Characters
Who is The Giver? What is his role in the community?
The Giver is the Receiver of Memory that is training and transmitting memories to Jonas.
What is the Ceremony of Release?
The Ceremony of Release is a celebration when an elder is released from the community.
What are some of the Community's rules? List at least three.
"Jonas was stunned. What would happen to his friendships? His mindless hours playing ball, or riding his bike along the river? Those had been happy and vital times for him. Were they to be completely taken from him, now?" When did this happen? What is happening in this scene?
Who is Gabriel? How is he important to our novel?
Gabriel is the new child that Father brings home every night to their family dwelling. Gabriel is not growing at the same rate as other new children and is labeled "Uncertain." Gabriel has pale eyes like Jonas and The Giver.
What is the Telling of Dreams?
The Telling of Dreams is when each family member is required to share details about their dreams each morning.
What is juxtaposition? Give an example of when Lowry uses it in the novel.
Juxtaposition is the contrast between two different ideas. Lowry uses this when contrasting Jonas to the Audience, to show how isolated and different Jonas feels after he receives his Assignment.
"Then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the nearest building and stay there. IMMEDIATELY, the rasping voice through the speakers had said. LEAVE YOUR BICYCLES WHERE THEY ARE." When did this happen? What is happening in this scene?
This happens at the beginning of the book when the pilot wrongly flew over the community.
What is Father's role in the Community?
Father is a Nurturer and takes care of new children.
What is the Ceremony of Replacement?
The Ceremony of Replacement is when a child of the community passes away unexpectedly. They are replaced by a new child and given to the family.
What are some of the Community's values? Give at least three.
Sameness, conformity, safety, honesty, work, family, order, stability, structure
"Jonas watched and cheered as Lily marched proudly to the stage, became an Eight and received the identifying jacket that she would wear this year, this one with smaller buttons and, for the first time, pockets, indicating that she was mature enough now to keep track of her own small belongings." When did this happen? What is happening in this scene?
This happened during Lily's Ceremony of Eight before the Ceremony of Twelve. Lily receives her emblem of being an Eight.
What did we find out about Jonas' sight? Give two examples from the book that we see this change happen.
Jonas is seeing color. It happens when the apple "changed" and when the audience at the Ceremony of Twelve "changed."
What is the Sharing of Feelings?
The Sharing of Feelings is a nightly ritual where each family member is required to share their emotions and the other members provide support and guidance.
What happens to Jonas at the Ceremony of Twelve?
Jonas is skipped by the Chief Elder and is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory.
"Jonas obeyed cheerfully. He closed his eyes, waiting, and felt the hands again; then he felt the warmth again, the sunshine again, coming from the sky of this other consciousness that was so new to him." When did this happen? What is happening in this scene?
This happened in the middle of the book after the Ceremony of Twelve. The Giver is transmitting memories to Jonas.
How does Asher treat Jonas after the Ceremony of Twelve? Why?
What is the Ceremony of Twelve?
The Ceremony of Twelve is an annual event where Twelves in the community are given their Assignment by the Chief Elder.
What is Sameness? List three things that Sameness got rid of.
Sameness is when the community made a decision to remove choice and variety in order to protect citizens from discomfort or danger. Snow, color, sunshine, the Stirrings, hills, sleds
"He pressed the button on a nearby empty tub and watched as the warm water flowed in through the many small openings on the sides. The tub would be filled in a minute and the water flow would stop automatically." When did this happen? What is happening in this scene?
This happened at towards the beginning of the book before the Ceremony of Twelve. Jonas was volunteering at the House of the Old.