Characters
The protagonist of the story who has the capacity to see beyond.
Who is Jonas?
The theme that relates to this quote: "If everything is the same, there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!"
What is individuality vs sameness?
The term for a lack of diversity in the Community. It is reason there is no difference in haircuts, housing, wealth, or weather in the Community.
What is "sameness?"
When Jonas discovers he has been selected as the Receiver of Memory.
What is the Ceremony of Twelves?
The name for the location where the story takes place.
What is the Community?
A young child who once stated she wanted to be a Birthmother, also Jonas' younger sister.
Who is Lily?
The theme that relates to this quote: "Once he had yearned for choice. Then when he had a choice, he had made the wrong one: the choice to leave. And now he was starving... If he had stayed, he would have starved in other ways."
What is safety vs freedom?
A place where the worst aspects of reality are exaggerated to serve as a warning. It often is a criticism of real-world political or social trends.
What is a "dystopia?"
What is his father killing an identical twin newborn?
The term for how the Community manipulates the weather.
What is Climate Control?
Jonas' friend whose assignment was the Assistant Director of Recreation.
Who is Asher?
The struggle between equality in the community and the inability to make personal choices.
The moral lesson, message, or underlying meaning that a writer explores in their work.
What is "theme?"
Jonas most traumatic memory.
What is the memory of War?
The aspect of setting that relates to the speaker calling out transgressions.
What is "rules of society?"
The previous Receiver, considered a failure, her name was designated Not-To-Be-Spoken.
Who is Rosemary?
The idea that it is better for no one to starve, for no crime to occur, and everyone to be under constant surveillance than for people to have options or feelings.
What is safety vs freedom?
When something is old, outdated, and therefore no longer needed. This term is used in the book to describe both snow and love.
What is "obsolete?"
The discovery that makes Jonas decide to leave the Community the very same night.
What is Gabriel getting scheduled for release?
The aspect of setting that relates to this quote from chapter 3: "No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule, but was considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals."
What is "cultural beliefs?"
An Old who Jonas bathed during his volunteer hours. In chapter 14, Jonas mentions his friend told him this Old had been released.
Who is Larissa?
The idea that you must know painful experiences in order to avoid them, and that being able to recall both positive and negative experiences is necessary for experiencing a vibrant life.
What is "memory?"
A series of actions or ceremonies that are always performed in the same way.
What are "rituals?"
The Giver's favorite memory.
What is a loving family at Christmas?
The four aspects of setting.
What are physical location, time period, rules of society, and cultural beliefs?