The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
1. Why might the arrival of a jet
be a terrifying experience for the
entire community?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 1. Why might the arrival of a jet be a terrifying experience for the
entire community?
• There seems to be a state of tension
with the outside world.
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 2. What do you think might happen to
someone who is released from the
community?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 2. What do you think might happen to someone who
is released from the community?
• Release is a serious punishment.
The exceptions are the celebration of
the elderly and the release of a
newchild.
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 3. What was the purpose of the ritual
telling of feelings?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 3. What was the purpose of the ritual telling of feelings?
• The purpose is to relieve feelings of
anger or worry and help each person
return to a sense of calm.
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 4. What was unique about the way
children are born and infants are cared
for in the community?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 4. What was unique about the way children are born and infants
are cared for in the community?
• 50 babies were born each year and
cared for by the Nurturers, not the
mothers.
• At one year of age they were given to
families who could each have one
boy and one girl.
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 5. Why was it so difficult to get rules
changed in the community?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 5. Why was it so difficult to get rules changed in the community?
• Rules needed to be changed by a
committee who studied each issue
and discussed it for years.
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 6. On what basis did children receive
life assignments?
The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
• 6. On what basis did children receive life assignments?
• The Elevens were carefully observed
by the Committee of Elders, which
made its decision based upon ability
and interest.
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 1. Why were Gabe’s eyes of such
interest to Jonas?
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 1. Why were Gabe’s eyes of such interest to Jonas?
• Most people in the community had
dark eyes. Gabe’s pale eyes were
like his own; they formed a bond
between the two boys.
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 2. How did Lily react to the new word
“hippo”? Why did she react this way?
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 2. How did Lily react to the new word “hippo”? Why
did she react this way?
• To her, it was a funny word and she
had no idea that there actually was
such an animal as a hippopotamus.
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 3. Why did Jonas risk the humiliation of
public chastisement for taking an apple
from the recreation area?
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 3. Why did Jonas risk the humiliation of public chastisement for
taking an apple from the recreation area?
• Jonas was so curious about the
apple that he felt it was worth the risk
to bring it home to try to solve its
mystery.
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 4. Why was Jonas interested in finding
out where Roberto went upon release?
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 4. Why was Jonas interested in finding out where Roberto went
upon release?
• Jonas is very intelligent; it’s
natural for him to be curious
about an important event that
was so shrouded in mystery.
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 5. What effect did the pills have on
Jonas and the other people who took
them? Why do you think all adults were
required to take them?
The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
• 5. What effect did the pills have on Jonas and the other people
who took them? Why do you think all adults were required to
take them?
• The pills destroyed sexual impulses.
• Strong sexual impulses would upset
the carefully ordered community.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 1. Under what circumstances was
Gabriel allowed a second year of
nurturing? Why do you think the
community made this exception to the
rules?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 1. Under what circumstances was Gabriel allowed a
second year of nurturing? Why do you think the
community made this exception to the rules?
• Gabriel was given a second year
based on Father’s plea, and the
family’s signed agreement that they
would not form a permanent
attachment to Gabe.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 2. What do you think was the difference
between Release and Loss?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 2. What do you think was the difference between Release and
Loss?
• “Loss” was the community’s word
for accidental death, such as
drowning.
• “Release” is for weak newchildren,
the very old, and third-time
transgressors. “Release” is ???
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 3. What was the significance of the
bicycles that were given to the Nines?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 3. What was the significance of the bicycles that were given to
the Nines?
• They symbolize the beginning of
some independence.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 4. Why was Jonas skeptical that
anyone might be unhappy with life in the
community?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 4. Why was Jonas skeptical that anyone might be
unhappy with life in the community?
• Jonas believed that life in the
community was perfect.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 5. Why had Asher been punished for
confusing the words “snack” and
“smack”? What does this punishment
reveal about the community?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 5. Why had Asher been punished for confusing the words
“snack” and “smack”? What does this punishment reveal about
the community?
• The community punished
children for misusing language
because precise language was
required in an ordered society.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 6. What set the
Ceremony of Twelve
apart from all other
age ceremonies?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 6. What set the Ceremony of Twelve apart from all
other age ceremonies?
• It marked the end of childhood
and the beginning of adult
responsibilities.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 7. Why did the community make the
distinction between “Selection” for
Receiver of Memory and “Assignment”
for all other occupations?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 7. Why did the community make the distinction
between “Selection” for Receiver of Memory and
“Assignment” for all other occupations?
• It emphasizes the importance of
it to the entire community.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 8. What was
unusual about the
appearance of the
bearded Elder?
What was significant
about this
characteristic?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 8. What was unusual about the appearance of the
bearded Elder? What was significant about this
characteristic?
• He had pale eyes; this hints at a
bond between him and Jonas
and maybe even Gabriel.
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 9. Why was Jonas chosen to be the
next Receiver of Memory?
The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
• 9. Why was Jonas chosen to be the next Receiver of
Memory?
• He was intelligent and had
integrity, but above all, he was
able “to see beyond.”
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 1. How did Jonas feel after receiving
his adult Assignment? Why? What did
Asher’s hesitation in congratulating
Jonas indicate?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 1. How did Jonas feel after receiving his adult Assignment?
