The Giver

 Socially – everyone is the same/equal or has a very specific role/job
 Politically – the government cares about its citizens; laws that benefit ALL
 Morally – everyone knows and does the right thing
 Money is not necessary – everyone gets what they need
 Could there ever be a perfect world?
 What inhibits us from living in a perfect society? Make a list.

How would you like it if the government was able to tell
you exactly how to feel, how to behave, what
language/words to use, and what future you will have?
How would you feel if your every behavior and activity
was known publicly and if privacy did not exist (imagine
cameras pretty much everywhere)?
How would you feel if everyone was supposed to be “the
same” – clothing, haircut, “stuff” (technology, houses, food,
etc)?

 Imaginary worlds, people and technology. Sometimes the technology does not exist
yet or is not fully explained.
 Even though the societies and settings in science fiction seem to be totally
different from ours, the author wants us to compare our society to their and look
for similarities.
 Often, the idea is for us to imagine what would happen if our society was like the
society in the novel and how that would make us feel.
 The author also wants to be able to discuss touchy or heavily debated topics
without directly relating it our society so people are more open to thinking about
it.

 An ideal community would not have hunger or starvation.
 An ideal community would not have hunger or competition.
 An ideal community would not have any unemployment.
 All children should have equal possessions and privileges at a certain age, regardless of the status
of their families.
 Families are much closer when they share feelings and memories with each other.
 Life would be better and easier if we did not carry bad memories in our heads.
 Overpopulation is such a problem that families should not be allowed to have more than two
children.
 There is no real need to learn about world history.
 There is no real need to learn about one’ own family history.
 One’ job or occupation in life should be a careful match to one’s interests, talents, and skills.

Answer the following WHAT IF situations in
your notebook…
No one had to go to school?
You could have an iPod in your brain?
Your computer could read your thoughts?
No one had to pay taxes?
Everyone had plastic surgery?
Babies were scientifically created?

 Usually starts out as a utopia, but goes too far
 The government is always watching and judging – all private
and public behavior is regulated
 You cannot do what you want, but what it is necessary to do
(told your role and job)
 No personal freedom or choice – everyone has the same
options and lives
 Fear of punishment
 People are not really humans, but seems closer to machines,
without their own thoughts or feelings (since they are told
what to wear, think, feel, do)

There is a thin line between utopia and dystopia as we will study
in Lois Lowry’s, The Giver.
In this “perfect” world, citizens are restricted on clothing, jobs,
spouse and children, therefore leaving personal choice out of
the question.
Is there a price to pay in a seemingly perfect world?
What would you be willing to give up to have your world
be perfect?

The community if the novel is isolated and appears like a
utopia, without pain or illness or color.
Each individual has a designated place and role in society.
Many of the unique traits and rituals that set people apart
in other societies have been eliminated.

Chapters 2-4 are read in Book Club groups (no more than
4 people).
Each section of chapters will have a packet to fill out for
each person in the group. Lets look at the packet.
You will be graded on
 the reading (staying on topic) (40%)
 Discussion of group questions and the events of the novel (25%)
 Packet filled out per 4 chapters (35%)

Prediction: Made AFTER chapter 4
Questions:
 1. from chapter 2
Connections:
Vocab: Any chapters
Quotable Moments: Write down two sections of text that seem important or interesting to you,
write down the page, and explain why it is important to the story: do you learn anything new
about character or community?
Picture/Figurative Language and Inferences: Can be from any chapters between 2-4

Why do you think there are no animals in the
Community? How did this happen? Imagine your
own world without animals. How would life be
different? Write at least 1-2 paragraphs.

 Early in the novel, we learn that the citizens of Jonas’s world are taught to use
precise language.
 They believe that by being accurate, they will avoid any misconceptions that can
cause pain or hurt feelings.
 Not only are rules and apologies recited in unison at school, but students carefully
choose adjectives to describe certain situations or what they are thinking or
feeling.
 This makes the use of euphemism an important tool in Jonas’s world.

