The Giver Chapter 8-15 Questions

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Questions and Answers

Why was the audience ill at ease when Jonas' number was not called?

It was highly unusual and the Chief Elder never made mistakes.

How did Jonas feel when his number (19) was skipped?

He was very worried and had a hard time paying attention to the rest of the Ceremony of Elevens.

What does the Chief Elder mean when she says that Jonas has not been assigned, but rather selected?

His new position required a lot more observation than the others and they only give this position when the one person holding it is getting too old.

What does the Chief Elder mean when she says they failed in their selection ten years ago?

The girl who was chosen did not work out (and no one knows what happened to her yet). Signup and view all the answers

How does everyone act towards Jonas after the announcement?

They tell him they are proud, but they are all a little hesitant toward him; he feels something has changed. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Jonas panicked when the Chief Elder says he has the ability to see beyond?

He doesn't feel he has any special abilities and wants to run and scream that they've selected the wrong person! Signup and view all the answers

Why can't the new receiver (Jonas) be observed?

No one else has his powers. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Jonas' assignment folder only have one sheet?

No one really understands his new job other than the current receiver, so they can't really list what he has to know. Signup and view all the answers

What does the one sheet in the folder tell him?

<ol> <li>Go immediately to the attendant each day after school 2) Go immediately home after training 3) You are exempt from rules governing rudeness 4) Do not discuss training with friends or family 5) No dream-telling 6) No pain medication for any pain related to the assignment 7) You may not apply for release 8) You may lie.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why was Jonas upset after reading the list?

He was stunned for several reasons. He was upset that he couldn't play with his friends and couldn't tell his family about anything in his dreams. Signup and view all the answers

What qualities did Jonas have to have to be selected?

Intelligence, integrity, and courage. Signup and view all the answers

What frightens Jonas about the physical pain the Elder talked about?

He had only had pain a couple of times, but the Elder described his future pain as excruciating. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the prospect of no medication worry Jonas?

No one in the community was left to be in pain and he was concerned that he would not receive pain relief from the horrible pain they talked about. Signup and view all the answers

Would lying be easy for Jonas?

False Signup and view all the answers

On the first day of training, how were the Twelves' bicycles changed?

They were given new nameplates that said 'citizens in training'. Signup and view all the answers

Why was it strange that the door at the Annex had to be unlocked?

Doors in the community were never locked. Signup and view all the answers

What is the receptionist's explanation of why the doors are locked?

She said the Receiver of Memory needs concentration. Signup and view all the answers

What was different about the books in the office?

They were books that he had never seen before. His only books at home were books of reference and rules. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Elder receiver's job, when it came to Jonas?

To transfer all the memories of the past to Jonas. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the Elder receiver compare his job to going downhill on a sled?

It's exhilarating at first, but then snow starts to pile up and slow him down. Signup and view all the answers

Why does this snow analogy confuse Jonas?

He doesn't know what snow is so he is confused. Signup and view all the answers

To help Jonas understand snow, what does he do?

He turns off the speaker, has Jonas remove his tunic and lay down on a bed of luxurious cloth, and transmits the knowledge of snow to Jonas. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Elder receiver begin to test Jonas?

He doesn't tell him the name of the transmissions, but instead, sends over the memory and lets Jonas figure out the name (First one is sunshine). Signup and view all the answers

What is Sameness?

Sameness was what eliminated climate changes because those changes caused trouble growing things, made for dangerous roads, etc. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first painful experience given to Jonas?

Sunburn Signup and view all the answers

Now that he will be called the Receiver, what is Jonas to call the old man?

The Giver Signup and view all the answers

What did all the kids, except Jonas, do at school the next day?

They excitedly talked about their new training. Signup and view all the answers

How does Fiona seem different to Jonas?

With his growing powers, he sees her differently. He first notices her hair looks different. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Jonas see the apple and Fiona's hair looking different?

The Giver tells Jonas that he is beginning to see the color red in their colorless world. Signup and view all the answers

To give Jonas complete knowledge of color, what does he transmit?

Memory of a rainbow Signup and view all the answers

What does The Giver tell Jonas about choice?

Choice can be good but it can also be dangerous if people make the wrong choices. Signup and view all the answers

Since he is exempt from being rude, what does Jonas ask The Giver?

He asks The Giver if he ever had a spouse. The Giver tells him he did, but life is different than other people who live with spouses. Signup and view all the answers

What happened when the last Receiver failed?

All the memories that were transmitted to her were lost. Signup and view all the answers

Why did The Giver send Jonas home on certain days without any training?

