The Giver (Chapters 1-8) Review Guide PDF

The Giver By Lois Lowry  Main Ideas to Know The reason behind job assignments, Matching of the Spouses, assigning children The significance of and importance of dream-telling and sharing feelings as a family How the community feels about “differences” The rea...

The Giver By Lois Lowry  Main Ideas to Know The reason behind job assignments, Matching of the Spouses, assigning children The significance of and importance of dream-telling and sharing feelings as a family How the community feels about “differences” The reasons one can be Released from the community Review the chapter summaries on the following slides Review the textual evidence you have pulled from each chapter  The Giver Chapter 1 Summary The character of Jonas is introduced. Jonas is an 11 year old boy, attempting to find the right word to describe his emotions about an upcoming event. He discusses a time he was frightened by an aircraft flying over his community, a forbidden act in his society. We learn about his structured community where rules play an important role. In fact, orders and rules are often spoken over a loudspeaker in the community. The pilot of the aircraft was “released” which we learn is a disgraceful punishment. At dinner that evening, Jonas’s family (father, mother, and sister) participated in the “telling of feelings; where each member of the family shared an emotion they felt that day. Lily (sister) felt anger at a new boy who was not following the rules. Her parents discuss it with her and she realizes that perhaps the boy did not feel comfortable and she becomes less angry. Jonas’s father is a nurturer in the community. He takes care of the community’s babies. He describes the issues with a baby who is a candidate for release The family may take care of him, but they would not be permitted to adopt as only one male and one female are permitted per household. Jonas feels apprehensive about the Ceremony of Twelve, when he will be assigned his career with the rest of the children in the community.  The Giver Chapter 2 Summary Every year, there are fifty babies. Once they turn one, they get named. Jonas’s father confesses that he can sneak a peek at the naming list before it’s publicly announced. He’s already done so for the little sick baby boy he talked about earlier. The child’s name is Gabriel or Gabe, as Jonas’s father likes to call him. We learn in December, all children in the community are promoted to their next age. With each age comes a new responsibility or privilege. Jonas’ parents reassure him that the Committee of Elders chose careers very carefully. They observe the Elevens all year during school, play, and volunteers hours to help them choose an appropriate career. After the Ceremony of 12, age is no longer important. Jonas worries about his own assignment, but also about his friend Asher, who does not have any serious interests. Lily comes into the room and asks for her “comfort object” which the community gives to young children.  The Giver Chapter 3 Summary Jonas’s father brings the baby Gabriel home from the Nurturing Center to spend some nights with them. Lily notices Gabe’s light colored eyes which are similar to Jonas’s. In this society, it is not polite to bring notice to someone’s physical traits, so Lily is being slightly rude. Lily hopes when she is a Twelve, she will be assigned the role of Birthmother. Lily’s mother strongly discourages this as Birthmothers carry little honor as they are treated very well for three years as they produce children, but are then forced to do labor the rest of their lives. Jonas recalls a time when the community loudspeakers reprimanded him by making an announcement directed at him for taking an apple from school. Jonas took the apple because he noticed that it changed in a way. He wasn’t sure how, but something about it changed as his friend Asher threw it in the air.  The Giver Chapter 4 Summary Jonas meets Asher for their volunteer work. Children from 8-11 must volunteer at different locations to determine an appropriate career path. Jonas is volunteering at the “House of Old.” Here, he gives a bath to an elderly woman. While it is not permitted to look at others naked in society, the elderly and babies are an exception. Jonas and the woman discuss the release of one of the old (Roberto). She describes the release as a celebration of life. His life story was told and he was happy to be released.  The Giver Chapter 5 Summary The family morning ritual is to tell their dreams to each other. While Jonas does not often dream, he experienced one the night before. Jonas dreams that he is in the Bath House of the House of Old. He is there with Fiona and he wants to bathe her. He felt a strong wanting for Fiona. Jonas’s parents explain that the feelings he is experiencing are called “stirrings.” These stirrings happen to everyone around Jonas’s age and treatment is required. Jonas is required to take a pill every morning to stop these thoughts.  The Giver Chapter 6 Summary Some of the age milestones are discussed in this chapter. Age 7: children get a jacket they can button themselves. 8: begin to volunteer. 9: Get bikes and girls can get rid of their hair ribbons. The naming ceremony is what happens when children turn one. All of the children at the Nurturing Center are given a name. Gabriel did not weigh enough or sleep through the night. Most children like this are released. But, Jonas’s father is given an extra year to take care of him. One of the children named this year was a replacement for a child that had been “lost” in the river. When he died, the community had a Ceremony of Loss where they chanted the boy’s name loudly at first, then softer. When the child was replaced, they chanted the name softly then more loudly. The elevens discuss the Ceremony of Twelve. They discuss what happens when someone does not get an assignment they want. It seems that the process leads to nowhere. They also reveal that if a citizens feels they do not want to live in the community, they can apply for Elsewhere and they will disappear. Jonas is no longer worried about his assignment because he trusts that the elders will choose an appropriate assignment.  The Giver Chapter 7 Summary Jonas and the Elevens line up in order of their birth number for the Ceremony of Twelve. The Chief Elder gives a speech and begins going through the students to give them their assignments. Jonas’s friend Asher is given the assignment of “Assistant Director of Recreation.” We learn through a humorous story about Asher that the teachers at the Childcare center receive a “smack” when they do not follow the rules or do something properly. When it comes to Jonas’s number, the Chief Elder skips him. He is very concerned.  The Giver Chapter 8 Summary At the end of the ceremony, the Chief Elder apologizes to Jonas and explains that he has been selected to be the “Receiver of Memory.” The current receiver is sitting with the elders and has the same colored eyes as Jonas. We learn that the Receiver must be a person with a great deal of intelligence, integrity, and courage. They must be able to attain wisdom with time. It also requires the ability to “see beyond.” The Chief Elder explains that the Receiver will experience physical pain in his role.