Although the film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s Divergent stays relatively true to its source material, there are a few key differences and omissions that every fan needs to know about. Here’s our list of 7 differences you may have missed between The Divergent book and film

Although the film adaptations of Veronica Roth’s literary Divergent series didn’t garner the same buzz as The Hunger Games with which they’re compared to, the books are nonetheless a fantastic read.

But if you’ve only watched the films, you’re missing out on a few key differences from the books (and in some cases, complete omissions) that give more detail and context to the story.

Here are 7 of the biggest differences between the first book and film of the series, Divergent.

WARNING: The next section contains spoilers and excerpts from the first book and film.

1. The aptitude test doesn’t offer Tris meat and a knife

In the film, Beatrice’s (Tris’) aptitude test shows her being given the choice between meat and a knife as a means of dealing with a vicious dog. In the book though, the choice is slightly different.

On the table in front of me are two baskets. In one is a hunk of cheese, and in the other, a knife the length of my forearm.

This may seem like an insignificant detail but, we learn from the books that Abnegation eat plain foods and meats – such as chicken. For Tris to have a fair choice in her aptitude test, she’d have to be presented with two things that are familiar to her, which makes their use of meat in the film questionable.

2. Tris’ mum visits her at Dauntless HQ and meets Four

Watching it, the next difference we see from the Divergent book to the film is Tris’ mum (Natalie) find Tris while members of Dauntless are loading wagons with supplies. It is here that Tris tells Natalie that her aptitude test was inconclusive, and Natalie tells Tris she is in danger as a Divergent. Although their risky reunion adds to the tension and suspense, their meeting in the books is far less covert. 

The initiates all get a ‘Visiting Day’ where their families can come and see them – even if they’ve transferred to a new faction. Natalie also meets Four (something which never happens in the films as she dies before there’s a chance) and recognises him.

She tilts her head. “You look familiar for some reason, Four.”

“I can’t imagine why,” he replies, his voice suddenly cold. “I don’t make a habit of associating with the Abnegation.”

My mother laughs. She has a light laugh, half air and half sound. “Few people do, these days. I don’t take it personally.”

He seems to relax a little. “Well, I’ll leave you to your reunion.”

We don’t know this at the time, but Four’s face is familiar to Natalie because he is actually Tobias, the Abnegation leader’s son. Tobias moved to Dauntless at 16 years old, amongst controversy and speculation that his father used to abuse him.

3. Natalie knows about the simulation serum and sends Tris on a mission to Erudite

During the above meeting, Natalie also gives Tris a job to do (which isn’t mentioned in the film), and we get our first hint that something sinister may be going on behind the scenes.

“There’s something I want you to do,” she says. “I can’t go visit your brother, but you can, when initiation is over. So I want you to go find him and tell him to research the simulation serum. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

Of course, we later discover that this simulation serum is what Erudite use to control Dauntless soldiers and turn them into robot-like killers.

4. Tris overhears a secret conversation about Divergents

Leader of Erudite and mastermind behind the plot to overthrow Abnegation, Jeanine, is seen meeting Tris several times during the film. The first is at the beginning during the Choosing Ceremony. The second is in the halls at Dauntless HQ. And the third is when Tris goes to Erudite HQ to find her brother.

But this third meeting in the film is Tris’ first actual meeting with her in the books – although, prior to this, she overhears a secret conversation between Jeanine and Eric when everyone else is asleep.

The dormitory is dark now – everyone has gone to bed. Probably exhausted from resenting me so much, I think with a wry smile. As if coming from the most hated faction wasn’t enough, now I’m showing them up, too.

I get out of bed to get a drink of water. I’m not thirsty, but I need to do something. My bare feet make sticky sounds on the floor as I walk, my hand skimming the wall to keep my path straight. A bulb glows blue above the drinking fountain.

I tug my hair over one shoulder and bend over. As soon as the water touches my lips, I hear voices at the end of the hallway. I creep closer to them, trusting the dark to keep me hidden.

“So far there haven’t been any signs of it.” Eric’s voice. Signs of what?

“Well, you wouldn’t have seen much of it yet,” someone replies. A female voice; cold and familiar, but familiar like a dream, not a real person. “Combat training shows you nothing. The simulations, however, reveal who the Divergent rebels are, if there are any, so we will have to examine the footage several times to be sure.”

At this point, Tris doesn’t know the voice belongs to Jeanine. It’s only later when she meets her in person at Erudite HQ that Tris realises the voice she overheard at Dauntless belongs to her.

5. Al fancies Tris

next on our list of Divergent book and film differences is the friendship between Tris and Christina. It’s the main focus of the films – with Will also getting a little air time. But Tris, Christina, Will and Al all are all very close in the books. In fact, Al feels more for Tris than just friendship.

“I feel braver when I’m around you, you know,” he says. “Like I could actually fit in here, the same way you do.”

I am about to respond when he slides his arm across my shoulders. Suddenly I freeze, my cheeks hot.

I didn’t want to be right about Al’s feelings for me. But I was.

Al’s deep friendship and romantic feelings for Tris are just not explored in the film, which makes Al’s suicide after betraying Tris seem a little extreme for those who don’t know this backstory.

6. One of the initiates is stabbed through the eye in the middle of the night

One event which is completely left out of the films is a horrendous stabbing in the communal dorm as the initiates sleep.

I hear a scuffle across the room and lift my head from the pillow. My eyes aren’t adjusted to the dark, so I stare into pure black, like the backs of my eyelids. I hear shuffling and the squeak of a shoe. A heavy thud.

And then a wail that curdles my blood and makes my hair stand on end. I throw the blankets back and stand on the stone floor with bare feet. I still can’t see well enough to find the source of the scream, but I see a dark lump on the floor a few bunks down. Another scream pierces my ears.

[…]

The lights come on.

Edward lies on the floor next to his bed, clutching at his face. Surrounding his head is a halo of blood, and jutting between his clawing fingers is a silver knife handle. My heart thumping in my ears, I recognise it like a butter knife from the dining hall. The blade is stuck in Edward’s eye.

Edward was ranked first on the leaderboard – making him a target for others who want to secure the safety that comes with that top spot. And it’s not long before the culprit/s are revealed.

When I look around, I see that only two faces are missing.

Drew.

And Peter.

Not only does this add weight to Peter’s sinister nature, but it’s also a reminder of how tense things can get between initiates, who are all competing with one another so they don’t become factionless.

7. Only Four is sat in the control room manning the simulation computers

In the film when Tris heads back to Dauntless HQ to shut down the program controlling many of the Dauntless members, the control room is full of people from Erudite. This includes Erudite’s leader, Jeanine. But in the books, Four is the only person there.

One of the screens has a line of code on it instead of an image. It breezes past faster than I can read it. It is the simulation, the code already compiled, a complicated list of commands that anticipate and address a thousand different outcomes.

In front of the screen is a chair and a desk. Sitting in the chair is a Dauntless soldier.

“Tobias,” I say.

This isn’t a huge difference, but it does change the atmosphere at the moment where Four tries to kill Tris (under simulation).

And that’s our list of 7 Divergent book and film differences. Did we miss any? Of course, there are many more subtle differences between the book and film which have less impact on the overall plot. Are there any you would have included? Leave a comment below.

More of our book to movie comparisons HERE.

Read IMDB information about the Divergent movie HERE.