The Giver: Society and Roles

Study Notes

Society Structure

The society is future-oriented and highly controlled.
Families are limited to two children, one boy and one girl.
The society has a zero-tolerance policy for crime, with two chances to correct behavior before “release.”
Release is a euphemism for death.

Roles and Ceremonies

The Ceremony of Eleven assigns each child a job, signifying the end of schooling.
Children are given a name in the Ceremony of One.
Each year, 50 children are born and assigned to families.
In the Ceremony of Eight, comfort objects, like stuffed animals, are taken away.
The Ceremony of Nine marks receiving a bicycle.

Jonas's Family and Friends

Jonas is the main character and is eleven years old.
Jonas has a seven-year-old sister named Lily.
Jonas's father is a Nurturer, caring for newborn children.
Jonas's mother works in the Department of Justice.
Jonas has a friend named Asher.
Jonas's family is loving and open, sharing both successes and frustrations.

Themes of Control

The society's control extends over every aspect of life, from birth to release.
The elders make decisions about the welfare of everyone.
The community controls the process of childbirth, assigning mothers to this duty for only three births.
The community controls the knowledge and experience of its members, suppressing information or memories deemed inconvenient for their perfect society.

Jonas's Internal Conflict

Jonas experiences a sense of apprehension toward the Ceremony of Twelve.
Jonas is fascinated by the idea of change and the apple incident, suggesting a desire for individuality.
Jonas's curiosity about the "release" process underscores a sense of unease with the strict control within the society.
Jonas's apprehension at the Ceremony of Twelve suggests an implicit awareness that he is not fully in control of his own destiny.
While he admires his father as a Nurturer, he feels uncertainty about his own future role in the community.

Description

Explore the structured, future-oriented society depicted in 'The Giver'. This quiz covers the limited family structure, significant ceremonies marking children's growth, and insights into the main character Jonas's family and friendships. Test your knowledge on key elements of this controlled community.