Chapters 1-5
How is "release" viewed in the community?
∙ Release of the elderly was a celebration
∙ It was often a punishment
∙ If a citizen was released, it was a sign of failure
“But you can . . . If you don’t fit in, you can apply for Elsewhere and be released. My mother says that once, about ten years ago, someone applied and was gone the next day.”
Who says this and what does this tell us about the community?
Asher.
Most people like living in Community, people are afraid of the unknown
What can we infer about typical weather in the community?
No sunshine, yet no wintry weather. Just a hazy sky-- probably pleasant but without sun.
Jonas says about love:
“I do understand that it wouldn’t work very well. And that it’s much better to be organized the way we are now.”
What does the author want us to infer about Jonas’s perceptions?
that he’s been “brainwashed” or limited in his knowledge, so he doesn’t know that love should be a part of life. It was taken away.
“First thing tomorrow morning. We have to start our preparations for the Naming Ceremony, so we thought we’d get this taken care of right away.”
1. Who said this?
2. What situation is he describing?
1. his father
2. He’s describing plans for Gabriel’s release
“The fact that his father had broken a rule at all
awed him”
1. Which “rule” is the speaker referring to?
2. What do these words show us about Jonas?
1. He looked at the Naming List
2. He didn’t think his father would ever break a rule
in the community. He’s amazed and somewhat shocked.
What happens initially at the ceremony that is so shocking to Jonas that he feels he wants to disappear?
He is skipped.
How does Jonas’s talk with Fiona lead to an important
discovery? What does he discover?
Fiona’s hair color changes while Jonas is talking to her. He decides he will ask The Giver about it. He discovers that he is seeing the color red.
“The twins are being born tomorrow, and the test results show that they’re identical.”
1. Who says this?
2. How does Jonas show that he’s interested in this situation?
1. his father
2. He asks his father about the release. He wants to know if someone actually takes the child to Elsewhere.
Identify changes in the setting Jonas encounters:
∙ more streams
∙ forests are thicker
∙ Jonas rode in daylight
∙ saw a waterfall
∙ saw animals, birds. flowers
Who is Lily and what two traits we can name that describes her?
Lily is Jonas's sister. She is very talkative and she is inquisitive
What was the reason that Jonas was "skipped"?
He was "selected" to be the new reciever in training.
“They know nothing,” The Giver said bitterly.
Explain how these words impact Jonas
Jonas is shocked because he has always respected his teachers and believed they were experts. The Giver tells him that without the memories and knowledge of the past, their knowledge is meaningless and shallow.
“But everything changed, once she knew about pain. I could see it in her eyes.”
1. Who says this?
2. Who is he talking about?
1. The Giver
2. Rosemary, the failed previous Receiver in training
How do these changes impact Jonas?
He’s happy and filled with awe and wonder. He’s always had Sameness, so he loves the nature he’s discovering.
What is the House of the Old?
What are some characteristics?
It is a place where older people live.
It reminds us of a nursing home.
They have releases there, they have. bathing rooms but no private baths
8-12 year olds typically volunteer there.
Now that Jonas has been selected to be the "receiver" in training, what things are Jonas now restricted from doing?
∙ discussing training
∙ requesting medication (except if unrelated to training)
∙ applying for release
∙ dream telling
Personification
It was as if a hatchet lay lodged in his leg, slicing through each nerve with a hot blade. In his agony, he felt flames licking at the torn bone and flesh.
Describe two places where the author uses personification.
1. The hatchet is slicing through each nerve
2. The flames licking at the torn bone and flesh
Once again he saw the face of the light-haired bloodied soldier as life left his eyes. The memory came back.
Explain why the narrator tells us this. What are we supposed to understand?
We’re supposed to understand that Jonas now realizes the baby has died. His dying resembles the soldier’s death Jonas witnessed in his memory.
Name some conflicts we have discussed in The Giver
MAN VS MAN
MAN VS NATURE
MAN VS SOCIETY
MAN VS SELF
What are "the stirrings"?
What is done to treat it?
feelings of attraction / romance
pills get rid of the Stirrings
“He couldn’t imagine what the thousands of pages contained. Could there be rules beyond rules that governed the community? Could there be more descriptions of offices and factories and committees?”
What does the author expect us to infer from this passage?
The people in this community don’t know about stories, novels, children’s books, or books about other interesting topics like history travel, etc. Just rules.
The Giver looked up at him, his face contorted with suffering. “Please,” he gasped, “take some of the pain.”
What are some words we cans use to think of the author's tone? (THINK OF AT LEAST 2)
serious, harsh, desperate
“She’s very efficient at her work, your red-haired friend.”
1. Who is speaking?
2. Who is he speaking about?
1. The Giver
2. Fiona
What is the name of the type of story this is?
Dystopian literature, a dystopian society