 A euphemism is a word or term that has mild or vague connotations and that
serves to mask the offensiveness or harshness of the actual word or term.
 It’s a word that replaces a meaner word.
 Example: A used car being called “certified pre-owned” or a dead person is often
described as “having passed,” “moved to a better place,” “going to heaven” etc.
 What euphemism are used in society today?

No music
No change of season or traditional holidays
No expression of emotion
No memories, either positive or negative

 What are some problems you see in today’s society? (violence, hunger, war,
homelessness) Write a description of what you think is the worst element of our
society.
 Imagine you are hired to create “the perfect society.” How would your society solve
some of the problems you mentioned above? What rules would you have? What
types of families, individuals, communities, schools, etc would you have?
DESCRIBE your society in at least 1 large paragraph.

 The idea that the human race can be improved by controlling who can reproduce
(because of the traits they have are seen as beneficial or desirable in the society)
 During the Holocaust, Hitler wanted Nazi scientists to explore this idea so he
could create a perfect society
 People with “favorable” traits are allowed to have kids.
 People with “unfavorable” traits are prohibited from having kids.

 The novel encourages readers to celebrate the differences between people instead
of pretending or wanting everyone to be the same.

We will consider the following questions during our study
of The Giver.
 What are the characteristics of a community?
 How do members of the community affect one another?
 Is belonging to a community a good thing?
 Should the government restrict personal freedoms for the good of
the community?
Record these in the first page of your journal.

“Most of the people on the night crew had not even
been given spouses because they lacked, somehow,
the essential capacity to connect to others, which
was required for the creation of a family unit.”
What does this tell us about the society?

But her father had already gone
to the shelf and taken down the
stuffed elephant which was kept
there. Many of the comfort
objects, like Lily’s were soft,
stuffed, imaginary creatures.
Jonas’s had been called a bear.
What does this quote
reveal?
“’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 sleep
without it.” (18)
What does this teach us
about the community? Why
is it important?

 Part of the book explores what it would be like to live without feelings – the
author uses color (or the lack of it) to demonstrate the lack of feelings in society
 Colors are often associated with emotions and symbolize feelings. What emotion
do the colors below symbolize”
 Red
 Yellow
 Green
 Blue
 Pink
 Purple
 Without them it may be more difficult to have full experiences or express
ourselves.

Lots of packets and reading logs were not turned
in. Make sure I get them today.
Book Talks and Reports this week
1st:,Faustino, Ella, Amy, Keiline, Stephanie, Grace,
Sarah
2nd: Monica
4th: Max, Isaiah, JC, Jenna

Memory: At some point in the past, the community in The
Giver decided to eliminate all pain from their lives, so they
had to give up the memories of both individuals and the
collective group. Not only did this allow them to forget all
of the pain that had been suffered throughout human
history, it also prevented members of the society from
wanting to engage in activities and relationships that
could result in conflict, suffering, and eliminated any
nostalgia for the things the community gave up in order to
live in total peace and harmony.

 There can be no pleasure without pain and no pain without
pleasure. No matter how delightful an experience is, you cannot
value the pleasure it gives you unless you have some memory of a
time when you have suffered. The members of Jonas’s community
cannot appreciate the joys in their lives because they have never felt
pain: their lives are totally monotonous (always the same, day to
day), devoid of any emotional variation (they are always feeling the
same – just fine). They do not feel pain or grief because they do not
appreciate the true purpose of life: death is not tragic to them
because life is not precious and they have no emotional connection to
others.

In events, write down the ages of the Ceremonies
and explain what each age received as a gift
Don’t use 12, we know they get jobs
Don’t use 1, we know they get Names and families

 After reading chapter 6-8, fill out the boxes for characters, 3 main events,
and theme
 Write a question you have after Chapter 6, after Chapter 7 and after
Chapter 8
 Answer connection after Chapter 6, a connection for Chapter 7 and 8
 Check the other sides of the sheet to see if you found any of the other
categories – draw a picture, fig lang, inference
 Important passage or quotes HINT: Connect it to one of the main events
from the story. Usually those teach you important information about a
character or the community. So find the section that talks about the event,
write down the page and the part, word for word, then explain why it is
important.

