Vocabulary
What does "undermine" mean?
Undermine (v): to damage or weaken
Who are Jonas's two best friends?
Asher and Fiona
What is one thing we take for granted in our society that Jonas's society does not have?
Color, different kinds of weather, different races and ethnicities, memories and history, books, SOOO many things!
What happened that caused Jonas and the Giver's plan to not happen?
Jonas found out Gabriel would be released.
What is the first memory Jonas receives from the Giver?
The memory of sledding down a hill in the snow.
Ritual (n): Something done in accordance with custom or protocol.
What is Jonas' father's job? What/who does he bring home from work?
He is a nurturer. He brings home Gabriel to receive extra nurturing from Jonas' family unit.
What happens during the Ceremony of Twelve?
The new twelve year olds receive their job assignments for the community.
What is the first thing that Jonas sees in color?
A red apple.
Does Jonas think his choice to leave the community was worth it? Why or why not?
He thinks the choice was worth it even though he and Gabe are struggling and starving by the end of the book. He says that "if he had stayed, he would have starved in other ways. He would have lived a life hungry for feelings, for color, for love" (218).
What does "rigid" mean?
Who is Rosemary? What happens to her, and why is this important to the story?
Giver's daughter who was chosen to be the new Receiver before Jonas. She chose to be released because she could not handle carrying the painful memories. The rest of the community then received the memories, and the Giver had to help them deal with it. (Important for many reasons!!)
What happens in Jonas's community if you break a rule? (Say what happens if you break a small rule vs a big rule)
Small rule: chastised, big rule: you may be released
On the unscheduled holiday, what upsets Jonas, and why?
He is upset about his friends playing a war game because he remembers the painful and traumatic memories of war the Giver sent to him. (Bonus: he realizes his friends will never understand this because they don't/can't feel emotion)
How does Jonas find out he has been selected to be the new receiver? Describe/give key details of the scene where he is selected.
Ceremony of 12, name is skipped over and saved for last, they describe that the training will be difficult, outline Jonas's qualities that led to his selection, discuss the importance of the role.
What does "tentative" mean?
Tentative (adj): Hesitant
Which characters have different eyes from everyone else? Why is this significant?
Jonas, Gabriel, the Giver. It shows they are different from others in a society that values sameness and shows that they are potential Givers/Receivers.
What do members of the family unit have to share with each other every day, and at what times?
They share their dreams in the morning and their feelings at dinnertime.
What does Jonas give to Gabriel in secret?
He secretly transfers memories to Gabriel.
How did Jonas and the Giver plan to change the society? What led to this decision?
Jonas was horrified when he found out what release really was, so they planned for Jonas to escape to "Elsewhere" so the memories would go back to the community and people would get all of the memories. The Giver would stay behind and help the community deal with the pain and joy of the world's memories.
What does "interdependence" mean?
At the beginning, he loves his society and thinks the rules are good for everyone. By the end, he has realized that a lack of love and memories and the society's conformity are not good and he wants to change it.
What rule comes with Jonas's assignment as receiver that bothers him the most and why?
The rule that he may lie makes him paranoid about how much of his life so far may have been a lie.
How do Jonas's parents react when he asks if they love him?
They tell him they are proud of him and enjoy him, but say the word/concept "love" is meaningless in society.
What is a possible theme of "The Giver?"
Lots of options! The importance of painful memories, the balance of safety and freedom, balance of conformity vs individuality, etc!!