1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Basic Review of Plot, Characters, Theme

2. About the Author: Veronica Roth
An American author
Born August 19, 1988, in New York and was raised in Barrington, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago)
Creative Writing Major (Northwestern University)
Divergent was her first novel- sequel Insurgent released last spring- third novel-Allegiant
Film rights have been sold

3. Genre: Dystopian Fiction
UTOPIA:
An ideal community or the “perfect society”
Term comes a book written by Thomas More in 1516 where he creates a fictional island with a perfect social and political system

4. Dystopia
A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through a form of totalitarian control.
Criticizes a current trend, societal norm, or political system
Characteristics:
Restricted information, independent thought, and freedom
Worshipped figurehead or concept
Fear of the outside world
Dehumanization
Detachment from nature
Conformity

5. What are some examples of dystopian fiction you have encountered (books and/or movies?

6. Characters: Beatrice (Tris) Four Eric Peter Christina Jeanine Matthews
Beatrice’s mother (Natalie)
Beatrice’s father
Caleb Al
Tori
Marcus
Uriah
Will

7. Basic Plot Information
Setting: Chicago in a future where society has been divided into 5 factions:
Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Amity, and Candor
At 16 all members of each Faction must choose if they are going to stay with their “birth faction” or leave for another one.
Beatrice leaves Abnegation for Dauntless and changes her name to accompany her new identity
Tris undergoes the initiation process for Dauntless (What are some major tasks/ events?)

8. Plot Information
Tris attempts the Dauntless initiation to find out some interesting information about the society
She falls in love with….
To be “Divergent” means to be Factionless…and this can be very dangerous

9. Will Tris survive…you will have to read to find out!!!

10. Themes
Courage: means facing your fears, not being fearless. Selflessness is required to be truly courageous.
Friendship: requires honesty, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Friendship can make you stronger.

11. Themes, cont…
Identity: is complex; it comes from family, culture, education, and most importantly within. The self cannot be neatly defined or fit in a box; we change, we grow, we are conflicted, but most importantly, we need to make the choice of who we become ourselves.