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    Allegiant

    by Roth, Veronica
    “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth is the final installment in the dystopian Divergent trilogy. The story follows Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton as they venture beyond the confines of their fractured city, uncovering a shocking truth: their society is an experiment designed to repair damaged genetic traits. The novel explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the consequences of rebellion as Tris and Tobias confront a new conflict between the genetically “pure” (Divergent) and “damaged” individuals. The dual-perspective narrative deepens character development, culminating in a tragic yet thematically resonant conclusion that challenges notions of freedom and human nature. Roth’s world-building expands significantly, revealing the broader scope of the series’ dystopian setting.
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    Allegiant

    Chapter Twenty-One

    by Roth, Veronica

    The chap­ter opens with Tris and the oth­ers being informed of an attack drill over the inter­com dur­ing break­fast. The instruc­tions are to lock doors, cov­er win­dows, and remain qui­et until the alarms stop. Tris notices Tobias appears exhaust­ed and dis­tract­ed, pick­ing at his food. The group’s lack of pur­pose since leav­ing the city leaves Tris feel­ing unset­tled, as she is accus­tomed to con­stant action and con­flict. She tries to relax but strug­gles with the idle wait­ing.

    Tris attempts to engage Tobias by shar­ing her awe at see­ing the world from a plane the pre­vi­ous day, but his response is dis­mis­sive due to his fear of heights. His reac­tion dis­ap­points her, as she had hoped for a more enthu­si­as­tic or curi­ous response. Their con­ver­sa­tion turns tense when Tobias reveals his dis­tress over the rev­e­la­tion about Mar­cus, his father, not being exe­cut­ed. Tris is frus­trat­ed, real­iz­ing she under­es­ti­mat­ed how deeply this news would affect him.

    The alarms sud­den­ly sound, dis­rupt­ing their con­ver­sa­tion and forc­ing every­one to take cov­er. Tris cov­ers her ears while Tobias secures the room. As the oth­ers set­tle in, Tris turns to her mother’s jour­nal entries for dis­trac­tion. The entries reveal her mother’s mis­sion to infil­trate the city to save the Diver­gent, pos­ing as a Daunt­less mem­ber before even­tu­al­ly join­ing Eru­dite to stop a killer. Tris is puz­zled by the dis­crep­an­cy between her mother’s plan and her even­tu­al choice to join Abne­ga­tion.

    The chap­ter ends with Tris grap­pling with the unan­swered ques­tions about her mother’s past deci­sions. The jour­nal entries pro­vide glimpses into her mother’s moti­va­tions and the Bureau’s manip­u­la­tions, but they also raise new mys­ter­ies. Tris’s frus­tra­tion with Tobias and the unset­tling drill ampli­fy her sense of dis­ori­en­ta­tion, leav­ing her search­ing for clar­i­ty amid the chaos.

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    FAQs

    • 1. What is the purpose of the attack drill announced in the compound, and how do the characters react to it?

      Answer:
      The attack drill is announced over the intercom to prepare residents for a potential security threat. The instructions are to lock doors, cover windows, and remain quiet until the alarms stop. The characters react differently: Tris finds the noise painful and distracting, using her mother’s journal as a distraction. Tobias follows protocol by securing the room, while Cara muffles the sound with a pillow, and Peter sits passively. The drill highlights the tension and unease in the compound, contrasting with the characters’ previous lives of purpose in the city.

      2. How does Tris’s perspective on the world change after her plane ride, and why is she disappointed by Tobias’s reaction?

      Answer:
      Tris describes the plane ride as “amazing,” realizing the world is much larger than she imagined. She hopes Tobias will share her wonder or at least ask about her experience, but he dismisses it, citing his fear of heights. His lack of engagement disappoints her because she values emotional connection and shared experiences. This moment reveals a growing emotional distance between them, as Tris seeks validation while Tobias remains preoccupied with his own struggles.

      3. What conflict arises between Tris and Tobias regarding Marcus, and what does it reveal about their communication?

      Answer:
      Tobias is upset about the revelation that Marcus (his father) won’t be executed, but Tris misunderstands, assuming his distress is about his genetic identity. When he clarifies, she feels frustrated for not anticipating his feelings. This miscommunication underscores their differing emotional priorities—Tris focuses on practical outcomes, while Tobias grapples with unresolved trauma. The conflict highlights how their relationship strains under external pressures and unspoken expectations.

      4. Analyze the significance of Tris’s mother’s journal entry. What key contradiction does Tris notice, and why is it puzzling?

      Answer:
      The journal reveals that Tris’s mother, Natalie, was instructed to join Erudite to stop a “killer” (likely Jeanine Matthews’ predecessor) but ultimately chose Abnegation instead. Tris is puzzled by this contradiction, as it suggests Natalie deviated from the Bureau’s plan. The entry raises questions about Natalie’s motives, the Bureau’s control, and whether her choice was an act of rebellion or personal growth. This foreshadows deeper revelations about the experiment’s flaws and Natalie’s role in resisting it.

      5. How does the chapter portray the psychological impact of the characters’ transition from the city to the compound?

      Answer:
      The characters struggle with purposelessness in the compound, contrasting sharply with their faction-driven lives. Tris feels “jittery and tense” without a clear mission, while Tobias withdraws emotionally. The attack drill exacerbates their disorientation, symbolizing their vulnerability in this new environment. The chapter emphasizes how identity crises (e.g., Tobias’s genes, Tris’s mother’s past) compound their adjustment, illustrating the broader theme of losing structure and confronting uncomfortable truths in unfamiliar settings.

