The Giver QUESTIONS

Welcome to the novel "The Giver." Throughout this novel you will be reading as
a group, reading with a partner, reading with Mr. Vickers and listening to an audio
version of the novel. Please make sure that you always have headphone at school as each
day of reading there will be 5 students listening to the audio book.

QUESTIONS:
Each chapter will have questions that must be answered when you have finished
reading and are due the next day. Example- if you are required to read chapter 1
on Monday then the questions for chapter 1 are due Tuesday. You will be sharing your
answers on a daily basis--- the answers may be presented by gallery walks, read alouds by
you or Mr. Vickers , printed bump it wall style or other...
Answering of Questions:
When answering questions do so on lined paper. Write out the question first in a
different colour then that of your answer (this is only for answers that are
numbered- not discussion questions. (example- question in red, answering in
black)
Questions that are numbered (1,2,3 etc.) should be answered in a few sentences
maybe even one in some cases. Questions listed as discuss require thinking
and are expected to be a minimum of one paragraph ( 5 sentences minimum but
most would require 8-10 sentences). You will notice that most discuss questions
are simply a quote from the novel. WHEN ANSWERING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS YOU
CAN ANSWER IN ANY STYLE/ METHOD YOU CHOOSE... THERE A FEW SPECIFIC
WAYS THAT ARE REQUIRED ON SOME OF THE CHAPTERS BUT IN GENERAL YOU
CAN ANSWER IN ANY WAY REQUIRED... IF YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT
AND WANT/ NEED MORE TIME JUST SIMPLY ASK.
The major Theme of the novel is "CHOICE versus SAMENESS".
You must create a separate page that has the title "Choice versus
Sameness". Throughout the novel you must comment on this idea from
the information you have obtained while reading. You must do this at least
10 times throughout the novel. Please make sure you label the chapter that
you are commenting on. ( I am not giving you a minimum or maximum on
the amount that you write- be sure that each entry is complete-

your ideas, your explanation and proof). I will go over a few

examples as we go through the novel to help you with what I am
looking for

THE QUESTIONS
PRE-READING QUESTIONS:
Describe your utopian society/community. What would make it utopian to you?
Would your society/ community look the same as Mr. Vickers? or your friends?
CHAPTER 1
1. Describe Jonas community.
2. Describe Jonas family. What do his parents do?
3. What do they discuss in their ritual of feeling sharing?
4. What is this Ceremony of 12?
Discussion:
"For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final
decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 1
What do you think "release" means? How do the words in the quote above help
you make an opinion about what release might be?
CHAPTER 2
1. What happens every December?
2. Who is the Receiver and how are rules changed? (p. 14)
3. Who is Gabriel and why is Jonas father worried about him (ch. 1)?
4. Why is the Ceremony of 12 so important?
Discussion:
"What's important is the preparation for adult life, and the training you'll receive in
your Assignment."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 2
How is this idea similar to what is happening to you everyday? You know
that the Ceremony of 12 happens at age 12- when do you think it would
happen in our society/ community? (Explain with proof)
CHAPTER 3
1. What did Jonas notice about the apple?
2. What else do you learn about the community from this chapter?
3. What about birth-mothers?
Discussion:
"No one mentioned such things; it was not a rule, but was considered rude to call
attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 3
You must answer/ create something that shows an answer to the above quote--- the
only rule because there are always rules is that you cannot submit a written answer
with words and paragraphs... (in the past- skits, pictures, puppet shows, mime, video,
wrote song, poems)

CHAPTER 4
1. Where does Jonas spend his volunteer hours? What does he do?
2. What happens at release?
Discussion:
"He liked the feeling of safety here in this warm and quiet room; he liked the
expression of trust on the woman's face as she lay in the water unprotected,
exposed, and free."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 4
Why is trust and safety such an important part of our life in Canada. This
idea of trust and safety is why many people from around the world flee
their homeland and country to come to Canada. Give a real life example of
someone who would flee their homeland and explain why they are fleeing
and seeking the safety and trust of Canada.
CHAPTER 5
1. What was Jonas dream?
2. What are stirrings?
3. What does Jonas have to do now that he has had stirrings?
4. Why do you think he has to do that?
Discussion:
Create a Venn Diagram to compare "Your Community and Jonas's
Community"-- pictures and words would be a cool way to show this
CHAPTER 6
1. What wasnt Gabriel at the Naming?
2. What was the Ceremony of Loss?
3. What else do you learn about release?
4. How do people get spouses and children?
Discussion:
"How could someone not fit in? The community was so meticulously ordered, the
choices so carefully made."
- Lois Lowry, The Giver, Ch. 6
You must present a skit to the class for your answer--- you will get ZERO/ NONE/NO
ZILCH/ 0 HELP FROM MR. VICKERS ON THIS