 Explain Elsewhere – Who goes there? Why? Where is it?
 Why do the jackets of 4-6 year olds button on the back? What does it
teach them?
 What does the jacket that buttons up front symbolize? How about
pockets? Or a bike?
 How do you feel about the Replacement Caleb? Or the newchild
named Roberto right after Roberto got Released? What does this
show about the community?

In the Utopian society Lowry has created,
people--
don't want to be burdened with memories.
don't want to make decisions or changes which, in the past,
have led to disaster so they have assigned one person to
keep all the memories of history, their own and that of all
societies.

 How do you feel about the aging
ceremony? Would you like a job
assigned to you in that manner?
Explain
 Are you comfortable with the idea of
children being given to parents?
 Do you think that the society has a
good way of keeping everyone equal?
Discuss what you think about
Sameness.
 What happens to the kids at the age
of 8, 9, and12? Why?

 What do you think about not choosing
your spouse?
 How do you feel about not having
control over what children you have?
 Do you think the plans they have in
their community would work for our
world today? Explain.

What do Jonas and baby Gabriel have in
common? What do you think this will mean?
Would you want the job of a birthmother? Why
is Jonas’s mother disappointed in Lily for
wanting to be one?
What did Jonas take from the rec center, and
why?
Predictions on what this means…?

What did Jonas do at the House of Old? How
did he feel about this job? How would YOU feel
about this job?
What was the celebration for at the House of
Old? What was it like?
Did this celebration change how you feel about
“release?”
How is the treatment of elderly people similar
or different from the way we treat them?

What is the morning ritual for Jonas’s family?
What was Jonas’s dream, and what do you
think it meant?
What was his mother’s explanation for this
dream?
What is the treatment for the stirrings?
How did Jonas feel about the stirrings?

“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.” -Asher
What do we know about the decision-making
processes in this society?
Why do you think this situation was different?

 What are you initial impressions of Jonas? List some of his character traits and
give an example of a situation when he shows that trait.
 How is Jonas like or unlike Lily? His father and mother? Asher?
 Why was it “considered rude to call attention to thins that were unsettling or
different about individuals”?
 Why do you think mirrors were “rare”?
 What were “Stirrings”? Why was it necessary for Jonas to take a pill as soon as
you experienced them?
 To what extent are people all the same in this society? To what extent are they
equal?
 What are some problems you see in Jonas’s society?

 How would you feel if you were in Jonas’s shoes?
 Would you be willing to take on the great
responsibility that is asked of him? Why or why
not? Explain.
 Do you feel the same way Jonas does about asking
liars if they lie?
 Would you take advantage of the new rules/right
that he was given?
 Do you have any predictions of what you think
might happen in the next few chapters? Support
your prediction.

1. Go immediately at the end of school hours each day to the Annex entrance behind
the House of the Old and present yourself to the attendant.
2. Go immediately to your dwelling at the conclusion of Training Hours each day. He
cannot be part of the group of kids – even when he tries he can’t fit in. He has
learned too much and they will never understand him.
3. From this moment you are exempted from rules governing rudeness. You may ask
any question of any citizen and you will receive answers.
4. Do not discuss your training with any other member of the community, including
parents or elders. He is not allowed to share his training.
5. From the moment you are prohibited from dream-telling.
6. Except for illness or injury unrelated to your training, do not apply for any
medications. Has to experience pain.
7. You are not permitted to apply for release.
8. You may lie.

-Some philosophers think that all people are generally selfish and that our natural state is
that of war
-Others, believe that the greatest happiness for greatest number
World War II, Japanese in America were forced into camps and monitored.
Terrorist attacks of 911; how have they changed our country?
• We all personally work towards our own happiness and help the happiness of the population
by following laws, changes, donating, and reaching out…
 WARM UP – 1/5/2016
 How much (of your freedoms and such) would you give up in order to keep
your community, country, or those you love safe? In other words, how much
are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good?