    Quotes

    • 1. “When we left the city, we lost our factions, our sense of purpose. Here there is nothing to do but wait for something to happen, and far from making me feel relaxed, it makes me feel jittery and tense.”

      This quote captures Tris’s internal conflict and the psychological impact of losing the structured faction system. It highlights the theme of identity crisis in a new environment where purpose is undefined.

      2. “The world is … a lot bigger than I thought it was.”

      A pivotal moment of realization for Tris as she experiences the vastness beyond the confined city she knew. This quote represents her expanding worldview and the theme of discovery.

      3. “I’m not talking about my genes. I’m talking about Marcus. You really have no idea, do you?”

      Tobias’s emotional outburst reveals his deeper trauma about his abusive father being spared execution. This quote shows the ongoing personal conflicts that persist despite their new surroundings.

      4. “David said the Divergent are dying and someone has to stop it, because that’s a waste of our best genetic material.”

      From Tris’s mother’s journal, this disturbing revelation exposes the Bureau’s cold, utilitarian view of human life. It introduces major ethical questions about genetic determinism that drive the plot forward.

      5. “I could really use one of those.” (Referring to “a fresh start”)

      This simple closing line from Natalie Prior’s journal entry poignantly humanizes her mission. It creates parallel between mother and daughter both seeking renewal, while foreshadowing Tris’s discovery that her mother didn’t follow the planned path.

    Quotes

    1. “When we left the city, we lost our factions, our sense of purpose. Here there is nothing to do but wait for something to happen, and far from making me feel relaxed, it makes me feel jittery and tense.”

    This quote captures Tris’s internal conflict and the psychological impact of losing the structured faction system. It highlights the theme of identity crisis in a new environment where purpose is undefined.

    2. “The world is … a lot bigger than I thought it was.”

    A pivotal moment of realization for Tris as she experiences the vastness beyond the confined city she knew. This quote represents her expanding worldview and the theme of discovery.

    3. “I’m not talking about my genes. I’m talking about Marcus. You really have no idea, do you?”

    Tobias’s emotional outburst reveals his deeper trauma about his abusive father being spared execution. This quote shows the ongoing personal conflicts that persist despite their new surroundings.

    4. “David said the Divergent are dying and someone has to stop it, because that’s a waste of our best genetic material.”

    From Tris’s mother’s journal, this disturbing revelation exposes the Bureau’s cold, utilitarian view of human life. It introduces major ethical questions about genetic determinism that drive the plot forward.

    5. “I could really use one of those.” (Referring to “a fresh start”)

    This simple closing line from Natalie Prior’s journal entry poignantly humanizes her mission. It creates parallel between mother and daughter both seeking renewal, while foreshadowing Tris’s discovery that her mother didn’t follow the planned path.

    FAQs

    1. What is the purpose of the attack drill announced in the compound, and how do the characters react to it?

    Answer:
    The attack drill is announced over the intercom to prepare residents for a potential security threat. The instructions are to lock doors, cover windows, and remain quiet until the alarms stop. The characters react differently: Tris finds the noise painful and distracting, using her mother’s journal as a distraction. Tobias follows protocol by securing the room, while Cara muffles the sound with a pillow, and Peter sits passively. The drill highlights the tension and unease in the compound, contrasting with the characters’ previous lives of purpose in the city.

    2. How does Tris’s perspective on the world change after her plane ride, and why is she disappointed by Tobias’s reaction?

    Answer:
    Tris describes the plane ride as “amazing,” realizing the world is much larger than she imagined. She hopes Tobias will share her wonder or at least ask about her experience, but he dismisses it, citing his fear of heights. His lack of engagement disappoints her because she values emotional connection and shared experiences. This moment reveals a growing emotional distance between them, as Tris seeks validation while Tobias remains preoccupied with his own struggles.

    3. What conflict arises between Tris and Tobias regarding Marcus, and what does it reveal about their communication?

    Answer:
    Tobias is upset about the revelation that Marcus (his father) won’t be executed, but Tris misunderstands, assuming his distress is about his genetic identity. When he clarifies, she feels frustrated for not anticipating his feelings. This miscommunication underscores their differing emotional priorities—Tris focuses on practical outcomes, while Tobias grapples with unresolved trauma. The conflict highlights how their relationship strains under external pressures and unspoken expectations.

    4. Analyze the significance of Tris’s mother’s journal entry. What key contradiction does Tris notice, and why is it puzzling?

    Answer:
    The journal reveals that Tris’s mother, Natalie, was instructed to join Erudite to stop a “killer” (likely Jeanine Matthews’ predecessor) but ultimately chose Abnegation instead. Tris is puzzled by this contradiction, as it suggests Natalie deviated from the Bureau’s plan. The entry raises questions about Natalie’s motives, the Bureau’s control, and whether her choice was an act of rebellion or personal growth. This foreshadows deeper revelations about the experiment’s flaws and Natalie’s role in resisting it.

    5. How does the chapter portray the psychological impact of the characters’ transition from the city to the compound?

    Answer:
    The characters struggle with purposelessness in the compound, contrasting sharply with their faction-driven lives. Tris feels “jittery and tense” without a clear mission, while Tobias withdraws emotionally. The attack drill exacerbates their disorientation, symbolizing their vulnerability in this new environment. The chapter emphasizes how identity crises (e.g., Tobias’s genes, Tris’s mother’s past) compound their adjustment, illustrating the broader theme of losing structure and confronting uncomfortable truths in unfamiliar settings.

    Note