jumped on me. I started to wail because the dog began to scratch me with its sharp nails. As you can see, Tris and I had a similar problem. I can understand how she felt because on page 15 Tris described her feelings. “My breaths are loud but steady. I sink to my knees. The dog creeps closer, and closer, until I feel its warm breath on my face. My arms are shaking. It barks in my ear, and I clench my teeth to keep from screaming. ” And that exactly how I felt as Tris.

What kind of conflicts occurs in this book?
One conflict in Divergent is imitation training. Tris must be among the top ten inmates to become a member of the dauntless compound if she doesn’t make the top ten, Tris will become factionless. Tris is the smallest of her inmates without much muscle. She is often taunted or beat up by the other inmates. This is man vs man conflict because Tris must go against her other inmates, her two friends included, in both physical and mental training to achieve her goal of being a full member of the dauntless compound. “If I want to fight my way into the top ten, I will have to beat them first. I just hope I don’t betray them in the process. ” (Page 200). Another conflict in this story is when Tris’s aptitude test results are inclusive. She told people with this kind of result called Divergent.

This mean she has aptitude for more than one faction, unlike most people. She eventually learns this is bad news because she doesn’t think if anyone knows she’s Divergent, it means certain death. “But make no mistake. If they discover what you are they will kill you. ” (Page 258) She has to be very aware of what she’s doing in front of authorities, or someone may recognize what she is. This is both a man vs self and a man vs society conflict. When Tris’s mother visits her at her new faction, she asks what her test results are overhears two leaders talking amongst each other saying they should be on the look out to find and get rid of Divergents.

Why the author chose the setting
In my perspective, Veronica Roth chose the setting of the future version of Chicago because she probably thinks that our world is going to turn out to be like that. We will need different fractions and a very intelligent government to keep us together. “What clued me in to the fact that it was Chicago was the trains- constantly running, all over the city, like the EI in present day Chicago. I wrote about the Dauntless riding the trains before I realized that the only place I have ever been where trains are aboveground and in constant motion is Chicago – which I had been writing about my favorite city without even knowing it. I have lived next to Chicago since I was five years old, so it is both familiar to me and unfamiliar, because I’ve never actually lived there. As I worked more and more of the city into the manuscript, I got the chance to rediscover my home, which was wonderful – there’s so much I don’t know about it!

But my personal connections with the place aside, I also found it interesting to turn such as clean and organized place upside down. (Page 8 Divergent Bonus Materials)Veronica Roth actually future version of Divergent to be the future version of Chicago because one, she is from Chicago area, so she loves it there, and she is more familiar with it than any other city. Secondly, because the “L” trains in Chicago run almost constantly, like a trace of nature instead of something man-made. Also Veronica Roth’s setting in Divergent is important, because the whole story takes place in a futuristic dystopian version of Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the first book, several iconic landmarks in Chicago were referred to and served as settings for the various events of the story.

Dear Tris,
My name is Gurleen. And I am 13 years old. Honestly, you had showed everyone how to brave. I realized that becoming fearless isn’t the point. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it. I also learned a lot from your story and has inspired me to become not just a better person but also just learning more and more from the life I live in. I am very astonish that you are Divergent. How does it feel like to be a Divergent? I can see you had been struggling through a lot of dangerous things such as, at your aptitude test and the very ending of your story. I am truly sorry of your loss of your mother father. I wish you the best. I can understand how you feel without your parents. I was really amazed that you had taken your own actions. I never seen any character who was brave as you are. My favorite part in your story was when Al struggles with the knives and Eric punishes him by having four throw knives at him.

Until you step in for Al and takes his punishment instead. And four has to throws the knives at you and the last knife hits your ear. Did it hurt? Speaking about your ear, how is Four. Is the connection getting closer? In my opinion, you guys make the cutest couple ever! When he speaks and acts all serious. . . I just love it! You both are perfect for each other! I love how you both trust each other and how you believe in each other since the beginning. Well, that’s all I can say. You probably have other letters to read but I just want to say thank you for the message you have been telling everyone. I also wish you the best of luck where Four, Caleb and you be going next. You’re a true inspiration and I know you had sure inspired everyone all around the world! Sincerely yours, Gurleen

P.S – I’m a huge fan of you! And I wish you the best Tris. Summary In a world ravaged by human failings of greed, ignorance, lies, cowardice, and needless aggression, a new society has emerged. From the brink of apocalypse, humanity has reorganized itself in a future version of Chicago, split into five factions that uphold and live by a single core value. Those that believed the world failed because of malicious, selfish greed formed the faction of Abnegation; sworn to remain selfless and serve the needs of others. Those that believed the collapse was due to ignorance pledged themselves to the erudite tract, always thirsting for knowledge. Those who felt that human duplicity and lies were the cause of the world’s failings assumed the banner of Candor, pledging to always speak their minds and the truth. Those who felt aggression and power-hunger were the root of society’s collapse became the members of Amity, taking the mantle of peace at all costs.