 No love.
 No colors.
 No true concept of family
 No music
 No excitement or true joy
 No “family”
 No “choice”
 No progress
 No change
 No passion
 You essentially live a lie
“The life without
color pain or past”
“Listen to me
Jonas. They can’t
help it. They know
nothing.”

Notebook Check on Thursday January 22
Benchmark 2 on Monday January 25
Book Talks
 Period 1: Ashlyn (today), Makayla, Danielle, Nick W., Zion, Anita,
Larissa (Friday)
 Period 2: Candice (Thursday after school)
 Period 3: Manny, Trey, Roxana, Sterling

 After reading chapter 10-12, fill out the boxes for characters, 3 main events, and
theme
 Write a question you have after Chapter 10, after Chapter 11 and after Chapter 12
 Check the other sides of the sheet to see if you found any of the other categories –
draw a picture, fig lang, inference
 Important passage or quotes HINT: Connect it to one of the main events from the
story. Usually those teach you important information about a character or the
community. So find the section that talks about the event, write down the page
and the part, word for word, then explain why it is important.

Describe something you
are seeing for the very
first time (this could be
real or imagined). Use
your five senses to
describe how it looks,
sounds, feels, smells,
tastes.

 Why does everyone have the same birthday? Why does everyone have a number?
How does this make people feel?
 Are the Assignments fair? Why or why not? Do you think all the Assignments are
equal or respected? Why or why not?
 The Chief Elder says, “Today we honor your differences. They have determined
your futures.” Does the society value differences or sameness? List 3 clues that
help you decide.
 Why do you think Jonas was chosen as the Receiver of Memory? What qualities
does the Chief Elder describe as being necessary to this position? Does Jonas have
these qualities? List how we know.
 Who would be the equal of a Receiver of Memory in our society?

 How do you feel about the idea of
Sameness? What do you think about
the idea of genetic scientists making
everyone look almost the same?
 Do you think it could work in our world
today? Explain.
 How do you think you would react to
seeing color for the first time?
 How do you think you would feel if you
didn’t know what snow was and was
introduced to it?

“There was a time… when flesh was many different colors. That was
before we went to Sameness.”
“We’ve never completely mastered
Sameness. I suppose the genetic scientists
are still hard at work trying to work the
kinks out.”
“Our people made that choice, the choice to go to
sameness…We relinquished color when we
relinquished sunshine and did away with
differences… We gained control of many things. But
we had to let go of others.”

In chapter 11, we are
introduced to the concept of
Sameness. What does it mean
in the novel? What has been
made Same and for what
reasons? (Hint: Climate
Control and Environment
Leveling)
Do you think Sameness is a
good thing or a bad thing?
Explain your opinion.

 After reading chapter 14-16, fill out the boxes for characters, 3 main events, and
theme
 Write a question you have after Chapter 14, after Chapter 15 and after Chapter
16
 Check the other sides of the sheet to see if you found any of the other categories –
draw a picture, fig lang, inference
 Important passage or quotes HINT: Connect it to one of the main events from the
story. Usually those teach you important information about a character or the
community. So find the section that talks about the event, write down the page
and the part, word for word, then explain why it is important.

How do you think society was convinced to give up
colors and differences? What are the benefits of not
having differences?
Imagine you live in this society, and you’ve been
assigned to advertise Sameness BEFORE it is put into
place.
In your lit circle groups, you will create a persuasive
poster that might have been seen hanging around
the community. You are supposed to advertise how

Step One: In your groups, make a table
based off of what you know from the book.
Step Two: Create your poster.
Consider using slogans, strong images,
and logical reasoning from your chart and
the book.
Pros of Sameness Cons of Sameness

Then, explain in one paragraph:
What is symbolism? What one idea do you
think red will symbolize in this book?
Support your prediction with an example
from the text. Why does Jonas see red
first?
Red
What could the color red symbolize? List
your ideas by creating a diagram like the one
below. Give at least three ideas, but feel free
to list more.

