Book Title: The Giver
Author: by Lois Lowry
Grade Level: 7
Type: Fiction
Topic: Futuristic Fantasy
Lexile: 760


Discussion Questions

1. What was the role of the "family unit" in Jonas’s community, and how is it different from the concept of family in our culture?
   • The family unit was an artificial family selected by the Elders. Its role was to raise children by the rules.
   • Children were assigned to each set of parents; when the children were old enough, the parents were removed to a home for Childless Parents.
   • There were no natural connections among family members; there was no such thing as love; there were no grandparents or sense of continuity.
   
   
2. What did you notice about the language used by the author in this book? How does it reflect the community itself?
   • The lack of figurative language and showy adjectives robs the language of "color," just as the community has been robbed of color.
   • Almost all words are restricted to literal meanings, taking away the freedom and playfulness that figurative language allows. The people of the community have also been robbed of freedom and playfulness, and are restricted to literal actions and interactions with one another.
   • Many new terms are mechanical ("comfort object") or euphemistic ("release" for kill), which reinforces the lack of emotion and the sense of control in the community.
   
   
3. Why do you think the Giver finally decided that "things must change"?
   • Sharing memories with Jonas made the Giver feel less alone and less hopeless.
   • Telling the truth about Rosemary seems to have made the Giver less willing to risk any more tragedies like hers.
   • Loving Jonas, and knowing Jonas had the ability to love, made the Giver determined to help him escape to the larger world.
   
   
4. In order to change plans suddenly and sneak away from the community with Gabriel, Jonas must have learned many new values during his time with the Giver. What were some of the things Jonas learned? Give examples.
   • to think for himself and question what was happening around him
   • to defy rules
   • to take risks
   • to sacrifice himself in order to save someone he loved (Gabriel)
   • to judge others by different standards or morals from those applied in the community (as when he watched his father release the twin boy)
   
   
5. Why do you think the title of this book is "The Giver" and not "The Receiver"? Do you think "The Receiver" would be better?
   • The story focuses on Jonas, who is the new Receiver, but he becomes a "Giver" at the end, in a sense, by giving his memories to the community, by giving his life for a cause, and by giving memories to Gabriel.
   • Students might argue that Jonas is the character who is acted upon in this story and the Giver is the one who brings about change by training Jonas and staying in the community afterward, so the Giver has greater significance.
   • Students might argue that the title is appropriate but the name of the job is inaccurate, since the person’s role is to give memories, give advice, and give wisdom. The person is called the Receiver, but he only "receives" during training.