1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: CHONG JIA YI
STUDENT ID NO: 0320869
FILMS SELECTED: HUNGERGAMES ANDDIVERGENT
WORD COUNT: 999
ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: CASSANDRA WIJESURIA
SUBMISSIONDATE: APRIL 8TH
, 2015

2. Differences between The Hunger Games and Divergent
According to Robert A. Heinlein in Science Fiction: its nature, faults and virtues, in The Science Fiction
Novel, Advent, Chicago:1969, “ a handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: realistic
speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past
and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.
To make this definition cover all science fiction, it is necessary only to strike out the word future.” In
general, science fiction film is a genre that incorporates imaginary and science into the plot of the film.
It often incorporates futuristic elements and technologies to explore social, political, and philosophical
issues. Nowadays, as the technology of digital editing in filmmaking become more and more advance,
the quality of the science fiction film are better as it become more realistic and interesting. Therefore, it
become the most popular film genre among the society especially youngsters Although there are many
science fiction movies similar in particular aspect, Hunger games and divergent are the popular
science fiction movie that have many similarity in aspect of setting, character and plot. They share the
same social and geographical setting, the characteristic of the female protagonist, romance storyline
and characteristic of villain.
Firstly, they both take place in a dystopian society. A dystopian society is an imaginary society that is
as dehumanizing and as unpleasant as possible. It also is opposite to a utopian society. Coincidently,
they both take place in North America in the future. For example, Divergent take place in Chicago while
hunger games take place throughout the North America. They both rise after the ruins of North
America. Moreover, both involve communities that are isolated and distinguished from one another.
According to the novels, the society in Divergent is separated into five factions, each representing a
virtue: honesty, intelligence, bravery, selflessness, and peace. Members of different factions rarely
communicate with each other while in Hunger games, the nation is divided into 12 districts.Each
district has a main industry that functions to provide resources and necessities for the capitol. Except
capitol, the rest of the districts live in poverty condition. It indicates the dictatorship of the nation. In
summary, they both take place in North America and set up in dystopian society.
Furthermore, both stories are narrated by valiant female protagonists who are Tris in Divergent and
Katniss in the Hunger Games. They are two brave, rebellious sixteen-year olds girl, who endure an
oppressive government along with routine teenage difficulties. They play a major role in the future of
their nation as well. As evidence, Katniss is the main provider in her family, which consists of Katniss,
her mother, and her younger sister, Prim. Katniss is fiercely protective of her younger sister, and she
volunteers to take Prim’s place in the Hunger Games to protect her. Katniss is also a brave and strong
girl because she went through all the hardship and finally defeated capitol. On the other hand, Tris is
brave and intelligent girl who has extraordinary abilities of all faction as she is a divergent. She is also
as alertness as Katniss. For example, she smells a rat when the members of dauntless being mind
control by the government and pretend to be controlled to hide her identity. She is also a selfless

3. person as she takes a risk to fight with the government to save her friends when they are mind
controlled by Candor. In the short word, both stories portray feminism by strong female protagonist.
Moreover, both protagonists who is Katniss and Tris engage in romance in their stories. For instance,
Katniss involved in a romance triangle with Peeta and Gales and struggles to decide between them.
Gales is her childhood friend, she like to hunt with him before participate Hunger games. While Peeta
saved her life in the hunger games and he falling in love for her since he are young. When Peeta
memories are twisted and distorted, Katniss never give up recovering his memories. She feeling guilty
to Peeta when she kissing gales and vice versa. But finally she chooses Peeta as she thought that the
bomb made by Gales killed his sister, Primrose. Moreover she feels that Peeta is the person that she
wants as she said "What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The promise that life can go on, no
matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that." in the last
chapter of Hunger game. While in Divegent, Four, who is a transfer initiates' instructor of Tris fell in
love with each other. Four trains her and helps her lead the resistance against their oppressors. Four
also save her life from being killed by Al. They have their first kiss after Four rescue her from being
killed by Al. In a nutshell, there are romantic storyline in both movies.
Moreover, both antagonists are the dictator of the country. They have a desire to control their peoples
and rule their country in ruthless and autocratic way. For evidence, President Snow in Hunger games is
a megalomaniac dictator who uses threats and violence to keep an entire nation subservient to him
and the ruling class of the Capitol. He started hunger games to remind his citizen what will happen if
they step out of line. Besides, Jeanine Matthews in Divergent is a dangerous genius, who's willing to
drug the population and start a war to strengthen her power as well as control the Chicago. In short,
villains in both movies are the autocrat that have incomprehensible control freak over their peoples.
In conclusion, Hunger games and Divergent similar in their geographical setting, strength of female
protagonist, romance storyline and cruel antagonist. Although they have resemblance in many traits,
they are interesting movies with their own distinguishing feature that gain popularity in the masses. In
my opinion, both movie are my recommendation for the moviegoers that love science fiction film.

4. Reference
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