19 Facts About The 'Divergent Trilogy' You Probably Didn't Know Before

Divergent is a series of dystopian young adult novels written by Veronica Roth.

The series consists of three books: 'Divergent,' 'Insurgent,' and 'Allegiant.' The first book was adapted into a feature film released in 2014. The story revolves around Beatrice 'Tris' Prior as she completes her training and learns about the truth behind her society.

The 'Divergent' is a set of three young adult dystopian books written by American author Veronica Roth.

It tells the story of Beatrice 'Tris' Prior, who learns she is divergent and must hide her identity from the Erudite faction, after which she finds herself on a journey to discover her true identity and fight against the corrupt government.

The first book, 'Divergent,' was published on May 19, 2011, by HarperCollins Children's Books. The novel peaked at number two on The New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Chapter Books and has been translated into over 20 languages.

A film adaptation of the novel, directed by Neil Burger and starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet, was released on March 21, 2014.

In an interview with MTV News, author Veronica Roth revealed that she is a big fan of 'The Hunger Games' and that it was one of her inspirations for writing 'Divergent.'

If you're a fan of 'Divergent,' check out these 19 facts that you probably didn't know before!

Main Characters

The protagonist of the series is Beatrice 'Tris' Prior. The story is narrated in the first person by Tris and follows her journey as she discovers her true identity in a dystopian Chicago.

Tobias 'Four' Eaton is the instructor at the Dauntless compound and eventual love interest of Tris.

Christina is a transfer initiated from Erudite and a friend of Tris.

Eric is the leader of the Dauntless faction who is later revealed to be working for Jeanine Matthews, leader of Erudite.

Peter is a member of the faction who is often antagonistic towards Tris.

Al and Marlene are members of the faction who become friends with Tris.

Will is a member of Abnegation who transfers to Dauntless.

Molly is a member of Erudite who defects to Dauntless.

Lynn is a member of Candor who befriends Tris.

Amity leader, Johanna Reyes, helps the factionless escape from Erudite's control.

Ansel Elgort plays Caleb Prior in the movies adaptation of the books. Ansel Elgort, who plays Caleb Prior in the 'Divergent' movies, is the brother of fellow YA movie adaptation star, Shailene Woodley (Tris Prior).

'Divergent' takes place in a dystopian Chicago where society is divided into five factions; Candor, Amity, Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite. At the age of 16, all citizens are required to take an aptitude test which determines their faction.

About The Author

The writer of the 'Divergent' series is Veronica Roth. She also wrote two other books that are a spin-off from this series called 'Allegiant' and 'Insurgent.'

Veronica was born in 1988 and grew up in Chicago, Illinois.

After graduating from college, she started writing the 'Divergent' series while working as a barista. Now, she's a full-time author and speaker.

Veronica Roth is a self-proclaimed feminist and included many strong female characters in her series as a result.

She has said that she wanted to create a world where women were equal to men, not just in strength but also in intelligence and emotion.

Roth has also said that she hopes her books inspire girls to be strong and to think for themselves.

She says that too often girls are told to be quiet and not make waves, but she wants them to know that their voices are important.

Critical Reception

The 'Divergent' series has received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its themes and messages. The series has been called 'a gripping story of love and loss' and 'an excellent example of young adult dystopian fiction.'

Critics have also praised the series' exploration of such topics as teenage angst, identity, and loyalty.

The first novel in the 'Divergent' series, 'Divergent,' was published in 2011 to positive reviews.

The second novel, 'Insurgent,' was released in 2012 and also received critical acclaim.

The third and final novel in the series, 'Allegiant,' was published in 2013.

All three books have been New York Times Bestsellers.

The movies based on the 'Divergent' series have also been well-received by critics.

About The Film

The movies did fairly well at the box office too. 'Divergent' grossed $289 million worldwide and 'Insurgent' grossed $297 million. Although 'Allegiant' grossed the least of the three films, it still made $179 million.

The first film in the 'Divergent' series, 'Divergent,' was released in cinemas in 2014 to mixed reviews.

Many praised its strong female lead, but others felt it was a weak adaptation of the source material.

The second film, 'Insurgent,' was released in 2015 with much better reviews. Critics praised its action sequences and improved plot.

The third and final film, 'Allegiant,' was released in 2016 to mixed reviews once again. Some felt it was a fitting end to the series, while others thought it was too rushed and convoluted.

Despite the mixed review, the 'Divergent' series was a box office success. The three films grossed a total of $765 million worldwide.

The films were shot back-to-back over nine months in 2014. This meant that the cast and crew had to live in Atlanta for nine months straight.

Other Miscellaneous Facts

Readers of the 'Divergent' series are some of the most passionate readers out there. They are constantly debating and discussing the books on social media and in forums. The series has also been made into a movie, which has only added to the discussion.

The fourth book, titled 'Four: A Divergent Collection', is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of the character Four.

The movie was shot in Chicago.

The writer of the novel, Veronica Roth, is from a suburb outside of Chicago.

Much of the cinematography for the film was inspired by the cityscape and architecture of Chicago.

Some of the specific locations used in filming include The Willis Tower, The Merchandise Mart, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park.

To stay true to the book, some scenes were even filmed in written form before being turned into cinematics.

For example, one such scene is when Tris first meets Four on the roof and he jumps off; that entire conversation is verbatim from the book.

FAQs

What genre of book is 'Divergent Trilogy?'

The 'Divergent' series is a young adult, dystopian novel. What does that mean? Dystopian books are set in a dark and scary future world where the government or society is terrible. Young adult books are for people aged 12-18. So, this book is perfect for those who love adventure, suspenseful stories, and romance all mixed into one.

Why is the book called 'Divergent?'

The title of the book is inspired by something very deep and philosophical. In literature, a 'divergent' story is one in which the protagonist chooses his path, instead of following someone else's. This is a perfect description of Tris' journey in the book.

How old is Tris in 'Divergent?'

Tris is 16 years old in 'Divergent.' She turns 17 in 'Insurgent,' 18 in 'Allegiant,' and 19 by the time of the epilogue.

Why did Veronica Roth make 'Divergent?'

Roth has said that she made the book as a response to what she perceived as a lack of strong female protagonists in young adult literature at the time. She wanted to write a story about a girl who was 'self-reliant and didn’t need anyone else to tell her who she was.'

When did 'Divergent' the book come out?

'Divergent' was released on April 26, 2011. The second book in the series, 'Insurgent,' came out a year later on May 1, 2012. The final book in the series, 'Allegiant,' was published on October 22, 2013.

Is 'Divergent' based on a true story?

No, 'Divergent' is not based on a true story. The writer, Veronica Roth, has said that the series was inspired by her own experiences in high school and college.

She also drew inspiration from other young adult dystopian books like 'The Hunger Games' and 'Maze Runner'. So while 'Divergent' is not based on a true story, it is certainly inspired by real-life experiences.

Is there a fourth 'Divergent' book?

There is no fourth book in the 'Divergent' series, but 'Four: A Divergent Collection' is comprised of short stories from Four, an important character in the series.