Divergent, the first novel in Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy, has enjoyed widespread popularity among young adult readers, increased by the 2014 movie adaptation. A dystopian thriller, the story follows Tris Prior a girl whose very identity undermines the strict social structure of her society.
Literary conflict in Divergent by Veronica Roth - Have students identify different types of conflict and illustrate them!
Storyboard Text
CHARACTER VS. MAN
CHARACTER VS. SELF
CHARACTER VS. SOCIETY
You have to be very careful during the next stage of initiation, Beatrice. Don't draw attention to yourself.
CHARACTER VS. TECHNOLOGY
Tris is in direct conflict with many other characters. Peter, in particular, strongly dislikes her, which creates a number of conflicts. Peter's fight with Tris during initiation is just one of many times the two come into conflict with each other.
Al's suicide creates an internal conflict for Tris. Although she cannot forgive him for trying to kill her, she never wanted him dead. She blames herself for his death and struggles to find peace of mind after his funeral.
Because she is divergent, Tris does not truly fit into any faction, and she struggles to find her place in society. Although Tris enjoys many aspects of both Abnegation and Dauntless life, she also find things to critique in each. Because the Erudite see divergence as a threat to their society, Tris's difference also puts her in a dangerous position.
The simulation serum is a technology that creates the climactic conflict in the novel. The Erudite serum is used to control the Dauntless soldiers and start an all-out war between the factions. Tris is immune to the effects of the serum, but must face the chaos it causes.