 Page 1: Match the symbol with the thing/idea it stands for, and explain why.
 Page 2: For every emotion or idea, find an image that represents it to you. Tell us
why in the “My Experience” box. And how it can apply to everyone in the
“Generalization” box.
 Page 3: Read the symbolism explanation for the apple. Then explain what the hair
ribbons symbolize in the novel. You don’t need specific pages – you can summarize.
You also need to explain why the ribbons symbolize what you say it does in the
last box.
 Page 4: Choose another item/thing that symbolizes something in the novel and
explain using the steps above. Part B: create an image that symbolizes you and
explain it.

 Did you find yourself sharing the same
frustrations as Jonas?
 How would you have reacted to sharing a
memory with Gabe?
 Do you think you would have been able to
handle the pain of war?
 Do you agree that it is safer not to make your
own decision but have things decided for you
(since the authorities claim to know best)?
 Do you feel that Jonas will be able to continue
his training to become the Receiver?
 Do you have any thoughts about how they deal
with twins in the community?

 How do our individual and collective memories (the history of a group or country)
shape who we are today and influence our future(s)? What would our lives be like
without memories or history?
 Where do individuals keep memories? Where do groups keep their memories?
Make a chart.
 How are memories passed from generation to generation?
 In our world, who decides whose memories are worth saving, telling, or teaching?
 What can we learn from our own memories? From those of others?
 Which of our memories are cherished? Why are others more difficult or troubling?

 Imagine you are asked to share a memory with Jonas (who has no memories). It
could be a memory that is personally significant or a “societal” memory.
 Describe the memory in detail.
 What do you think the memory would teach Jonas? How would he learn that lesson? Be
specific.
 How would the memory make him feel? Why? (Your partner, who acts as Jonas, can
answer this).
 Have you ever talked to someone who remembers the same event as you and compared
details? Are the memories always the same between two people? Do different people
remember different details? Why do you think this is? Explain in a couple of sentences.

 What happens when the Giver transmits a memory? Why do you think this is?
 Why have memories been eliminated for everyone else? Write a couple of
sentences. Why is dangerous about memory (or remembering certain events)?
How can the past be damaging?
 The Giver says, “Without the memories it’s all meaningless.” What do you think
he means? What is he suggesting about his own society?
 Why does the Giver say that to have memories is a “burden”?
 Why do you think Jonas must experience the memories rather than just hear
about them?
 What is missing in Jonas’s society? Why do you think those things were
eliminated?
 What are the pleasurable things Jonas experiences? How do they each make him
feel?
 Why does the Giver transmit pain? How does it make Jonas feel?

 Poet Lord Tennyson wrote, “ It is better to have loved and lost than never to have
loved at all.” What do you think he meant? Would the Giver agree with these
words? Why or why not? Do you agree? Why or why not?
 Why has color been eliminated in this society? How has the absence of colored
helped? How has it harmed?
 What would happen if color did not exist in our society? What would be different?
How would we benefit? What would we miss?
 Jonas says, “It isn’t fair that nothing has color!” How does the presence of color
create choice?
 Is Samness the same as the absence of difference?

 Can you imagine not knowing what
love and grandparents were? Explain
your feelings.
 What do you think Jonas means when
he says that love is dangerous?
Explain.
 How do you feel about Jonas’s parents
telling him that love is meaningless?
 Do you agree or disagree with that
statement? Support your opinion.

 What do you think about Jonas
becoming able to lie? How does he grow
as an individual? Give examples.
 How would you react to feeling lonely?
Give examples.
 How do you feel about Rosemary’s
incident? Explain your feelings in
relationship to the details of the story.
Tell me what about her story makes you
feel a certain way?
 “Memories are forever”. In a couple
sentences, explain what this statement
means to you? Relate to your life.

