Name: tianxing zhang _ Date: _

Chapters Fifteen-Seventeen Standards Focus:

Theme

Themes are the central ideas in a work of literature. The themes must often be inferred by
carefully examining the characters' words and actions, as well as the plot, setting, and mood of the
novel. Themes can be concrete objects such as family and friends, ideas like love and individuality,
and experiences such as survival and human connection.

Directions: Read and answer the questions about the following excerpts from the novel. After
examining each pair of quotes, use them to infer a theme from the novel.
First Pair:
Jonas trudged to the bench beside the Storehouse and sat down, overwhelmed with feelings of
loss. His childhood, his friendships, his carefree sense of security-all of these things seemed to
be slipping away. (pg. 135)
1. What does Jonas miss about his childhood?

I believe what Jonas miss about his childhood might be his “not knowing”. When he knows
that people might lie and he can lie; he feel that he can’t tell which sentence is truth and which is not.
That gives him sense of security.

"Warmth," Jonas replied, and happiness. And-let me think. Family. That it was a
celebration of some sort, a holiday. And something else-I can't quite get the word for it."
... Jonas hesitated. "I certainly liked the memory, though. I can see why it's your favorite.
I couldn't quite get the word for the whole feeling for it, the feeling that was so strong in the
room."
"Love," The Giver told him.
Jonas repeated it. "Love." It was a word and concept new to him. (pg. 123, 125)
2. How does Jonas "see" love in the memory?

I believe he “see” love by two sense .vision :Jonas see a scene that they celebrate the
difference (different birth day) of people, that is a holiday for one person own difference. That is
something that Joans that never seen and experience before. And physical feeling. That’s how Jonas
“see” love in memory.

3. How do these passages illustrate ,Jonas's desire for human connection?

They never have such thing before. All the job, all the connection are just like acting and
follow orders, they don’t feel what they do; love, hate and etc. First, after he knows that people used to
celebrate people’s difference and give people companionship, and all the support; it’s nature that he
will desire normal human connection. And these passages using his behavior and his words to show his
excitement without actually saying it in the second quote; and comparing first and second quote, the
emotion comparison also shows his desire for human connection.

What theme does this first pair of quotes reveal?

I think the theme might be to showing the importance of human connection despite the fact that it could
also hurt. Also showing that difference is acceptable and should be respect.

Second Pair:

"You Elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, to standardize your behavior,
to curb any impulse that might set you apart from the group." (pgs. 51-52)



 4. How does standardizing one's appearance and behavior help the Elevens fit into their group?

That might be the effect of the mirror effect. When they look the same and act the same, it’s easy to feel
sense of belonging. Also people will feel familiar and have good impression when they have similar
positive traits with each other. So that can help them fit in.

He had seen a birthday party, with one child singled out and celebrated on his day, so that now
he understood the joy of being an individual, special and unique and proud. (pg. 121)
5. Why is Jonas so intrigued by the birthday party?
• This birth day party is people gathering around celebrate one and only one person’s
birth. That is very differ from the birthday party they have in the community is a group
party, it doesn’t feel like his own birthday party where they celebrate for his
difference.that might be the reason why Jonas so intrigued by the birthday party.

6. How does a person in Jonas's community balance being an individual with being a contributing
member of society?
• They balance by simply obey,(being similar with others) they behave themselves under the
control of the rules. Playing by the rule book, if breaking the rule, there will be “release”
waiting. Family is like job, human connection is like a job too, all the thing is like job, like
acting and obey.

7. How is this different from being an individual in our society?

• We can be different from others. We can act the way we want under law’s permit.
We can choose not being a contributing member and etc. In conclusion, we can and
have the freedom to be different.

What theme does this second pair of quotes reveal?

Freedom and different is important and it needs to be preserved

Third Pair:
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. (pg. 135)
8. How are the memories influencing Jonas's present life?
• He see the same view(people playing, people laughed and shouted, people behave and
etc) but think about different thing.

"It seems to work pretty well that way, doesn't it? The way we do it in our community?" Jonas
asked. '7just didn't realize there was any other way, until I received that memory." (pg. 125)
9. What do the memories show Jonas about a different way of life?
• The way people respect and accept difference, the way people exploitation and
destruction of the natural environment in exchange for quality of life ( people kill
elephant to get the teeth); the way people have the freedom to do things on their own will
and etc.
10. What does the community lose by not having memories? What does it gain?
• People will “awake” and resist the governor’s control, they will ripe this “beautiful”
dream apart and conflict will return and etc.
• Community lose creativity and innovation by not having memories. Everything will
remain the same all the time.

 • It will gain stability.

What theme does this third pair of quotes reveal?

It’s all double blade sword. When you gain, you also loose. Having memory and facing cruel world will
give people wisdom.

Fourth Pair:
Jonas nodded. "I liked the feeling of love," he confessed. He glanced nervously at the speaker
on the wall, reassuring himself that no one was listening. "I wish we still had that," he whispered.
"Of course," he added quickly, "I do understand that it wouldn't work very well. And that it's much
better to be organized the way we are now. I can see that it was a dangerous way to live." (pg.
126)

11. Why does Jonas think it was "dangerous" way to live?

• Although the feeling of love is great, it can hurt. Also, when passion and emotion take
the high ground, when they take control, people can be dangerous themselves.passion
murder, conflict, argue, dishonest, disguise and etc.

"Things could change, Gabe," Jonas went on. "Things could be different. I don't know how, but
there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors.
"And grandparents," he added, staring through the dimness toward the ceiling of his sleeping
room. "And everybody would have the memories." (pg. 128)
12. What would Jonas like to change about the community?
• He want people to experience actual human connections(grandparents), want people to
see the beauty of the world(color), memories (the whole preset of having all above)
13. How could Jonas change his society? Do you think he would be more successful working for change from
within or outside of the community?
• First I think that he will not be able to change the society since his place was only an honor
not power, also people who control the society will not allow such thing to happen. But IF
that could happen, he surely will try to hide the dark memories and only shows people the
good side of the old world. And give everyone memory. But what will happen next is that
someone is going to gain from disguise, cheat, conflict and etc(for example fake dream
sharing due to an impulse). with memories, he can pass it down to the next generation
(family unit) and the “dream” will be reality again. That I mean he will be more successful
working for change from outside the community.

What theme does this fourth pair of quotes reveal?

Difference and experience the beauty of the world will come with cost.