CHAPTER 7
1. What is Jonas number? How are they assigned numbers?
2. Page 56, Thank you for your childhood. Explain.
3. Why do you think Jonas was skipped?
Discussion:
"He hunched his shoulders and tried to make himself smaller in the seat. He
wanted to disappear, to fade away, not to exist. He didn't dare to turn and find his
parents in the crowd. He couldn't bear to see their faces darkened with shame.
Jonas bowed his head and searched through his mind. What had he done
wrong?"- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 7
MONOLOGUE TIME--- YOU MUST PRESENT A MONOLOGUE AS IF YOU WERE JONASYOU MUST TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, DESCRIBE WHAT IS GOING IN YOUR
HEAD ETC..... SUCCESS CRITERIA AND HELP WILL OCCUR IN CLASS

OR
In Jonas's community children were not given a job choice. The Elders
observed the students during their volunteer hours and reviewed their
school work to determine which job the were best suited.
SAME AS ABOVE THE WAY YOU ANSWER THIS
CHAPTER 8
1. What is the difference between assigned and selected?
2. What is Jonas selected to do?
3. What attributes does Jonas have that will help him in his assignment?
4. What is this capacity to see beyond?
Discussion:
"You will be faced, now, with pain of a magnitude that none of us here can
comprehend because it is beyond our experience. The Receiver himself was
not able to describe it, only to remind us that you would be faced with it, that you
would need immense courage."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 8
How does experience determine how we feel and react to different
situations.

CHAPTER 9
1. In this chapter, Jonas receives his rules. What does he think of each rule?
What do you think of each rule
CHAPTER 10
1. How is Jonas treated by the secretary?
2. What is the Givers job? What must he give Jonas?
3. Page 78, what does this mean: I am so weighted with them.?
CHAPTER 11
1. What is Jonas first memory?
2. What is Jonas reaction to the first memory? What about the Giver?
3. What happened to snow?
Discussion:
"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
Discuss how this is the first time that Jonas was "free"
CHAPTER 12
1. What is Jonas beginning to see?
2. What happens to color in this community (vs. in memory)?
3. What is Jonas opinion of sameness?
Discussion:
"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
Comment on the whole quote. What does it make you feel and think?
CHAPTER 13- PICK 3 TO ANSWER
1. What causes frustration for Jonas?
2. What is Jonas first startling and disturbing memory? What is his reaction?
3. Is the Giver married? Explain about his marriage relationship.
4. Why is a Receiver necessary in the community?
5. Why does the Giver sometimes send him away?
Discussion:
"They were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was
taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 13
Explain how "they " could be satisfied --- include in your answer about
how they knew nothing else.

CHAPTER 14
1. What is the first painful memory and what is its effect on Jonas?
2. Why do he and the Giver have to hold painful memories?
3. Why cant everyone have memories, to share?
4. Whats wrong with Gabriel?
5. What happens when twins are born?
6. How does Jonas comfort Gabriel? What does he think of this?
Discussion:
"Was there someone there, waiting, who would receive the tiny released twin?
Would it grow up Elsewhere, not knowing, ever, that in this community lived a
being who looked exactly the same? For a moment, he felt a tiny, fluttering hope
that he knew was quite foolish. He hoped that it would be Larissa, waiting.
Larissa, the old woman he had bathed."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 14
Who do you think is waiting? What is elsewhere? What is it like?
CHAPTER 15
Discussion:
"Dirt streaked the boy's face and his matted blond hair. He lay sprawled, his gray
uniform glistening with wet, fresh blood. The colors of the carnage were
grotesquely bright: the crimson wetness on the rough and dusty fabric, the ripped
shred of grass, startlingly green, in the boy's yellow hair."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 15
Discuss how this memory would effect you if this was the first time you
saw war and it was at age 12. "Remember Jonas is basically receiving the
memory as if he was really there part of the war. ( THIS QUESTION IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO PUT YOUR ACTING SHOES ON)
CHAPTER 16
1. What are some good memories?
2. What is the Givers favorite memory? Explain.
3. How does Jonas feel about this memory? What are some advantages and
disadvantages of this?
4. What happens when Jonas discusses this feeling with his parents?
5. How does Jonas break the rules at the end of this chapter? What implications
will this have?

