Themes
This involves the trade-off of individuality for total safety and predictability.
What is Sameness?
This was the very first memory the Giver transmitted to Jonas.
What is a Sled ride through snow?
This term refers to the formal process where a citizen is escorted out of the community.
What is Release?
The lack of this experience prevents the community from understanding the value of life.
What is Suffering (or Pain/Death)?
The Giver’s favorite memory is centered around this specific emotion.
What is Love?
Jonas first realizes he is "seeing beyond" when he notices this object change color.
What is an Apple?
This natural phenomenon—which causes variety in weather—was eliminated to maintain "Sameness."
What is Climate Control?
These ceremonies are used by the community to avoid dealing with this emotion.
What is Grief (or Sadness)?
The Giver transmits this memory of an injury to help Jonas understand physical pain.
What is a Broken leg?
What happens if there is a twin born in the community?
the baby is "released".
The Giver’s statement that "Memories need to be shared" explores this theme.
What is Connection (or the Importance of Memory)?
This was the first memory of "color" that Jonas fully experienced.
What is Red?
This is the specific physical trait Jonas shares with the Giver and Gabriel.
What are Pale eyes?
This is the specific number of children allowed in each family unit.
What is Two?
The Giver explains that he and Jonas must hold the community's memories not just for the sake of the past, but so they can provide this specific service to the Committee of Elders when faced with new problems.
What is Wisdom?
The previous Receiver-in-training requested release after receiving these types of memories.
What are Emotional/Mental pain?
What does Jonas see at the beginning of the novel that frightens him?
An airplane flying overhead
What happens to a child if they accidentally die in this community? A) the parents of the child are released for being unfit B) the child's name will never be used again C) the child's name is given to another child born later
C) the child's name will be given to another child born later