The Giver Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is The Giver?

A novel by Lois Lowry written in 1993.

What type of novel is The Giver?

Historical Fiction

Romance

Science fiction (correct)

Fantasy

What does The Giver follow?

A young man named Jonas as he grows up in a society that has eradicated pain.

What themes does The Giver explore?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Describe the setting of The Giver.

A futuristic community where sameness is encouraged and the government is strict. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the word 'dwelling' rather than 'home'?

It removes the emotional effects associated with 'home'. Signup and view all the answers

What role do animals play in Jonas's community?

Animals do not play a significant role; they are rarely mentioned. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'release' mean in Jonas's society?

It means the person is killed. Signup and view all the answers

How do married couples add children to their families?

By filling out an application and receiving a child in December. Signup and view all the answers

Who decides a person's job in the community?

The Committee of Elders. Signup and view all the answers

How are physical differences viewed?

They are ignored and not mentioned. Signup and view all the answers

What might be significant about the 'change' Jonas sees in the apple?

It could represent a government manipulation of perception. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the behavior and values of Jonas's community.

They are orderly, value sameness, and lack freedom and individuality. Signup and view all the answers

What disturbing aspects of Jonas's society are revealed?

The killing of the old, unhealthy babies, and criminals. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Jonas's personality and values.

Jonas is intelligent, follows rules, and values order. Signup and view all the answers

Is the committee open to change?

No. Signup and view all the answers

What are stirrings?

They are sexual desires experienced by individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a birthmother has twins?

The community releases the smaller baby. Signup and view all the answers

What realization struck Jonas about lying?

Maybe everyone lies and he couldn't tell if they did. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Gabriel is taken away from Jonas?

He cries and does not sleep through the night. Signup and view all the answers

What new feeling does Jonas get to experience?

Love. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jonas decide to do at the end of the chapter?

Jonas decides to not take his pill. Signup and view all the answers

What has happened to Jonas since he has stopped taking his pills?

The Stirrings had returned. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jonas want to do on his unexpected holiday?

Jonas wants to hang out with his friends. Signup and view all the answers

What were Jonas's friends playing?

A game of good guys and bad guys (a game of war). Signup and view all the answers

What happened with the war game?

Jonas stopped the game, causing everyone to go home and a rift in his friendship with Asher. Signup and view all the answers

What would the father do the next day when the identical twins were born?

Jonas's father has to weigh both children and the smaller twin would be released. Signup and view all the answers

How does the father describe the release?

Getting the baby comfy, doing the Ceremony of Release, waving goodbye, and giving the baby away. Signup and view all the answers

Who takes the baby when it is released, according to the father?

Someone from elsewhere takes the baby. Signup and view all the answers

What job did mother think would fit Lily?

The job of storyteller. Signup and view all the answers

What was the last Receiver's-in-training name?

Rosemary. Signup and view all the answers

What was the cause of her failure?

The Giver started to give her unpleasant memories, leading her to apply for release. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the memories when Rosemary died?

The memories were given to the community. Signup and view all the answers

For the first time, the community had memories which caused them to have what?

Feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Giver do to help the people?

The Giver did not do anything to help the people. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Giver keep telling Jonas to stay away from the river?

If Jonas dies, the memories he has received would be given to all of the community, causing chaos. Signup and view all the answers

How does Jonas deal with the memories?

By joking around. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jonas decide that he wanted to watch?

A release. Signup and view all the answers

How was Jonas able to watch one?

He asks the Giver, who says they can ask anyone anything, and they watch the recording. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Jonas's father stick the needle into the newborn twin?

Into the scalp vein of the newborn twin. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be released?

To be killed. Signup and view all the answers

Where did father place the baby?

Into the trash. Signup and view all the answers

How was Rosemary released?

She applied for release and placed the needle into her own arm. Signup and view all the answers

What was Jonas's reaction to all of this?

Jonas was shocked and angered. Signup and view all the answers

Where did he spend that night?

With the Giver. Signup and view all the answers

Who all in the community gets released?