Why? What did Asher’s hesitation in congratulating Jonas
indicate?
• Jonas felt uneasy; everyone seemed wary
of him.
• Even Asher hesitated, not knowing
whether he could talk to his friend in the
usual way.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 2. Which item in the list of duties and
responsibilities frightened Jonas? Why?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 2. Which item in the list of duties and responsibilities
frightened Jonas? Why?
• The rule permitting Jonas to lie
startled him because children were
taught never to lie.
• Permission to lie caused Jonas to
question whether everyone in the
community lied. What and whom
could he believe?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 3. Why was the concept of pain beyond
Jonas’s comprehension? How did he
know this was about to change?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 3. Why was the concept of pain beyond Jonas’s
comprehension? How did he know this was about to
change?
• All members of the community
had been spared physical pain.
• Now, Jonas knew that pain
would be part of his training.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 4. What was unique about the Annex?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 4. What was unique about the Annex?
• The Receiver of Memory’s private
room had a lock, luxurious
furnishings, an “off” switch on the
speaker, and a library.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 5. At first, why did Jonas misinterpret
the Receiver’s job of transmitting
memories of the past?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 5. At first, why did Jonas misinterpret the Receiver’s
job of transmitting memories of the past?
• Jonas didn’t understand that an
entirely different world existed before
his community was established, nor
that the Giver could have memories
of things before his birth.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 6. Why was the transmittal of the
memory of snow so exhausting to the
old man?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 6. Why was the transmittal of the memory of snow so
exhausting to the old man?
• He had to retrieve it from the far
distant past. No one in the
community had experienced snow
for many generations.
• It had been made obsolete because of the
unpredictable element it brought into life.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 7. What two lessons did Jonas Learn
about the sun?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 7. What two lessons did Jonas Learn about the sun?
• The sun is a source of pleasure and
pain.
• There were places beyond his
community to learn about.
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 8. Why did The
Giver appear a little
sad at the end of the
first day of training?
The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11
• 8. Why did The Giver appear a little sad at the end of the first
day of training?
• The Giver was saddened by the
realization of the burden Jonas was
about to endure.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 1. How did Jonas’s relationship with his
parents and friends change after he
received his Life Assignment?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 1. How did Jonas’s relationship with his parents and friends
change after he received his Life Assignment?
• He could no longer be open and
honest with his family and friends
because he was not permitted to
discuss his dreams or his training.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 2. How did The Giver explain the visual
phenomena that Jonas witnessed?
What did this reveal about the
community?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 2. How did The Giver explain the visual phenomena that Jonas
witnessed? What did this reveal about the community?
• Jonas was beginning to see the color
red.
• Everyone in the community, except
for The Giver, did not see color!
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 3. Why did the community relinquish
the ability to see color?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 3. Why did the community relinquish the ability to see color?
• They decided to give up color when
they chose sameness as a way of
life.
• Anything that involved choice was
dangerous because it led to the
possibility of wrong choices.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 4. Why was it important for The
Receiver of Memory to have The
Capacity to See Beyond?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 4. Why was it important for The Receiver of Memory
to have The Capacity to See Beyond?
• He had to observe life
objectively, not see things as
they had been engineered by the
scientists.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 5. Why did Jonas
refer to Gabe as his
little brother? Could
this be true?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 5. Why did Jonas refer to Gabe as his little brother?
Could this be true?
• A bond had developed between them
because both boys had unusual pale
eyes.
• They might in fact be biologically
related.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 6. Why did The Giver warn Jonas about
having a spouse and children?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 6. Why did The Giver warn Jonas about having a
spouse and children?
• From experience, The Giver knew
how difficult it was to have a family
and not be able to share information
about his work.
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 7. Why was The Giver bitter about the
Council of Elders?
The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
• 7. Why was The Giver bitter about the Council of Elders?
• The Giver wished they would ask for
his wisdom more often.
• Despite the honor, The Giver felt
useless and powerless.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 1. How was Jonas’s second experience
with snow unlike the first? Why did The
Giver offer Jonas this experience?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 1. How was Jonas’s second experience with snow unlike the
first? Why did The Giver offer Jonas this experience?
• The first was delightful; the second
was painful and terrifying.
• The Giver had to transmit the
memory of pain to Jonas.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 2. According to the Giver, why did
Jonas have to receive and store
memories of pain? What does this tell
you about the community?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
•
2. According to the Giver, why did Jonas have to receive and store
memories of pain? What does this tell you about the community?
• The Giver believed that wisdom was
only achieved through the
experience of pain.
• He thought the people were selfish
and afraid.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 3. Why did The Giver apologize to
Jonas after sharing the memory of war?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 3. Why did The Giver apologize to Jonas after sharing the
memory of war?
• He had subjected Jonas to terrible
pain.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 4. Why were Jonas and his father
worried about Gabriel’s fretfulness at
night? How did Jonas try to solve this
problem?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 4. Why were Jonas and his father worried about Gabriel’s
fretfulness at night? How did Jonas try to solve this problem?
• They knew that Gabriel would have
to be Released unless his sleep
habits improved.