CHAPTER 17
1. How is Jonas changing?
2. What is Lilys talent?
Discussion:
"With his new, heightened feelings, he was overwhelmed by sadness at the way
the others had laughed and shouted, playing at war. But he knew that they could
not understand why, without the memories. He felt such love for Asher and for
Fiona. But they could not feel it back, without the memories. And he could not
give them those."- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 17
Discuss the quote
CHAPTER 18
1. Explain what happened to Rosemary and its impact on the community.
Discussion:
"Memories are forever."
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 18
Discuss why this idea is important in your life?
CHAPTER 19
Discussion:
What is release? Discuss your views and how it would make you feel today
if you had to watch it happen? Why would Jonas feel even worse then you?

CHAPTER 20
1. Which of the senses did the Giver have? What was special to him that he
hadnt yet shared?
2. What is their plan for creating change in the community?
Discussion:
Read this excerpt from The Giver
(page 157).
"A year ago," Jonas reminded him. "when I had just become a Twelve, when I
began to see the first color, you told me that the beginning had been different for
you. But that I wouldn't understand."
The Giver brightened. "That's true. And do you know, Jonas, that with all your
knowledge now, with all your memories, with all you've learned --still you won't understand? Because I've been a little selfish. I haven't given any of it to you. I
wanted to keep it for myself to the last." "Keep what?" "When I was just a boy, younger than
you, it began to come to me. But it wasn't the seeing-beyond for me. It was different. For me,
it was hearing- beyond."
Jonas frowned, trying to figure that out. "What did you hear?" he asked.
"Music," The Giver said, smiling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Try to imagine a world without music. What would it feel like? How would
your life be different?
CHAPTER 21
1. Why did the plan change?
2. What rules did he break?
3. What was their travel ritual?
4. How did he know they were looking for him? How did he hide?
5. What happened to his memories?
CHAPTER 22
1. How was the landscape changing?
2. What are new dangers?
CHAPTER 23
1. What was the weather like?
2. What happened to the bicycle?
3. How does this book end? Discuss it.
Discussion:
"It was not a grasping of thin and burdensome recollection; this was different.
This was something that he could keep. It was a memory of his own"
- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 23
This is a very important quote from the giver. Explain why Mr. Vickers
thinks that this quote is a great description of the book and a quote to
remember to use in the future?

"For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard
people singing. Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the
place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps, it was only an
echo."- Lois Lowry,The Giver, Ch. 23
Discuss the importance of this quote to the novel, your understanding of
the novel and why this is the way the author chose to end the novel

CONCLUDING ACTIVITIES

PART 1
We will be having a debate about SAMENESS. At this point you will able to pick the side of
the debate you choose tobe on (for sameness or against). If the numbers are uneven we will
have a draw to pick a side for each student.

PART 2
You must pick 2 of the following activities to complete. Once you have chosen 2 you will be
required to sit down with Mr. Vickers and create a "Success Criteria" that is designed for you.
You might pick the same topic as someone else but that does not mean that your Success
Criteria will be the same.
1) Make a map of the community. With explanations of all the locations and
events that had happened in different areas.
2) Create a drawing or model of a specific location (example, the Giver's quarters
or Jonas's House). You must explain why you designed it the way you did.
3) When Jonas receives his first memory, one of sledding down a snowy hill, the
experience "explained itself." Think of an experience you have had. Then find a
way to share that experience so that it "explains itself." You might want to write a
description that uses colourful language to describe the experience.
4) Write an editorial that explains your opinion about the advantages and
disadvantages of living in Jonas' community.
5)Present a dramatic monologue based on a passage from the novel.
6) The community has stages of development from child- citizenship-training.
Create a timeline that would fit in our community and explain what would happen,
what you would receive at certain ages and why.
7) When an elderly person of the community is released, there is a ceremony at
which the story of the person's life is shared. Select a historical figure whom you
admire and write a record telling of the persons life.
8) Choose a statement from the novel that has particular meaning to you. Create
a poster or a collage that expresses the meaning of that statement. Be sure to
include a written explanation of why it has meaning to you.
9) After Jonas leaves the people must handle their own memories. Write a letter
giving them helpful advice about valuing pleasant memories and dealing with
painful ones

10) Outline a sequel to the novel. Be sure to include What happens to Jonas and
Gabriel? How do the people of the community deal with the memories that have
been released? What happens to The Giver? How does the community change
as a result of Jonas' escape?
11) Prepare and record a statement that the Speaker might make to the
community when the escape of Jonas and Gabriel is discovered.
12) Write a short story or a song about what happens when the people of the
community rediscover music
13) Illustrate an important scene from the book? Be sure to have a written
description of why you chose the scene and why it looks the way it does.
14) Write a dialogue between Jonas and the first person he meets from
Elsewhere.
15) Create the front page of a newspaper that would be describing Jonas'
escape.
16) You tell me (aka create your own- it must be approved )