Allegiant
Chapter Eleven
by Roth, VeronicaTris and Tobias share an intimate moment on a slowing train as they approach the fence, their closeness sparking warmth and unspoken emotions. Tris becomes flustered when Tobias questions her thoughts, revealing her self-consciousness. The scene shifts as they prepare to disembark, with Caleb’s presence creating tension—Tris harbors unresolved anger toward her brother for his past betrayal. Tobias ensures Caleb exits first, pushing him forward with calculated force, followed by his own jump, leaving Tris momentarily alone to reflect on her attachment to the train and the city it represents.
After jumping from the train, Tris reunites with Christina and Uriah, who tease each other with Dauntless slang, lightening the mood despite the gravity of their escape. Tobias reappears with Caleb in tow, warning him against any attempt to flee. The group moves toward a rendezvous point with Johanna and the trucks, led by Tori, whose confident demeanor and hawk tattoo remind Tris of their shared history. Tris ponders whether fears truly disappear or merely lose their grip, observing Tori’s determination to leave behind the trauma of her brother’s murder and Evelyn’s rise to power.
The chapter takes a sudden, violent turn when gunshots ring out, and Tori is struck down. Tobias commands the group to scatter, but Tris, driven by a need for light, rushes toward Tori’s fallen flashlight. Amid the chaos, she finds Tori critically wounded, her life ebbing away. Despite their past conflicts, Tris feels a surge of grief for the woman who once protected her Divergence. The scene underscores the fragility of life and the weight of unresolved emotions, leaving Tris grappling with loss and the harsh realities of their rebellion.
The chapter closes with Tris holding the flashlight over Tori’s dying body, the moment a stark contrast to the earlier tenderness with Tobias. The abrupt violence disrupts their escape plan, forcing Tris to confront mortality and the cost of their fight. Her internal struggle—between anger, loyalty, and sorrow—highlights the complexity of human relationships in a world torn by conflict. The narrative leaves readers with a sense of impending danger and the unresolved tension between the characters, setting the stage for the next phase of their journey.
FAQs
1. How does Tris’s emotional state shift throughout the chapter, and what specific moments trigger these changes?
Answer:
Tris experiences several emotional shifts in this chapter. Initially, she feels warmth and affection with Tobias on the train, evidenced by her physical closeness and the “something heating up inside” her when she looks at him. This shifts to discomfort when he questions her thoughts, making her feel “caught.” Later, her anger toward Caleb resurfaces when their eyes meet, wanting to “scream into the darkest parts of him.” Finally, she feels nostalgia when leaving the train (“It’s stupid to miss a thing”) and shock/grief when Tori is shot. These moments reveal Tris’s complex emotional landscape, from intimacy to unresolved trauma to loss.2. Analyze the significance of the train as a symbol in this chapter. How does it reflect Tris’s journey?
Answer:
The train symbolizes both Tris’s personal growth and the irreversible changes in her life. Her reflection that she misses “all the others that carried me through the city, my city, after I was brave enough to ride them” ties the train to her Dauntless initiation and early independence. The act of jumping from the slowing train mirrors her transition into a new phase of rebellion. Notably, she overcompensates in her landing—a metaphor for how her past experiences (like high-momentum jumps) no longer serve her in this new context. The train thus represents both her history and the necessity of leaving it behind.3. What does the interaction between Tobias and Caleb reveal about their dynamic and Tobias’s protective instincts?
Answer:
Tobias demonstrates both dominance and distrust toward Caleb. He physically pushes Caleb to jump first (“on my mark”) and later grips his arm while taunting, “you aren’t going to be able to outrun me.” This shows Tobias’s vigilance in preventing Caleb from escaping or betraying them again, reflecting his role as Tris’s protector. The nickname “Nose” (for Erudite) that Uriah uses further isolates Caleb within the group, aligning with Tobias’s cold treatment. Their dynamic underscores the lingering consequences of Caleb’s past betrayal and Tobias’s prioritization of Tris’s safety over reconciliation.4. How does the chapter use darkness and light symbolically during the escape sequence?
Answer:
Darkness and light create tension and foreshadowing. The “rhythmic glow of lightning bugs” contrasts with the encroaching darkness as they near the fence, suggesting both hope and danger. Tori’s fallen flashlight becomes a pivotal image—its beam illuminates her fatal wounds, forcing Tris to confront mortality. Earlier, Tris craves light to navigate the chaos (“I need light”), symbolizing her desire for clarity amid turmoil. The darkness also literalizes fears Tori’s hawk tattoo represents, questioning whether “fears ever really go away.” This interplay mirrors the characters’ precarious position—exposed yet hidden, hopeful yet doomed.5. Evaluate how the chapter builds suspense leading to Tori’s shooting. What techniques does the author employ?
Answer:
The author builds suspense through pacing and foreshadowing. Tori’s urgency (“her pace more like a jog”) creates unease, while her backstory—mentioning her “fear of the dark” and Evelyn-like demeanor—hints at vulnerability. The group’s tightened formation (“like sections of a shoelace”) contrasts with the open danger of the fields. Suspense peaks when Tori moves too far ahead, isolating herself visually before the gunshots. The abrupt shift from Uriah’s humor to violence (“Christina shoves Uriah… Tori waves her flashlight”) heightens the shock. By focusing on Tris’s fragmented perception (“I hear but do not hear”), the scene immerses readers in the chaos, making Tori’s fate more jarring.
Quotes
1. “It’s stupid to miss a thing when there are so many people to miss instead, but I miss this train already, and all the others that carried me through the city, my city, after I was brave enough to ride them.”
This quote captures Tris’s bittersweet reflection on leaving behind familiar places and objects that hold personal significance, even amid greater losses. It highlights the human tendency to form attachments to inanimate objects that represent personal growth and memories.
2. “I wonder if fears ever really go away, or if they just lose their power over us.”
As Tris observes Tori’s tattoo symbolizing a conquered fear, this philosophical question represents a key theme in the series about the nature of courage and personal growth. It suggests that overcoming fear is more about managing its influence than eliminating it completely.
3. “She is so far ahead that when the shots go off, I only see her flashlight fall, not her body.”
This impactful moment marks a sudden turning point in the chapter, shifting from reflection to action. The stark, visual description of violence contrasts sharply with the preceding contemplative passages, emphasizing how quickly safety can dissolve.
4. “I hear but do not hear the gunshots, and the shouting, and the running footsteps. I hear but do not hear my heartbeat.”
This poetic repetition captures Tris’s dissociation during crisis, illustrating how the mind processes trauma. The quote is significant for showing Tris’s psychological state during violent encounters, a recurring challenge for her character.