Divergent
Kamryn Rogers & MaryKathryn Ferguson
A Short Plot Summary
Conflicts
- Man VS Self
- Man vs Man
Figurative Language
- Imagery
- Simile
Main Characters
Beatrice (tris):
16-year-old was born and raised in the Abnegation faction, but chooses Dauntless because she feels it is who she truly is. However, her aptitude test was inconclusive, and she is "Divergent" - which is dangerous. Once in Dauntless, she begins again under a new name - Tris. Tris is courageous, and refuses to show weakness, particularly during her initiation into Dauntless. While she tries to be the best in her new faction, she still feels strong ties to the family she left behind.
Tobias (four):
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. At first, he has an elusive, mysterious personality, and it takes a while for him to allow himself to become close to Tris.
Caleb prior:
Tris’s brother. Like his younger sister, Caleb shocked his family by choosing to transfer to Erudite, though he had always appeared to be Abnegation. Growing up Caleb had a secretly enjoyed books. Caleb and Tris have always been very close
Christina:
Christina was born in Candor, but transfers to Dauntless and becomes with Tris when she helped her jump onto the moving train in their first initiate test. She begins a relationship with Will later on in the book. Because of her Candor upbringing, Christina can be very blunt and honest, but she is brave.
Will:
One of Tris’s other close friends from Dauntless initiation. Will transferred to Dauntless from Erudite. At first, Will and Christina were prone to arguing, but eventually they begin a relationship.
Eric
Eric transferred from Erudite, but eventually became a Dauntless initiation leader along with Four. Because Four finished first in their own initiation class and Eric second, Eric has hated him ever since. During training, he is extremely harsh on the initiates.
Peter:
A central antagonist in the novel, Peter Hayes transferred from Candor to Dauntless. He is physically strong and vicious, and typically places second only to Edward in all of the initiation fights. Peter is cold, cruel, tough, determined to do whatever it takes to come on top, including stabbing Edward in the eye.
Tris' mom:
Tris and Caleb’s mother. She was the daughter of a Dauntless leader and Divergent herself, but her mother warned her that people were searching for Divergents and she needed to escape, so she moved to Abnegation to begin a new life. Though she appears nothing but selfless and kindhearted, she has secret strength that is revealed to Tris at the end of the novel.
Tris' dad:
Tris and Caleb’s father. He was born Erudite, but moved to Abnegation to start a life with Their mother. He is a member of the city council, a group of Abnegation who govern the entire city.
Albert:
Just like Christina, Albert, or "Al," transferred to Dauntless from Candor. At first he has trouble adjusting, and breaks down in tears on their first night in the Dauntless dormitory. Because of his soft and fragile personality, he continuously throws all fights during initiation. He has a crush on Tris, but she does not. He kills himself after taking part in an attack on Tris.
Major Theme
The major theme of divergent is freedom of choice. Although their are plenty of other themes, Selflessness, Bravery, Honesty, Intelligence and Peacefulness. Freedom of choice is the main theme because the book shows you how at some point in your life you will need to make huge decisions. In divergent, at the age of 16 each individual chooses has to choose which faction they want to spend the rest of their life in, determining on the type of person they are. Divergent taught us that it's important to have freedom of choice because it's your life.
Symbols
Two of the major symbols in divergent is the fire that resembles dauntless, the faction tris chooses. And two hands holding, which represents abnegation, the faction that tris family comes from. These are major symbols because they are the two most important factions in the book. Another important symbol is the eye, which resembles erudite, the faction Caleb, tris brother chooses at first. And also the faction that goes to war with dauntless and abnegation.