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.
Divergent Summary & Plot Diagram activity | Divergent Book Summary
Storyboard Text
EXPOSITION
Hi Mom. Please go ahead. Let me move out of your way.
CONFLICT
You are divergent. Never tell anyone. Divergent is dangerous!
RISING ACTION
Rankings
1. Edward 2. Peter 3. Will 4. Christina
Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior lives in a futuristic society in which all people live in one of five factions, according to their dominant personality trait: Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, Amity, or Candor. Beatrice and her brother Caleb have grown up with their parents in the Abnegation sector, but will be allowed to choose their own faction at the Choosing Ceremony.
CLIMAX
In her aptitude test, Beatrice learns that she is divergent, a mix between three factions. Beatrice decides to join the Dauntless faction, but must keep her divergence a secret for her own safety.
FALLING ACTION
Tris finds new friends in Dauntless, but also makes several enemies. As she struggles to make it to the top of the rankings in the competitive initiation process, Tris is routinely beaten up and faces attempts on her life. Fortunately, her instructor Four watches out for her, and the two become romantically involved.
RESOLUTION
Just after successfully completing initiation, Tris and her peers are injected with a new serum. When the serum causes the Dauntless masses to attack the Abnegation compound, Tris, being divergent, is unaffected. She attempts to protect her Abnegation family, but is captured by Jeanine Matthews, Erudite leader.
After escaping execution by drowning, Tris returns to the Dauntless compound with her father, Caleb, and Marcus. With their help, she breaches the control room where she frees Four from the serum's influence and helps him stop the simulation. The Dauntless soldiers regain control of their own minds and stop fighting the Abnegation.
Tris and her allies know that this is only the beginning of the fight against Erudite. They flee the Dauntless compound and head out of the city, seeking protection among the Amity, safe for the time being.