The Giver

by Lois Lowry

*Mature. Content may be deemed inappropriate for younger readers.

Grades 8-12; Genre - Dystopian; GRL Y; AR pts. 7.0

While training to be the Receiver of Memory, Jonas experiences joy and sadness for the first time. He becomes convinced his society has given up too much, and he can no longer accept the sameness.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. Describe the society in this story. Each family can only have two children, one male and one female; instead of saying 11 years old, they refer to them as Elevens; there’s a ritual each night to express the emotions felt that day; there’s The Ceremony of Twelve p.4
2. What does it mean “to release”? To remove or let go p.2

Chapter 2

1. Describe the Ceremony of Twelve. For children who turn 12 years old; always in December; they receive their Assignment for the rest of their lives; won’t get to hang out with friends as much p.14

Chapter 3

1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas’s father brought home the newchild; he had light eyes like Jonas; Jonas remembered an incident where he got in trouble from taking home an apple when he shouldn’t have; he brought it home because as he was throwing it back and forth with Asher the apple changed p.20

Chapter 4

1. What does this chapter tell you about this society? There’s a lot of rules; being Released is celebrated; there are rules about only seeing newchildren and The Old without their clothes on p.28

Chapter 5

1. Describe what Stirrings are.  The feelings and thoughts you have when going through puberty p.35
2. Why did Jonas’s mother treat him for showing signs of this? To make it stop or take them away p.37

Chapter 6

1. Now that you know more about this society, list three positives and three negatives about living in this community. Listen to your child’s answer.

Chapter 7

1. Why did Jonas worry he had done something wrong? The Chief Elder skipped his turn during the ceremony, and she didn’t give him an assignment p.57

Chapter 8

1. Describe Jonas’s new Assignment. The Receiver of Memories; he will need to feel real pain; have integrity, courage, intelligence, wisdom, be able to See Beyond; he will be alone and apart from the community p.62

Chapter 9

1. Why were Jonas’s instructions disturbing to him? He was being told to do things that went against what he had been taught p.68

Chapter 10

1. What memories is Jonas going to receive? The memories of the world and the Receiver from generations ago p.76
2. Why couldn’t Jonas understand the sledding analogy? He’s never seen snow or gone sledding p.78

Chapter 11

1. Describe Jonas’s first day of training for his new responsibility. The Giver put his hands on his back and gave him memories of snow, sledding, sunshine and being sunburn p.80

Chapter 12

1. What tones can Jonas see if he’s not seeing color? Black and white p.94

Chapter 13

1. Why is the Giver so alone? He can’t talk about his training with anyone; the committee of elders never comes to him asking for advice; he was required to hide all of his books and training from his wife p.104

Chapter 14

1. Do you agree with Jonas that he shouldn’t tell the Giver he shared a memory with Gabriel? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.117

Chapter 15

1. Why did the Giver ask for forgiveness after giving Jonas the war memory in this chapter? It was horrible, scary, and traumatizing p.120

Chapter 16

1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas experienced family and love; he continued to share memories with Gabe to help him sleep; Jonas didn’t take his pill in the morning p.121 

Chapter 17

1. Why didn’t Jonas want to play the game Asher organized? It was a war game and Jonas now knows what war is p.132

Chapter 18

1. Why did the community struggle when Rosemary was released? The memories the Giver gave her were given back to the community when she was released, and they didn’t know how to deal with the feelings that came with them; they didn’t know how to deal with feelings p.144

Chapter 19

1. What does it mean to release something? Why is Jonas so shocked? To murder; he thought those being released were taken somewhere, Elsewhere, but they were really being killed p.150

Chapter 20

1. Summarize the plan. Jonas will hide away in a vehicle and he and the Giver will go to another community; Jonas will escape to Elsewhere and the Giver will return to help the community p.158
2. Who is the Giver’s daughter? Rosemary; the girl who was the Receiver p.162

Chapter 21

1. Explain why Jonas didn’t follow the plan and left earlier than anticipated? Gabriel was going to be released and Jonas couldn’t let him die p.166

Chapter 22

1. Summarize this chapter. Jonas continued his search for Elsewhere; the landscape changed, and Jonas crashed on his bike; he was hurt but continued on and traveled during the day; he was not being searched for anymore; the weather became colder, and Jonas worried he couldn’t save Gabriel p.171

Chapter 23

1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Gabriel and Jonas were freezing and starving; Jonas continued to give Gabriel memories to help warm them; he found the sled and coasted down to a cabin with Christmas lights; he heard music; he thought he heard an echo from the past; they made it to Elsewhere p.175
2. What did you enjoy about this story? Listen to your child’s answer.
3. Would you want to live in this society? Why, or why not? Listen to your child's answer.