Divergent

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is the true meaning of justice? How might the meaning of justice change over time or due to circumstances?

Teaching Suggestion: Different factions, or groups within the population, in the book would view justice differently. Brainstorming as a class varying ideas of justice can guide students’ explorations of the novel. This is also an opportunity to bring in current events and view them through the lens of justice.

• This article by Human Rights Careers explores the meaning of social justice.
• The poem “Phenomenal Daughter” by Nathalie Handal presents a conversation between a mother and daughter about the world and can be discussed in terms of its views on justice.

2. How can we approach divisions in society?

Teaching Suggestion: People deal with Social Divisions in many ways, some more effective than others. One way to begin discussion on this topic is to ask students if they have ever disagreed with someone about an issue they felt strongly about. Another idea would be to connect to a current event about which people have differing opinions. Students might bring up broad political topics or issues specific to their school or community. Guiding the class to express opinions respectfully and listening versus debating can help maintain the focus. The article can provide opportunities to analyze tough conversations on challenging issues. “Phenomenal Daughter” presents a society in which poverty, hunger, shame, and beauty are mingled. What can both texts reveal about human nature and ways we can face divisions in society?

• Minutes 1-10 of a 49-minute radio program from StoryCorps and NPR includes conversations about divisive topics. The short written article accompanying the program gives a broad overview. The first 10 minutes of the listening option offer an introduction about how divisive issues have affected our society. It also introduces the “One Small Step” project in which people with opposite political views hold respectful conversations.
• “The Lottery,” a short story by Shirley Jackson, presents a town both united and divided as they complete a yearly ritual. The story can focus students’ attention on a society in which, like that of Divergent, fear and tradition operate to control the populace.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What makes us who we are?

Teaching Suggestion: These slam poems offer different insights into Identity and Choice. Students might freewrite, discuss, or create slam poems of their own.

• “I Am Limitless,” a 2-minute spoken word poem by Lina Abojaradeh, explores different ways the speaker views her identity.
• “Pause,” a 2½-minute spoken word poem by Lincoln High Slam Poets, includes different events that affect individuals. (Content Warning: The poets address a variety of sensitive topics including gun violence, school shootings, and sexual assault.)

Differentiation Suggestion: For learners who need additional support, sentence starters could help with writing and discussion. For instance, you might suggest students begin with “I am from…“ or “Here are the things that make me who I am… “. If students are creating poems, an optional frame of this nature that begins each line of the poem could serve as a guide. Presenting poems in groups, as the students do in “Pause,” can help ease fears of public speaking.