English Language Arts, Grade 6
The Giver, by Lois Lowry
Name _______________________________
Reading Guide
Summary: In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no
unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be
the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an
old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian
world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy.
Reading requirements:
You will be responsible for reading four chapters and turning in a reader’s
response each week.
Week 1:
11/16 – 11/20
Chapters 1-4 (also read during Thanksgiving break)
In class, we will read the first two chapters and discuss these questions:
 What aspects of life in the society are similar to your life? What aspects are
very different?
 What feelings have you observed in the different characters? How did the
character deal with the feeling?
 The novel is told from third person limited perspective, which means that we
see the story from Jonas’s point-of-view, but it is told from third person.
How does this choice affect the reader?
 What questions do you have about the Jonas’s society? Is there anything you
find confusing?
 What is your response to the novel so far?
Each week following, we will read a chapter in class and discuss the week’s
assignment. You will read the other chapters independently and do a reader’s
response. Each of the reader’s response assignments will be explained in class on
Monday of that week.
Reading:
 Week 2
11/30-12/04
Chapter 5-8
 Week 3
12/07-12/11
Chapters 9-12
 Week 4
12/14-12/18
Chapters 13-16
 Week 5
1/05-1/08
Chapters 17-23
You are welcome to read ahead if you wish, however you will be responsible for
reviewing the chapters during the week they are being discussed.
English Language Arts, Grade 6
Name _______________________________
Reading Response Assignments for The Giver
Setting (Due Thursday, 12/03):
Design and describe your own ideal utopian society. You must describe the
setting (time and place) of your utopia using descriptive details and sensory
imagery. For example, what would people see, hear, feel taste or smell if they were
there? Use evidence (specific reasons) to argue why your utopia is the best society.
Character (In class Friday, 12/04):
Pick a character from the book. What is this the biggest strength of this character?
What is his/her greatest weakness? Please use evidence from the book to support
your answers. Now pick at least one trait you think this character should have.
With this new trait, please pick a scenario from the book and explain how it would
have been resolved differently. Be specific.
Plot (In class, day to be announced):
Name at least two conflicts in the novel. Are they internal or external conflicts? Of
the conflicts you chose, what do you think is the main conflict and why? Describe
your answer using evidence from the book. You must use at least three examples
of evidence.
Theme (Due date to be announced):
A theme is a general truth or statement about life that is represented in a work of
literature. There are a few themes in The Giver. Pick one theme from the book and
“argue” about why it is the most important theme. (Remember: There is no right or
wrong answer; it is merely an opinion and your job is to defend your opinion.)
Your job is to write a minimum of two paragraphs:
1. The first paragraph(s) will answer this question: What is the most important
theme in The Giver? Please explain what that theme is and argue your point
using evidence from the story (textual details and examples from the book).
2. The next paragraph(s) should explain your argument about the theme using
examples from your own life experience.