The Giver Journal Prompts
While you are reading The Giver, you will be asked to complete journal entries. The entries will require you to provide
quotes from the text as evidence as well as thoughtful responses to the question that is posed for each chapter. You are
responsible for having the appropriate entries completed each week following the reading schedule. The entire journal
will be turned in at the completion of the novel. We will do Chapter 1 together as a sample.
Ch. 1 Prompt: There seems to be rules and rituals
that don’t exist in our society.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why might they have these rules/rituals?
Ch. 2 Prompt: There are many titles used and
categories that people are placed in.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Relate this to the “clinical” or “robotic” way
this community is run.
Ch. 3 Prompt: It’s considered rude to call attention to
people for any differences.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why might they care so much about this?
Ch. 4 Prompt: The newchildren and The Old have
some similarities.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why does Jonas feel so comfortable around
the naked woman?
Ch. 5 Prompt: What is so unusual about Jonas’ dream
today?
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What purpose does the dream ritual serve?
Would you be okay with doing this? Explain.
Ch. 6 Prompt: Emotions do not drive decisions/
actions in this community.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What are the benefits and drawbacks of
controlled emotions?
Ch. 7 Prompt: Asher has never really been accepted
because of his constant rule breaking/mistakes.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why do you think the Chief Elder says,
“Thank you for your childhood” after giving an
Assignment? Relate this to Asher’s childhood.
Ch. 8 Prompt: Jonas has been “selected” not
“assigned”.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What’s the difference? What physical trait
does he have in common with the current Receiver?
Ch. 9 Prompt: Jonas starts to question the actions of
the community members.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What would be the benefit of Jonas not
having to share dreams and being able to lie? What
does this allow him to do?
Ch. 10 Prompt: Jonas finds several things unusual
about the Receiver’s dwelling.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What is Elsewhere? Why do you think
Jonas doesn’t know what snow, or a sled, or downhill
means???
Ch. 11 Prompt: The community seems to control
things in order to preserve things.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why might The Giver feel that having these
memories is such a burden? How would you feel and
why?
Ch. 12 Prompt: When the community went to
Sameness, many changes came with it.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: How has the absence of color helped this
society? Harmed it?
Ch. 13 Prompt: Jonas seems angry that people are
not given a choice but The Giver provides a reason.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What does The Giver mean when he says,
“without the memories it’s all meaningless”?
Ch. 14 Prompt: Jonas experiences true pain for the
first time.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What aspects of being The Receiver makes
for a very lonely life? How can you predict that
Gabriel will be important to Jonas?
Ch. 15 Prompt: The Giver is often in pain when Jonas
comes to work but this day, Jonas relieves him of it.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What memory did The Giver most likely
give Jonas? How do you know?
Ch. 16 Prompt: Jonas experiences a wonderful new
feeling in this chapter.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why do you think he stops taking his pill?
Relate it to the chapter.
Ch. 17 Prompt: By Jonas going without his pill for 4
weeks, he has been affected greatly.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why might twins need to be separated?
Isn’t being the same a good thing in this community?
Explain.
Ch. 18 Prompt: The Giver felt very strongly for
Rosemary.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Do you think the people could handle the
feelings? Explain.
Ch. 19 Prompt: The fate of the twins is decided.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Do you think being The Receiver or a
Nurturer who releases people is a more difficult job?
Explain.
Ch. 20 Prompt: The Giver says there might be a way
to change things.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What connection can you make between all
of the people with light eyes? Explain.
Ch. 21 Prompt: Jonas changed the plan last minute.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: How do you feel about Father when he is so
calm and sweet when he talks about Gabe’s release?
Explain.
Ch. 22 Prompt: The landscape changes and
Jonas/Gabe experience good/bad things.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: Why does Jonas start to questions his
decision about leaving?
Ch. 23 Prompt: Approaching Elsewhere might be the
hardest part of the journey.
Quote/textual evidence:
Analysis: What do you think it means that Jonas
found a memory of his own?
Final Question: What do you feel the author left
unanswered at the end of the novel?
Analysis: What do you believe has become of the
community? Why do you think that?