Divergent Book Response

Book Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Year of Publication: 2011
Number of Pages: 487
AR Points Awarded: 16

II. Literary Elements
A. Narrator- First person "What did it say?" I ask. p. 34
B. Protagonist- Beatrice- She was raised in Abnegation, but transferred into Dauntless at the Choosing Ceremony because she was Divergent. She is unlike most people because she is Divergent, which is very dangerous if the wrong people find out. She shined in Dauntless initiation because of this. She is very smart and became a leader when the war broke out. People looked to her to find out what they should do next. "And how are we supposed to wake them up?" Marcus says. "We find the computers that control the simulation and destroy the data," I say. "The program. Everything." p. 453
C. Antagonist- Herself- Because she is Divergent, she has to be very careful not to show it. During the initiation, if she would show it, she would be killed immediately. She struggles with this because she needs to do good in initiation to stay in Dauntless but not too good as to show her Divergence. "Don't play stupid," he says. "I suspected it last time, but this time it's obvious. You manipulated the simulation; you're Divergent. I'll delete the footage, but unless you want to wind up dead at the bottom of the chasm, you'll figure out how to hide it during the simulations! Now, if you'll excuse me." p. 255
D. Setting- "Their primary purpose is to guard the fence that surrounds our city. From what I don't know." p. 7 "I can see places where the yellow lines used to be. We have no use for them now that there are so few cars. We don't need spotlights, either, but in some places they dangle precariously over the road like they might crash down any minute." p. 24 The book takes place in a futuristic, isolated Chicago, where the city is divided into factions, or groups of people.
E. Conflict- Man v. Self   Beatrice has to figure out how to hide her Divergence, or be killed. "Don't play stupid," he says. "I suspected it last time, but this time it's obvious. You manipulated the simulation; you're Divergent. I'll delete the footage, but unless you want to wind up dead at the bottom of the chasm, you'll figure out how to hide it during the simulations! Now, if you'll excuse me." p. 255
F. Theme- Make your own choices, don't let others make your life-changing decisions for you. "I open my eyes and thrust my arm out. My blood drips onto the carpet between the two bowls. Then, with a gasp I can't contain, I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals. I am selfish. I am brave. p. 47
G. Historical Context-  The Chicago that we know of today has been changed greatly. For better or for worse. "Their primary purpose is to guard the fence that surrounds our city. From what I don't know." p. 7 "I can see places where the yellow lines used to be. We have no use for them now that there are so few cars. We don't need spotlights, either, but in some places they dangle precariously over the road like they might crash down any minute." p. 24

III. Reflection
I liked this book because it is fast-paced and has never-ending action. It combines war and utopian societies. I can't relate to any characters because this book talks about a world completely different from the one we live in today. This book would make a good movie because it keeps your attention and takes unexpected twists and turns. I would recommend this book to people who like books with futuristic settings and many plot twists. It didn't end the way I thought it would because I didn't think a war between factions would happen, but I wouldn't change the way it ended.