Activity 3: Think and Write

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Imagine living in a world devoid of color, familial ties, or memory—a society where
life is regulated by rigid rules that are resistant to change and detest questioning.
Welcome to the world of Lois Lowry's The Giver, a compelling and controversial novel
about a utopian community and a young boy's emerging realizations about oppression,
choices, and human ties, which won the Newbery Medal in 1994.

‘The Giver' is a dark and frightening story that deals with themes of loss and control
at times. It's also a tale of hope, expressed via the beauty of colors seen for the first
time and delights never experienced before. It's a tale with a final image that spoke to
the human spirit's everlasting character and future potential.

In The Giver, the community leaders wield control over everyone else through
memory. Collective memory is no longer a phenomenon. Wars, loves, hate, joy, and
any relics of the community's past are all gone. Lowry wanted to use this story to
investigate what happens when all memories go. When the worst elements of human
history are forgotten, does a happier community emerge?

Despite the community's wish to forget about the past, the elders recognized the
age-old adage that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. This meant
that someone had to keep track of everything. The role is filled by The Giver, and Jonas
was supposed to take it over after him. He's there to make sure no one goes down a
perilous road that may have just him to blame for the repercussions.

In Lois Lowry's story, Jonas recognizes the uniqueness of his friends, family
members, and, most significantly, himself. Jonas has a different feeling than his pals,
and he is aware that he perceives the world in a different way as well. This is confirmed
when he is chosen as the next Receiver of Memory during the Ceremony of the Twelve.
It's the first time in his life, as well as the lives of the other youngsters, that their
disparities have been brought to light. Some people are more suited for certain jobs
than others. As the story develops, Jonas becomes more of an individual, something
the community does not welcome. Memories have been bestowed to him, making him
Activity 3: Think and Write
The Giver by Lois Lowry
one of a kind in his world. One of the novel's most moving scenes occurs at the
conclusion, when Jonas learns that he is creating memories that are unique to him.

Lowry's narrative style in The Giver is simple and straightforward. It reads almost
journalistically as a straightforward recounting of occurrences. With a few exceptions,
the plot moves from the beginning to the finish of the narrative. Throughout the book,
Lowry utilizes simple, easy-to-understand language, confirming her decision to target
this work to young adults. Furthermore, the straightforward language aids in describing
Jonas', his family’s, and his friends' everyday life. Everyone lives a preplanned, ordered
life, as shown in Lowry's literature. This might also be used to describe the tone. It's
straightforward for the majority of the story, but as Jonas learns more about his
neighborhood, it becomes more emotional and disturbed.

The style doesn't alter much until the Giver enters the story and begins sharing
memories to Jonas. The recollections are evocative, intriguing, and unusual. Lowry's
writing style and imagery shift as a result of this. Lowry employs rhetorical inquiries in
these passages, as well as in all those in which Jonas considers his surroundings.
These are queries for which the speaker has no expectation of receiving a response.
Jonas is overflowing with them in every aspect of his existence.

Lowry also employs a number of other literary techniques in The Giver. These are
euphemisms or phrases that serve as a substitute for anything unpleasant or difficult.
For example, instead of killing, "releasing" is used. This is an excellent illustration of
how the language chosen by Lowry for the community exposes as much as it tries to
conceal the truth. When families get together to talk about their feelings, they're actually
doing the reverse. When Lowry chooses not to tell what happens to Jonas and Gabe at
the conclusion of the novel, she creates a cliffhanger.

The apple represents all that is lacking in the community. Its crimson hue, which
everyone in the village save Jonas has forgotten, symbolizes freedom, human nature,
Activity 3: Think and Write
The Giver by Lois Lowry
and emotions. The apple's red appears in other aspects of his life as well. When he first
sees it in Fiona's hair, he interprets it as desire. It appears in the Giver's rainbow, which
he shares with him. It stresses the breadth of human experiences and emotions that
Jonas, his friends, and family are missing out on.

Gabriel is unique, just as Jonas is unique. This is something Jonas immediately

recognizes. He has pale eyes (eventually revealed to be blue, same like Jonas's), and
Jonas can tell he's more thoughtful. The youngster symbolizes innocence, and he
stands in stark contrast to the heartless community that decides to murder him. Gabriel
is also a symbol of hope for Jonas. Hope for a better life, one that is full of affection and
in which a kid may grow up without fear of being "released."

The Giver gives Jonas his first memory, which is of a sled ride. It's one of pure
delight, devoid of any unpleasantness. It's a fantastic experience, but it doesn't prepare
him for the horrors that await him. Jonas dreams of the sled trip and the unknown
location at the bottom of the slope after getting the memory. He's galloping towards
something in the distance, but he has no idea what it is. It represents his future and the
new life that awaits him once he flees the village at the conclusion of the story.
Despite its numerous plaudits, The Giver has received enough criticism to be
included on the American Library Association's list of the most commonly challenged
and banned books for the years 1990-1999 and 2000-2009. The book's controversy
centers on two topics: suicide and euthanasia. When a minor character has had enough
of her life, she requests to be "released" or murdered.
Opponents of the book claim that Lowry fails to "convey that suicide is not a solution
to life's difficulties," according to a USA Today story. Opponents of the novel criticize
Lowry's handling of euthanasia, in addition to their concerns about suicide. Supporters
of the book argue that by exposing children to social concerns, they will become more
critical in their thinking about governments, personal choices, and relationships.