He was in too much pain from memories and couldn't work with Jonas when he felt like that. Signup and view all the answers

When Jonas tries to understand The Giver's pain, what memory does The Giver transmit?

The memory of crashing his sled and tearing open his leg. Signup and view all the answers

While Jonas received pain memories every day, what was The Giver sure to do at the end of each training session?

The Giver would end each session with a pleasurable memory to ease the pain. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jonas learn about why each family can only have two children?

The Giver had the memory of hunger and realized it would be a problem if people had more children. Signup and view all the answers

What power does Jonas use on Gabriel to help him sleep?

He puts his hand on his back and gives him gentle memories, which help him fall back to sleep through the night. Signup and view all the answers

Why does giving these memories to Gabriel scare Jonas?

He is not a Giver and is worried so he doesn't tell. Signup and view all the answers

What painful memory does The Giver pass to Jonas at the end of chapter fifteen?

The memory of warfare and the death and pain that is involved. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ceremony of Elevens and Jonas' Selection

Jonas's number, 19, was skipped, causing unease among the audience due to the Chief Elder's reputation for accuracy.
After being skipped, Jonas felt worried and distracted during the Ceremony, experiencing a sense of foreboding.
The Chief Elder clarified that Jonas was not "assigned" but "selected" for a unique role requiring significant observation due to the prior receiver aging.
The failure in selection ten years ago remains a mystery as the previously chosen girl vanished without explanation.
Following the announcement, the community feels a shift; while they express pride, Jonas senses hesitation and a change in their attitude.

Jonas' Unique Role and Responsibilities

Jonas panics at the mention of "seeing beyond," doubting his abilities, and fearing that he is the wrong choice for the position.
The new Receiver's powers are unparalleled and cannot be observed by others, indicating a significant difference in responsibility.
Jonas's assignment folder is sparse, containing minimal guidance due to the uniqueness of his role.
Key directives in Jonas's folder include immediate training attendance, exemptions from certain community rules, and prohibitions against discussing his training and experiencing pain relief.

Understanding Pain and Choice

Jonas grapples with the concept of experiencing physical pain, particularly concerning the mention of intense suffering he might encounter.
Concerns arise regarding the absence of pain medication during training, as the community generally shields individuals from pain.
Jonas struggles with the concept of lying, as he has been conditioned to be truthful from a young age, making this directive difficult for him.

Training and New Experiences

The Twelves received new nameplates indicating their transition to "citizens in training" as they begin their new roles.
The Annex's locked door, unusual for the community, is essential for the focus needed for Jonas’s training.
Unfamiliar books in the office signify the breadth of knowledge Jonas is about to learn in stark contrast to his previous experiences.

The Giver's Teaching Method

The Giver's responsibility includes transferring all past memories to Jonas to prepare him for his role.
A metaphor comparing the transmission of memories to sledding conveys that initial exhilaration can give way to challenges, though Jonas finds this analogy perplexing due to his lack of knowledge about snow.
To clarify the concept of snow, The Giver creates a tactile experience for Jonas through memory transmission.

Gaining Knowledge and Skills

Jonas’s first painful experience given is the sensation of sunburn, providing him firsthand knowledge of pain.
As Jonas begins to perceive colors like red, he realizes this is a new ability gained through his training with The Giver.
Through memories, Jonas grasps the complexity of choice, understanding that although it brings freedom, it can also lead to dangerous outcomes if mishandled.

Emotional Connections and Family Dynamics

The conversation between Jonas and The Giver reveals the melancholy of relationships, such as spouses, and highlights the distinctions in their community's structure.
The loss of memories from the previous Receiver underscores the significance of Jonas's role in retaining collective experience.

Challenges in Training

The Giver sometimes sends Jonas home without training due to overwhelming pain from transmitted memories.
Through shared painful experiences, such as a sled accident, Jonas learns to comprehend and share the burden of pain.
Each training session ends with a pleasant memory to mitigate Jonas's pain, balancing the heavy experiences shared.

Community Regulations and Personal Struggles

Jonas learns that families can have only two children to prevent hunger issues, highlighting the community's control over reproduction and resource management.
Jonas helps Gabriel sleep by sharing gentle memories, which raises concerns about overstepping his role as a Receiver, showing his developing emotional connection.
At the end of Chapter 15, Jonas receives his first vivid memory of warfare, exposing him to the harsh realities of human experience and suffering.

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Description

Explore key themes and character emotions in Chapters 8 to 15 of 'The Giver' with these thought-provoking flashcards. Test your understanding of Jonas' feelings during the Ceremony of Elevens and the unusual events that unfold. Perfect for students looking to deepen their comprehension of this classic text.