Divergent

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Which faction would you choose if you lived in this society? How would that choice impact your relationships with family and friends?

2. Tris struggles with balancing her various traits throughout the story, particularly her selflessness and her bravery. Can you recall a time when you had to choose between helping others and protecting yourself? How did you handle this situation?

3. The story emphasizes the difficulties involved in leaving one’s community of origin. Have you ever had to leave a community or group that shaped your identity? How did that experience affect you?

4. The novel explores the conflict between the pressure to conform and the desire to honor individual qualities and strengths. When have you felt pressured to fit in at the expense of your authentic self?

5. How do you relate to Tris's journey of self-discovery? Have you ever discovered strengths or qualities in yourself that surprised you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel's portrayal of government control and surveillance reflect contemporary concerns about privacy and freedom?

2. The faction system claims to create harmony but ultimately breeds division and conflict. What parallels do you see between the novel’s premise and real-world social divisions and conflicts?

3. How does the novel's exploration of identity and belonging mirror current discussions about tribalism and group identity?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Analyze the significance of the simulation tests throughout the novel. How do they function as plot devices and as metaphors for the novel’s broader themes?

2. How does the author use the physical settings of the factions to reflect each group’s central values and beliefs? What do these spaces imply about the society's priorities?

3. Examine the novel’s focus on the tension between choice and predestination. How does Tris’s journey exemplify this internal conflict? What other characters undergo a similar philosophical struggle?

4. Consider the symbolism of the ravens that Tris has tattooed on her collarbone. How does this image reflect her relationship with her family and her evolution as a character?

5. How does Roth use the first-person perspective to highlight Tris's character growth and explore broader themes of identity and self-discovery?