• Jonas transmitted calming memories
to him.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 5. Why did the Memory of grandparents
disturb Jonas?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 5. Why did the Memory of grandparents disturb Jonas?
• Jonas appreciated the warm family
feelings that existed when
grandparents were not sent to the
House of the Old.
• This made him worry about the fate of his
own parents.
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
• 6. Why couldn’t Jonas’s parents
answer his question about love?
The Giver – Chapters 14 -16
•
6. Why couldn’t Jonas’s parents answer his question about love?
• “Love” had become outdated,
meaningless because intense
feelings were deemed dangerous.
• This would upset the pattern of Sameness
in the community.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 1. How did Jonas’s range of emotions
differ from those of his family and
friends?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 1. How did Jonas’s range of emotions differ from
those of his family and friends?
• Jonas had a broader range of
emotions than anyone he knew.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 2. How did Jonas react to the children’s
war game?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 2. How did Jonas react to the children’s war game?
• Jonas was terribly upset by the
war play because he understood
the devastating nature of war.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 3. Why did Jonas feel powerless and
alone when Fiona and Asher rode off on
their bicycles?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 3. Why did Jonas feel powerless and alone when
Fiona and Asher rode off on their bicycles?
• Jonas realized he could never
recover the relationships he had with
his friends.
• He could not give his friends
memories, and they would never
experience real feelings.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 4. Why did the community refer to the
former Receiver-in-training as a failure?
How did this failure affect the rules that
applied to Jonas?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
•
4. Why did the community refer to the former Receiver-in-training as a
failure? How did this failure affect the rules that applied to Jonas?
• The former Receiver-in-training had
been unable to deal with painful
memories and had requested
Release.
• Now the rules change makes it
impossible for Jonas to request
Release.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 5. What shocked Jonas when he
viewed his father “releasing” one of the
newborn twins?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 5. What shocked Jonas when he viewed his father
“releasing” one of the newborn twins?
• His father had given the newborn
child a lethal injection.
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 6. What did Jonas learn about the
community’s prohibition against lying?
The Giver – Chapters 17 -19
• 6. What did Jonas learn about the community’s
prohibition against lying?
• He realized that lying seemed to
be permitted when he
understood that “release” really
meant killing.
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 1. Why would Fiona, a trainee in the
care of the old, probably accept the
practice of releasing the old?
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 1. Why would Fiona, a trainee in the care of the old,
probably accept the practice of releasing the old?
• She had been trained to follow
instructions.
• She had not been trained to have
deep feelings such as distress.
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 2. Why was The Giver now ready to
make a plan for change?
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 2. Why was The Giver now ready to make a plan for change?
• Jonas was strong enough to
help The Giver make a change in
the community.
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 3. Why would Jonas’s departure from
the community lead to possible change?
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 3. Why would Jonas’s departure from the community
lead to possible change?
• In learning to deal with the
memories, the people might gain
some wisdom, which could lead to
change.
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 4. Why did The Giver decide to stay
behind to help the community? Is it the
right decision?
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 4. Why did The Giver decide to stay behind to help
the community? Is it the right decision?
• Without his assistance and
protection, the people would be
thrown into chaos by the memories.
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 5. Why did Jonas and The Giver
choose the December Ceremony as the
time to implement their plan?
The Giver – Chapter 20
• 5. Why did Jonas and The Giver choose the December
Ceremony as the time to implement their plan?
• Everyone in the community would be
attending the Ceremony and the
roads would not be watched.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 1. How did Father’s sweet, sing-song
voice affect Jonas on their last evening
together?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
•
1. How did Father’s sweet, sing-song voice affect Jonas on their last
evening together?
• He made up his mind to leave that
night with Gabe because he couldn’t
stand to have his father kill Gabe.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 2. What would have happened to Jonas
and Gabe had the searchers found
them?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 2. What would have happened to Jonas and Gabe had the
searchers found them?
• Gabe would have been released.
• Jonas would have been given
another chance because the
community needs him to be the
Receiver.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 3. In what way was Jonas handicapped
by his early departure?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 3. In what way was Jonas handicapped by his early departure?
• He couldn’t bring enough food
and clothes for both of them.
• He could have used more
memories of strength and
courage.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 4. How was Jonas
able to use
memories to foil the
search planes? In
what other ways did
memories help
Jonas during the
journey?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
•
4. How was Jonas able to use memories to foil the search planes? In
what other ways did memories help Jonas during the journey?
• He thought of memories of snow making
them both cold and preventing the heatseeking search planes to find them.
• The memory of the sled, the ride, the
house and people at Christmas time gave
him strength and courage to continue.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 5. How was Jonas able to recall their
destination from a memory of his own?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 5. How was Jonas able to recall their destination from a
memory of his own?
• This was The Giver’s favorite
memory and he had given it to
him.
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 6. What might have been the source of
the music that Jonas thought he heard
behind him?
The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23
• 6. What might have been the source of the music that Jonas
thought he heard behind him?
• The Giver had the power to “hear
beyond.” Maybe he was “sending”
music to Jonas to comfort him and
keep him going on his difficult
journey.