The old, unhealthy babies, and criminals. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

General Overview

"The Giver," a science fiction novel by Lois Lowry, explores a supposedly utopian society focused on sameness.
The protagonist, Jonas, navigates a community that eliminates pain and conflict by suppressing individual differences and collective memory.

Setting

Set in a futuristic community emphasizing strict government control and uniformity.
Sameness in society leads to the absence of emotions, individuality, and significant life experiences.

Main Concepts

Release: A euphemism for killing those deemed unfit, including the old and unhealthy babies, indicating deep societal flaws.
Assignment of Roles: Determined by the Committee of Elders based on personality and prior volunteerism, with roles ensuring societal conformity.

Community Values and Structure

Physical differences are disregarded, highlighting a lack of individuality.
Marriage and childbearing are highly regulated; couples can only have one boy and one girl, and children are assigned to them.
Customs like sharing dreams and feelings aim to suppress individuality and maintain order.

Jonas's Journey

Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memory, a critical and rare role in the community, suggesting his uniqueness.
His training involves experiencing memories that encompass both joy and pain, contrasting with the community’s values.
Jonas experiences the return of emotions, including love, which challenges the community’s doctrine of sameness.

Relationships and Emotional Growth

Jonas's connection to Gabriel demonstrates his capacity for love and individuality, as he shares memories with him to soothe and comfort.
The absence of real relationships and the superficial understanding of emotions create tension, as shown in Jonas's difficulty relating to friends during games.

The Giver's Role

The Giver holds all memories, guiding the community's leaders while bearing the burden of past pains, indicating the importance of memories in understanding humanity.
The contrast between painful memories and joyous ones, such as Christmas, highlights the need for emotional depth in life.

Societal Flaws and Consequences

The council's decisions, like limiting family size and releasing non-conforming individuals, reflect a deeply flawed moral foundation.
People do not question established rules due to indoctrination and fear, showcasing an oppressive societal structure.

Significant Themes

The significance of colors, emotions, and personal choice are central themes, contrasting Jonas's awakening with the community's enforced uniformity.
As Jonas encounters more memories, he begins to see the value of feelings, which leads him to reconsider the societal norms he once accepted.

Conclusion and Predictions

By ceasing to take his pills, Jonas defies societal control, suggesting a potential awakening of individuality and emotions that could greatly affect his fate and those around him.
Jonas's understanding of love and personal connection may lead him to challenge the community's values, setting the stage for conflict and personal growth.### Rosemary's Release and Its Consequences
Rosemary's application for release was triggered by the Giver imparting her unpleasant memories.
Upon Rosemary's death, her memories were distributed to the community, marking a significant shift in their experience.

Impact on the Community

The community began to experience feelings for the first time after receiving Rosemary's memories, altering their emotional landscape.
The Giver did not intervene to assist the community in coping with these new feelings and memories.

Giver's Advice to Jonas

The Giver cautioned Jonas to avoid the river to prevent chaos that would ensue if Jonas were to die and transfer his memories to the community.
Jonas resorts to humor as a coping mechanism for handling the weight of his memories.

Jonas's Curiosity and Discoveries

Jonas's curiosity led him to desire witnessing the process of release.
He was able to view a release by requesting assistance from the Giver, who permitted him access to recordings.

Disturbing Practices of Release

Jonas observed his father injecting a needle into the scalp vein of a newborn twin, resulting in the baby's death.
The term "release" in the community is synonymous with killing, revealing the grim reality of their practices.
Jonas's father disposed of the deceased infant into the trash, illustrating the lack of value placed on life in their society.

Rosemary's Self-Release

Rosemary's release involved a sad act of self-administering a needle into her arm, highlighting her despair.
Jonas's reaction was one of shock and anger upon confronting the realities of release and the Giver's previous teachings.

Aftermath of the Revelations

Following these unsettling discoveries, Jonas chose to spend the night with the Giver, seeking comfort and understanding.
The community's release policy affected various individuals, including the elderly, unhealthy infants, and those labeled as criminals, indicating a systematic approach to population control.

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Test your knowledge of 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry with these flashcards. Explore key concepts, themes, and characters from this thought-provoking science fiction novel. Perfect for students studying the book in class or for literature enthusiasts.