 Family and Relationships (Parental) -- In The Giver, each family has two parents,
a son, and a daughter. The relationships are not biological, but are developed
through observation and a careful handling of personality. In our own society, the
make up of family is under discussion. How are families defined? Are families the
foundations of a society, or are they continually open for new definitions?

 Diversity -- The Giver pictures a community in which every person and his or her
experience is precisely the same. The climate is controlled, and competition has
been eliminated in favour of a community in which everyone works only for the
common good. What advantages might "Sameness" yield for contemporary
communities? In what ways do our differences make us distinctly human? Is the
loss of diversity worthwhile?

 Euthanasia -- Underneath the placid calm of Jonas' society lies a very orderly and
inexorable system of euthanasia, practiced on the very young who do not conform,
the elderly, and those whose errors threaten the stability of the community. What
are the disadvantages and benefits to a community that accepts such a vision of
euthanasia?

 Feelings -- Jonas remarks that loving another person must have been a dangerous
way to live. Describe the relationship between Jonas and his family, his friends
Asher and Fiona, and the Giver. Are any of these relationships dangerous?
Perhaps the most dangerous is that between Jonas and the Giver--the one
relationship built on love. Why is that relationship dangerous and what does the
danger suggest about the nature of love?

What do you think is Gabriel’s purpose in the
story?
Can he symbolize anything?
GABRIE
L

REAL-LIFE
CONNECTION:
China has a population of over 1.3 billion.
As a result, a one-child policy was put into place in
1979.
The policy has since eased up.

REAL-LIFE
CONNECTION:
South Korean pastor Lee
Jong-rak has set up a
public box in which
mothers can abandon their
newborns.
See the documentary trailer.

 What were your reactions to finding
out what the Release Ceremony really
was? Be specific. Explain your
feelings.
 Is it sage to day that this was the
breaking point for Jonas? Explain.
 How did you feel about finding out
that Rosemary was the Giver’s
daughter?
 Do you think that everyone in the
community should be able to share
the memories of the past that Jonas is
aware of? Explain the pros and cons.

Authors choose the names of their characters very
carefully. Why might Lois Lowry have given her
protagonist a name so similar to Jonah, a Biblical
prophet?
JONAH
Prophet (n): a person who
serves as an inspired
teacher or proclaimer of
the will of God

What is the story of
the Garden of
Eden?
What does the
apple symbolize?

A Christ-like figure makes sacrifices
for the good of others.
WHO IS A
FIGURE IN THE BOOK?
Christ-like

 List the ways in which our society controls individual behavior. What controls do
you find necessary or useful? What controls are unfair or abusive?
 What are the benefits and costs of living in Jonas’s society? List.
 What is the only memory the Giver has kept for himself? Why do you think he has
saved this memory?
 What does Jonas learn from the memory of war? How about the memory of the
family? Why are these memories kept away from the society? How are they
dangerous?
 Why doesn’t Jonas take his pill?
 Why can’t Jonas join in with his friends’ game?
 Philosopher Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is pain.” Do you agree? Would Jonas?
Why or why not? Give examples.

 “Life he sis so orderly, so predictable – so painless”
 “We really have to protect people from wrong choices.”
 Do you agree or disagree with these statements? Give support details and
explanations for your opinions – maybe some specific situations.
A just society is one in which everyone is the same. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

 What were your thoughts about the ending? Do you
think he made it?
 How would you have dealt with the cold?
 Would you recommend this book to other people in
your grade? Why or why not? Be specific and write a
paragraph review using specific examples from the
novel (author’s mood or tone, theme, character
development, action, etc).

 What did Jonas give up to have freedom? What did he gain?
 What did freedom mean for Jonas? What did it mean for Gabriel?
 What can our own memories and those of our society teach us about the value of
memory? The value of freedom?
 Is chaos or pain sometimes necessary? Can we have good without knowing evil?
Explain your opinion and support it with examples or details.

The Giver

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