The Giver
Students will understand how censorship affects the lives of
people within ‘The Giver’
Look at the images
 What do they have in common?
Censoring
Definition:
to examine in order to suppress or
delete anything considered
inappropriate.
Synonyms:
Use the word in a sentence:
Image:
Antonyms:
Censor
Definition:
to examine in order to suppress or
delete anything considered
inappropriate.
Synonyms:
delete, remove, withhold, edit
Use the word in a sentence:
Image:
The parent censored traumatic material
by not letting the child watch a film.
Antonyms:
Allow, approve, encourage, permit
Censorship
 Censorship is the prevention of speech or other public
communication which may be considered objectionable,
harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient as determined by a
government, media outlet, or other controlling body.
Censorship in ‘The Giver’
 What have we read so far that connects to this idea of
censorship?
Censorship in ‘The Giver’
Examples of censorship in ‘The Giver’
The Giver’s house has many books:
information
The Giver’s door was locked, but doors aren’t
normally locked in the community: everyone
is open
Furniture is different - more elegant and
stylish
The Giver can turn the speaker off, the rest
of the community must have it on all the
time to receive information and to be listened
too
Memories that the Giver has that the rest of
the community doesn’t have access too
Reasons for this censorship
TEEL Paragraph
 The use of censorship in ‘The Giver’ has made a better
community.
 You need to write two TEEL paragraphs.
 One agreeing with the topic
 One disagreeing with the topic
The use of censorship in ‘The Giver’
has made a better community.
Yes the Elders did make a better
community because…
No, the Elders did not make a better
community because…
Quotes

"Simply stated, although it's not really simple at all, my job is to transmit to you all the
memories I have within me. Memories of the past." Ch 10

“He had never known other books existed.” Ch 10

" Now he became aware of an entirely new sensation: pinpricks? No, because they were
soft and without pain…He put out his tongue again, and caught one of the dots of cold
upon it. It disappeared from his awareness instantly; but he caught another, and another.
The sensation made him smile."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 11

"He was free to enjoy the breathless glee that overwhelmed him: the speed, the clear cold
air, the total silence, the feeling of balance and excitement and peace."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 11

"Our people made that choice, the choice to go to Sameness. Before my time, before the
previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished
sunshine and did away with difference. We gained control of many things. But we had to
let go of others."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 12

Or – even better find your own original example!
The use of censorship in ‘The Giver’
has made a better community.
Yes the Elders did make a better
community because…
No, the Elders did not make a better
community because…
No pain – physical or mental – heartbreak,
grief
No war
No worries about what colour clothing you
wear
Safe because there are no vehicles etc.
Things are controlled and run smoothly,
everyone has a job to do and they know
what they should be doing.
Everything is predictable
There are no secrets so there is no conflict
No Unemployment
No violence
No hunger or greed
Relationships aren’t complicated - jealousy
Jonas feels better after having the memories
– more complete
They have no individuality: no choice of
style (music) responsibility (pet)
They have no memories or knowledge of
the past so it limits their understanding of
how they live now – they don’t know what
they are missing out on
No colours: no diversity or race/culture
No understanding of difference
No one can go on an adventure