And finally, those who felt that the root of all their problems stemmed from plain cowardice flung themselves into the tribe of the Dauntless, the faction of the courageous and strong. Born into an Abnegation family, Beatrice has lived her life trying to uphold the ideals of her parents. Only allowed to look in the mirror once a year, outfitted in the plainest, drab clothing, Beatrice has striven to be as kind as her mother, as calm as her older brother, and as good a civil servant as her father. But Beatrice has always known that she’s different, and she doesn’t belong in Abnegation. Wistfully observing the daredevil chaos of the Dauntless-born kids as they crow and leap from running trains on the way to school, Beatrice struggles with her emotions because, at sixteen years old, her aptitude test and choosing day have arrived. Beatrice’s test results, however, are inconclusive.

It turns out that she is one of a very rare subset of the population: a Divergent. Her tests show that she does not fall neatly into one of the present factions, but displays traits dominant in the Erudite, Abnegation, and Dauntless clans. When her time to choose arrives, she follows her heart and chooses to be selfish but brave, abandoning her family and choosing Dauntless. While switching clans in itself takes fearlessness, Beatrice soon learns that if she wants to be initiated into the faction, it will take much more than a simple choice. With only ten spots available and more than double that number of hopefuls, Beatrice struggles to make her way in a ruthless initiation trial and discovers not only what she’s truly made of, but what it truly means to be a Divergent. Main Characters

There are 2 protagonist fearless characters that occurs in this novel called Divergent. Firstly, she is strong-willed sixteen years old girl who hates showing weakness. She is also the main protagonist and a narrator of the Divergent series. Beatrice Tris Prior was born and raised in the Abnegation faction, but chooses Dauntless because she feels that’s what who she truly is. However, her aptitude test was inconclusive, and she is Divergent – a fate that is mysterious but also dangerous. Once in Dauntless, she begins again under a new name called Tris. Tris is strong – willed, courageous, and reluctant to show weakness, particularly during her initiation into Dauntless. While she thrives in her new faction, she still feels strong ties to the family she left behind.

Beatrice was a girl I saw in stolen moments at the mirror, who kept quiet at the dinner table. “This is someone whose eyes claim mine and don’t release me; this is Tris.” (Page 87) Next is another fearless, handsome boy named Tobias Four Eaton. The initiation instructor for the dauntless transfer initiates, including Tris, who eventually becomes her primary love interest. To most, he is known as “Four,” a name given to him because during his own Dauntless initiation it was revealed that he only has four fears. Just like Tris, he was born Abnegation, but chose to transfer to Dauntless to escape the abuse of his father. At first, he has an elusive, mysterious personality, and it takes a while for him to allow himself to become close to Tris. He is very protective of his loved ones. “Don’t want to be just one thing, I can’t be. I want to be brave and I want to be selfless, intelligent, honest and kind. ” (Page 373)

Settings
These are the futuristic, dystopian Chicago settings. These are the 4 main settings in Divergent. Firstly, when the Dauntless go to play Capture the Flap paintball, Tris climbs the Ferris wheel at Navy Prier. (Page 128) Secondly, when the Dauntless initiates zip line from a ruined Hancock building (Page 174) down Lake Shore Drive (Page 171) which should be avoided during blizzards. Thirdly, the Hub where the Choosing Ceremony goes down is really the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower (Page 119). And the last setting was when Tris and Caleb were talking outside of erudite headquarters, they go by a giant “bean” in a place called Millennium Park. A dystopian setting needs more than just some crumbling buildings. It needs some weird new government and society.

Since Tris isn’t one of the leaders, we don’t see firsthand how the government works. But we do hear about it, so we know it’s led by an Abnegation council with representatives from other factions coming in to speak, but not vote We also hear how society is organized so that each faction takes care of some particular part of the city; so, for instance, the Dauntless are the guards and security of the city while Amity seems to be in charge of the farms. Divergent is clearly set in some other time than ours, but it’s not clear how far in the future, or why things have turned out the way they have. For instance, Tris remember that her mother told her that people used to avoid genetically engineered produce, but now that’s all they have (Page 426).