The Giver Questions and Answers

Why is Jonas frightened by the plane flying overhead? (ch. 1)

It is against the rules for pilots to fly over the communtiy.

Why are the children scolded for telling friends during the play that they have been released? (ch. 1)

It is a grave insult, as being released is a terrible punishment.

Describe Jonas' family's evening ritual. (ch. 1)

Each family member describes a feeling and explains why he/she had that feeling.

List all the reasons that a community member can be released. (ch. 1)

Newchildren are released for not developing properly; elderly people are released in a celebration of their lives; and repeat offenders are released after the third transgression.

What is the rule about family units? (ch. 1)

Each family unit must have two children: one male and one female.

What words are used in this chapter to describe ordinary things? How is this different from the ways we describe them? (ch. 1)

Answers may include dwelling (house), tunic (shirt), play area (play groud), newchild (infant), nurturer (teacher/babysitter), nightclothes (pajamas).

When do newchildren turn one? (ch. 2)

Every December.

What rule does Jonas' father break? How does Jonas feel about this? (ch. 2)

Jonas' father peeked at the Naming list. Jonas was surprised that his father would break a rule.

How do family units get a second newchild? (ch. 2)

A newchild is given to the family at the ceremony.

What happens to the Nines at a Ceremony? (ch. 20

Nines receive a bicycle for the first time.

Who is The Receiver? (ch. 2)

The Receiver is the most important Elder in the community.

What do Gabriel and Jonas have in common? (ch. 3)

They both have pale eyes.

Describe the life of a Birthmother. (ch. 3)

Birthmothers receive wonderful food and gentle exercise periods. They play games and amuse themselves for three years. After three years (three births), they become Laborers. They never see their children.

What happens to Jonas as a result of his decision to take an apple? (ch. 3)

He is the subject of an announcement which makes him feel remorse. He apologizes to the Director of Recreation the next morning.

What happens to the apple while Jonas is playing with it? (ch. 3)

The apple changes in some odd way. The shape and size stay the same, but something about the apple changes.

Why does Jonas take the apple home? (ch. 3)

He wants to try to get the apple to change again.

Why does Jonas have no idea about what his assignment will be? (ch. 4)

Jonas has spent his volunteer hours at many different places. As a result, he is unsure of where he will be assigned.

What tasks do Jonas, Asher, and Fiona perform? (ch. 4)

They run the bath, help the old people into the tub, wash their bodies, and dry them.

What is the rule about nakedness? (ch. 4)

No one may glimpse at another person's nakedness. The rule does not apply to newchildren or the Old.

What happens at the release of the Old? (ch. 4)

The person's life story is told.

Describe Jonas' dream. (ch. 5)

Jonas dreams that he is in a bathing room with Fiona. He has a bare chest. He wants Fiona to take off her clothes and get into the water. Jonas has a strong urge to bathe Fiona.

What explanation does Jonas' mother give him about the dream? (ch. 5)

Jonas' dream is the first sign of "Stirrings". Stirrings happen to everyone as they grow up.

What is the treatment for Stirrings? (ch. 5)

People take pills every morning.

Where do released members go? (ch. 6)

They are sent Elsewhere and never return.

What is special about Caleb? (ch. 6)

Caleb is a replacement child.

Describe the Ceremony of Loss. (ch. 6)

The entire community murmurs the child's name throughout the day. The repetitions get softer and less frequent until the community is silent and the child's name is never uttered again.

Describe the Murmur-of-Replacement Ceremony. (ch. 6)

The name is repeated for the first time since the loss. It is repeated slowly and softly at first, then faster and with more volume.

How are spouses chosen? (ch. 6)

A Committee of Elders chooses the spouses for the people who apply for them.

When do spouses get children? (ch. 6)

After a match has been monitored for three years, couples may apply for a child.

Who is Chief Elder? (ch. 7)

She is the leader of the community. A new Chief Elder is elected every ten years.

Why would Asher have been a poor Instructor of Threes? (ch. 7)

The Instructors of Threes are responsible for acquisition of language, and Asher often has problems with precision of language.

