The Giver- Plot and Characters
What is the Ceremony of Twelve?
The ceremony at which Jonas receives his life assignment.
What is the colour Jonas first perceives?
Red
What is a totalitarian government?
A government that exercises absolute control over every aspect of citizens' lives.
Where do we see is totalitarian control / restricted individual freedom in The Giver?
The Committee of Elders making all major life decisions demonstrates this dystopian element.
What is a quotation (or direct quote)?
The term for a direct word-for-word excerpt from a text used to support an argument.
What is the main idea (or thesis / central theme)?
The central argument or message a text conveys.
What is Release?
The term for the process that eliminates someone from the community permanently.
What does the sled symbolise?
Freedom and the journey to truth.
What is propaganda?
The dystopian technique of shaping citizens' beliefs through biased or misleading information.
Where do we see constant surveillance / loss of privacy in The Giver?
Loudspeakers broadcasting announcements into every dwelling illustrate this element.
What you must always do after inserting a quotation to show how it supports your point?
Analyse the quote/explain how the evidence connects to your point
What are subsidiary ideas (or supporting ideas)?
Supporting points or details that develop or prove the main idea.
Who is Gabriel?
The name of the infant Jonas's father brings home to nurture.
What is the sharing of feelings / dream-telling?
The daily ritual families perform each morning and evening to maintain emotional control.
What is surveillance (or loss of privacy)?
The monitoring of citizens' actions and communications to maintain order and obedience.
Where do we see propaganda / mind control?
The community's use of precise language and the concept of "Sameness" reflects this element
Idea: Bees are important for growing many foods.
Which evidence best supports this idea?
A. Many fruits grow on trees.
B. Bees help pollinate plants so they can produce fruit.
C. Some people are afraid of bees.
D. Bees live in large groups called colonies.
B
What is inference?
A guess you make using the information you have
Why was the previous receiver released?
The pain and weight of the memories were too difficult for her to bear.
Why does Jonas feel isolated?
He cannot share details of his new life with anyone in his family or from his friends.
What is dehumanisation?
The stripping away of individuality and emotional depth from people in a society.
Where do we see dehumanisation / loss of emotion in The Giver?
Citizens being unable to see colour or experience deep love reflects this element.
Idea: Regular exercise helps people stay healthy.
Which evidence best supports this idea?
A. Exercise strengthens the heart and muscles.
B. Some people prefer watching sports.
C. Gyms can be expensive.
D. Exercise clothes come in many colors.
A
What is: it is a specific plot detail that supports larger themes (e.g., resistance, protecting Gabriel) rather than a central message of the novel?
"Jonas steals his father's bicycle" is a subsidiary idea rather than a main idea of The Giver.
For example
Why is the emory of the sunburn significant?
This was Jonas' introduction to pain.
What is one of the main ideas of The Giver?
Freedom is more important than safety
Pain is a necessary part of life
Emotion makes us human
etc.
What is the illusion of a perfect society (or a false utopia)?
A society that appears perfect on the surface but conceals suffering or control beneath.
Where do we see environmental or technological decay (or control over nature) in The Giver?
Climate control
or
No animals
Idea: Reading every day can improve vocabulary.
Which evidence best supports this idea?
A. Many libraries are quiet places.
B. Books often contain new and challenging words.
C. Some stories are very long.
D. Many people read before bed.
B
What is the purpose of subsidiary points?
To add to the main idea, to give the story depth and make it interesting.