BOOK/ THEME
Who is Jonas? What does he become later on in the book?
The Receiver, a youth.
Who is giving memories to Jonas?
The Giver, an adult.
This concept teaches youth to self govern themselves, to be future oriented, and to be responsible, which internalizes institutional/social norms. What is this concept?
GOVERNMENTALITY AND YOUTH GOVERNANCE (YOUTH RESISTANCE)
This concept narrates a set of distinct differences between the savior and the “saved”. The savior is always morally superior, dominant, and “better”, while the “saved” is dependent, more passive, and inferior. What is this concept?
SAVIOR/HERO NARRATIVES AND DEFICIT FRAMING
Examples of how youths learn to govern themselves in an acceptable way. What creates “good, obedient citizens” in the book and in real life?
Book: Children are given assignments instead of choosing their futures. They are taught to follow rules without question. Emotions are controlled with daily pills. The community removes memory, so people cannot imagine alternatives.
Real Life: Listening to parents. Never disobey teachers or police officers.
What is the “saving youth” narrative?
This narrative frames youths as needing protection, guidance and correction.
The community's control over children and their play and what they say shows that childhood is not about freedom but about____?
Control/ regulation.
What happens to youths that are conformed and forced into major life decisions because they are not trusted by society/adults?
They lose the growth and independence that comes with having a choice. The meaning of choice enables youths to grow.
Identify 3 possible categories of lived experiences.
Emotional, physical, social, cultural, moral, intellectual, developmental, traumatic, etc.
Jonas refuses to take the “stirring” repression pills, which mute his feelings of attraction or strong emotions. What does his refusal demonstrate?
Defiance/ self determination.
The Elders think they are “protecting” the community and “saving” them from pain and chaos. But like colonial rescue narratives, this “saving” is actually control. What do youths lose in return?
They lose their freedom/choice.
The ceremony of 12 marks the loss of innocence/ gain of responsibility. What YOST principal theorizes that childhood ends at this time?
When social responsibility replaces personal freedom.
Which character in The Giver represents the source of lived experience knowledge?
The Giver.
Jonas begins to see the color red, he realizes the world is richer than the sameness he grew up with, this is an example of what lived experience changing?
Individual Experiences/ Personal Perception
Jonas Learns About Pain and Suffering. Learns of painful memories like war, loneliness, and loss, then realizes that true emotions, both good and bad, have been erased. How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
As youth progress further into adulthood, it comes with a consciousness of some very hard realities. Voting is a responsibility, there's a larger implication of consequences.
The book’s society values sameness, order & predictability above everything. To maintain control, they remove freedom of voice. For example, people don't choose their jobs, partners, or even their emotions. Jonas's journey shows how true humanity requires freedom even if it comes with pain and uncertainty. What is the book’s theme?
Control V.S. Freedom
The Importance of Choice
In the main characters’ community, children are not allowed to have any imagination or misbehavior. What important developmental agent is stripped from them?
Creativity
Jonas is Selected as the Receiver of Memory. At the Ceremony of Twelve, everyone receives their job assignment. How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
Society expects youths to start working/driving once they turn 16. Permits are put in place for this process.
Jonas Experiences Love and Questions His Society. Jonas begins to doubt the rules and purpose of “Sameness.” How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
As people get older, there is less pressure to assimilate and be like everyone else. There is a stressed importance of what you value and what you want to do with your life.
Jonas Escapes the Community. Jonas and Gabriel flee into the unknown in search of a life with real emotion, freedom, and memory. How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
Youth are seen as dependent on adults and living alone is impossible for them. But very often youth take care of themselves better than what society believes even after they’ve transitioned out of their parents house.
“Saving youth becomes a way to govern them – constructing good citizenship through discipline, surveillance and future planning” How does this affect youths?
Prevents: Differences, Emotional Depth, Independent Thoughts
When control replaces freedom, youth loses what essential human right?
Self determination/ right to agency.
Jonas Begins Training with The Giver. He begins receiving memories of past experiences: snow, sunshine, color, joy. How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
Society puts youths out into the “real” world expecting them to know things like finance off the bat, not having taught them any in school.
Jonas Discovers the Truth About “Release”. He realizes the community is hiding violence behind gentle language. Release meant killing. How can this be applied to youths' lived experiences in our world?
Society often views youth as innocent and pure. This view convinces adults that youth are incapable of understanding bigger topics such as war.
Jonas deciding to break free from his society's expectations and rules, and practicing self governance is an example of what YOST term?
Autonomy