The Giver Reading Guide
Part One: Character Chart
Copy the name of each character into your composition book, or if you prefer, you may do this on the
computer. For each character, record the page number on which they first appear, list three adjectives to
describe them, and copy a quote from the book that best represents who they are and what they are like.
Character’s
Name
Introduced
on page #
3 Adjectives to Describe the
Character
Representative Quote
Page # of
Quote
List of Characters: Jonas, Mother, Father, Lily, Gabriel (Gabe), The Giver, Asher, Fiona, Larissa, Chief Elder
Part Two: Vocabulary
Copy each word below into your composition book, or if you prefer, you may do this on the computer. Find
the words in the book and copy down the sentence. Look up the word and write the definition. Then,
either draw a picture to help you remember the definition, or create your own sentence using the word.
Word and Page #
Sentence from the Book
Definition
Picture or Sentence
Vocabulary Words:
Chapter 1:
intrigued
obediently
ironic
abandoned
palpable
distraught
apprehensive
transgression
ritual
impatient
nurturer
Chapter 2:
adherence
envy
elder
Chapter 3:
chastise
petulantly
droning
humiliation
nondescript
mystified
Chapter 4:
chortled
Chapter 5:
infraction
insight
Chapter 6:
interdependence
independence
indulgently
relinquish
exuberant
congregated
buoyancy
meticulously
Chapter 7:
exasperated
prestige
acquisition
Chapter 8:
crescendo
integrity
Chapter 9:
relish
excruciating
steeled
Chapter 10:
exhilarating
Chapter 11:
frigid
torrent
tentatively
transmitting
basking
wincing
Chapter 12:
abuzz
admonition
Chapter 13:
hueless
anguished
consciousness
Chapter 14:
perceived
invigorating
skittered
unendurable
Chapter 15:
parched
carnage
Chapter 16:
ecstatic
pervaded
luxuriating
risk
obsolete
Chapter 17:
exempted
permeated
glimpse
solitude
Chapter 18:
ruefully
wretched
faltered
imploringly
Chapter 19:
syringe
dejected
hearth
expertise
Chapter 20:
mimicked
sarcastic
empowered
augmented
obscured
Chapter 21:
stealthily
emphatically
hypnotically
vigilant
perils
frazzled
Chapter 22:
instinctively
solace
loomed
languid
Chapter 23:
Obscured
Imperceptibly
lethargy
The Giver Questions
Directions: As you read the novel, answer these questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES in your Composition Book.
Chapter 1
1. What is the point of view of the novel?
2. From whose point of view is it told?
3. What is Jonas "apprehensive" or worried about in the beginning of the novel?
4. Explain the nightly ritual that Jonas's family has each evening.
5. How old is Jonas?
6. How old is Lily?
7. What is Jonas's father's job?
8. Which two occasions of release are NOT a form of punishment?
9. How is marriage and family life in Jonas's community different from ours? Create a t-chart to contrast the two.
10. Why do you think it is against the rules in Jonas's community to keep feelings hidden?
11. List 3 things about Jonas's community that are really odd or disturbing to you.
Chapter 2
12. What is the Ceremony of One?
13. What rule does Jonas's father break?
14. Who is Gabe?
15. What important milestone occurs for Nines?
16. Who is the most important Elder? What is his job?
17. How are careers chosen in this community?
18. Make a t-chart listing 3 pros and 3 cons of this practice (#17).
Chapter 3
19. What physical feature do Jonas and Gabriel have in common?
20. Why are there no mirrors in the community?
21. Why is Mother so upset when Lily suggests that she wants to be a birthmother when she grows up?
22. Why does Jonas take the apple from the Recreation Center?
Chapter 4
23. Explain the purpose of volunteer hours.
24. Who is Larissa?
Chapter 5
25. Explain the "Morning Ritual". What is its purpose?
26. Why does Jonas now have to take the pill?
Chapters 6 & 7
27. What is "interdependence”? How is it taught in Jonas's community?
28. Why is Gabe not at the naming ceremony?
29. What is Elsewhere?
Chapter 8
30. What is Jonas's Assignment? Why is he nervous or apprehensive about this?
31. Why is this Assignment considered such an "honor"?
32. What do Jonas and The Receiver have in common?
33. List the "requirements" or "qualities" that The Receiver must have.
34. EXPLAIN how "Sameness" in the community helps create unity and order.
Chapter 9
35. How has Jonas's relationship with Asher changed since his Assignment as the Receiver of Memory? Why?
36. What is Asher’s Assignment? Why was this a good choice for him?
37. List and explain three reasons why Jonas feels apprehensive about his Assignment.
38. List the eight items on Jonas's List of Rules in his Assignment Folder.
39. Which one of these bothers Jonas the most? Why?
Chapter 10
40. What is different about the furnishings in The Receiver's Annex?
41. What item(s) does Jonas notice immediately in the room that he does not have in his own dwelling?
42. What physical features do Jonas and The Receiver have in common? What might this mean?
43. What is The Receiver's job?
44. What is the first memory that The Receiver gives to Jonas?
Chapter 11
45. Define "Sameness". What did this community give up or lose to achieve sameness?
46. What is the second memory that Jonas receives?
47. What experience does The Receiver give to Jonas to illustrate pain?
48. What will Jonas now call The Receiver? Why?
Chapter 12
49. When Fiona's hair "changes" for Jonas, The Giver knows that Jonas can now see what? What other evidence has there been that
Jonas can see this?
50. Why did the society go to "Sameness", giving up color and individual differences?
Chapter 13
51. How has seeing color changed Jonas?
52. Why does The Giver give Jonas the memory of the elephant?
53. What happened to memories when the previous Receiver failed?
Chapter 14
54. What is different about Jonas's experience on the sled in this session with the Giver?
55. How does this affect Jonas?
56. Explain how The Giver helped the Elders decide on the rule of two children per family.
57. What does Jonas do to help Gabriel sleep through the night?
Chapter 15
58. How does Jonas help The Giver in this chapter?
Chapter 16
59. List 3 new, pleasant memories that Jonas receives.
60. What is the Giver's favorite memory?
61. What did Jonas learn from this?
62. According to Jonas, because of ____________, the family in the Giver's favorite memory seems more _________.
63. Explain Jonas's parents' reaction when he asks if they love him.
64. What is Jonas's first lie to his parents?
Chapter 17
65. What happens to ruin Jonas's holiday?
66. What realization does he come to about his family's "telling of feelings"?
67. What happens when twins are born in this community?
Chapter 18
68. What was the name of the previous Receiver-in-Training?
69. Why did she apply for release?
70. What happens to memories of a Receiver who quits or is released?
Chapter 19
71. What does Jonas learn about "release"?
72. How does he learn this? What is his reaction?
Chapter 20
73. What is the Giver and Jonas's plan? What do they hope to accomplish?
74. Jonas's "gift" as a Receiver began with is "capacity to see beyond" or glimpses of color. With what did the Giver's gift begin?
75. Explain 2 reasons why the Giver wants to stay in the community.
Chapters 21, 22, and 23
76. What happens to alter or mess up their plans?
77. Jonas says in Chapter 21 that if he had stayed, "he would have starved in other ways" besides physically being hungry. Explain.
78. Explain the symbolism of the snow and Jonas's abandonment of the bicycle.
79. Explain the ending of the story. Is Jonas safe and alive?