CHARACTERS
This character is the protagonist of The Giver. He is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory.
Jonas
The story takes place in a controlled, oppressive community. Called a _________ society.
Dystopian
These are a symbol of societal control in the community. They get rid of any strong emotions.
Pills
This theme is explored through Jonas's development from a child who follows the rules to a young man who makes his own choices, discovering his unique talents, dreams, and desires.
Individuality / Coming of age
"This job has aged me. I know I look as if I should be scheduled for release very soon. But actually I have a good deal of time left."
The Giver
This character is Jonas's younger sister, who is still at the age of being assigned a role in the community.
Lily
What do the citizens of the community call the houses they live in?
"Dwellings"
This is a symbol of both Jonas's growth and his freedom to make choices, as he starts to see the world in a new way.
Color
In Jonas’s community, this concept is eliminated as the society takes away personal choices in favor of strict rules. (What do they take away?)
Freedom
“Yes, thank you, I do,” he replied slowly. It was his first lie to his parents.
Jonas
This character is the current Receiver of Memory who trains Jonas. He is older and has a beard.
The Giver
This location is where Jonas goes to receive memories from The Giver. It is an isolated place in the community where Jonas experiences both pain and pleasure through memory transmission.
The Annex / The Memory Room
This is a symbol of freedom & independence that you receive when you are a Nine.
Bicycle
This theme is emphasized by the community’s rigid rules, where citizens are expected to follow commands without question.
Rules / Control
"Lily, you’re very close to being an Eight, and when you’re an Eight, your comfort object will be taken away. It will be recycled to the younger children. You should be starting to go off to sleep without it."
Jonas' Mom
This character is Jonas's best friend and is chosen as a member of the group of Eleven, not as the Receiver of Memory.
Asher
What is the place called where new children live before they are assigned to a family unit as a One?
The Nurturing Center
These are a symbol of hope. Through them, Jonas learns real human emotions, giving him hope for a better life, for himself and his people.
Memories
Sometime in the past, Jonas's community decided to give up this theme in order to eliminate the pain and regret and bad feelings that came with them.
Memories
“I can’t swim very well. My swimming instructor said that I don’t have the right boyishness or something.”
Asher
This character is Jonas’s first love interest and is also the one who shares his feelings for him.
Fiona
What is the place that is considered beyond the borders of the controlled society, where freedom and choices exist outside the community's rules?
Elsewhere
This is a symbol for death in the community. If this happens to you, you can't come back.
The Release
Can you name three themes in The Giver?
- individuality
- sameness
- friendship / family
- control
- dystopian
- memory
- pain
"I know, I know. It hurts, little guy. But I have to use a vein, and the veins in your arms are still too teeny-weeny.”
Jonas' Dad