Student Question
What text evidence describes the setting of Divergent by Veronica Roth?
Quick answer:
The setting of Divergent is established in the first chapter as Tris and her brother Caleb ride a bus to school. Tris, as the narrator, notes seeing the building once called the Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower, indicating a future Chicago. She also mentions traveling under the elevated train tracks, known as the "L" train, which is a distinct feature of Chicago's public transportation system.
The setting of Divergent is revealed in the first chapter while Tris and her brother Caleb are riding the bus to school. As the first-person narrator, Tris describes the bus ride and briefly mentions what she sees.
The first clue she gives is that she can see the building they call the Hub, but that used to be called the Sears Tower. In Chicago today, the Sears Tower is known as the Willis Tower; the skyscraper's name was changed from Sears to Willis in 2009.
The second clue is in the very same paragraph. Tris mentions the bus traveling under the elevated train tracks that run all over the city. Anyone that has been to Chicago has surely seen, or even ridden, the "L" train, which is a system of elevated tracks that carry passengers to every corner of the city and beyond.
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