Describe the discipline method for Threes. (ch. 7)

Small children who misbehave mildly are given a smack on the hands with the discipline wand. For a second offense, children receive three sharp smacks on their bare legs.

What is Asher's assignment? (ch. 7)

Assistant Director of Recreation.

What is Fiona's assignment? (ch. 7)

Caretaker of the Old.

Why isn't Jonas assigned? (ch. 8)

He has been selected as the new Receiver of Memory.

How does the committee select a Receiver? (ch. 8)

The committee makes a unanimous choice after carefully observing the candidate. Elders must have no uncertainty about the chosen individual.

What are the qualities a Receiver must have? (ch. 8)

Intelligence, integrity, courage, wisdom, and the capacity to see beyond.

How does the selection make Jonas feel? Why is this an unusual feeling for him? (ch. 9)

He feels different for the first time in his life because he is different. He had grown up being the same as everyone else.

What happened to the previous selection? (ch. 9)

Jonas' parents don't know. She was never seen after the selection.

What are Jonas's rules? How does he react to each of them? (ch. 9)

Jonas must go to the Annex everyday after school. He must go straight home after each day of training. He may ask any questions of anyone. He cannot talk about his training with anyone. He cannot share his dreams. He may not take medication for work-related illness or injury; he cannot apply for release; and he has permission to lie. He was statled by the exemption from rudness. He wwasnt worried about noo dream-telling, although he did wonder a bit how he would deal with the morning ritual. He was unnerved by the restrictions on medication because medicine was so readily available in the community. He had no reaction to the rule about applying for release. The rule about lying is the most shocking. He wonders perhaps everyone else in the community was permitted to lie.

Why does the rule about lying "terrify" Jonas? (ch. 9)

He is worried that everyone else in the community may be lying.

Why does the attendant's behavior surprise Jonas? (ch. 10)

No one had ever stood to acknowledge Jonas' presence.

What was the explanation for the locks? Why are they unusual? (ch. 10)

The attendant explains that the locks ensure The Receiver's privacy so that he may concentrate. No other doors in the community are locked.

Describe The Receiver. (ch. 10)

He wears the special clothing that Elders wear. He wrinkled, and his light eyes are surrounded by dark circles.

What is the job of the Receiver? (ch. 10)

He must transmit his memories to Jonas.

What happens to Jonas when he tries to make the standard community apology? (ch. 10)

The Receiver tells him that he does not have time for apologies.

Describe how the memory is given to Jonas. (ch. 11)

Jonas lies down on the bed. The Receiver places his hand on Jonas' bare back.

What does Jonas perceive in the memory of snow? (ch. 11)

He perceives cold air, snow, a sled, a hill, and runners.

What happens to The Receiver's memory when he gives it to Jonas? (ch. 11)

When the Receiver transmits memories to Jonas, he no longer has them.

What other pleasant memory does Jonas receive? (ch.11)

Sunshine.

What is the first painful memory Jonas receives? (ch. 11)

Sunburn.

What does the old Receiver of Memory tell Jonas to call him? (ch. 11)

The Giver.

What does Jonas dream about? (ch. 12)

He dreams about sledding down the snow covered hill. In the dream he has the feeling that there is a destination beyond where the sled stopped in the thick snow.

How are the Old punished? (ch. 12)

The Old are disciplined with a discipline wand as small children are disciplined.

Why do the faces change for Jonas at the Ceremony? (ch. 12)

Jonas was seeing red tones in the audience members' skin.

Why does Jonas think the lack of color is "unfair"? (ch. 13)

Jonas thinks that, if people had color, they'd also have choices.

Why does Jonas touch Asher? What is Asher's response? (ch. 13)

Jonas wants to transmit the memory of red to Asher. Because it is rude to touch anyone outside the family, Asher was worried something was wrong.

What memory does Jonas receive? (ch. 13)

Jonas sees elephant poachers kill an elephant. He also watches as the surviving elephant grieves for the death.

What happened when the previous Receiver-in-training failed? (ch. 13)

The memories she had been given were returned to the community.

How is the new memory of a sled ride different? (ch. 14)

Jonas has a sledding accident and injures his leg badly.

Why does Jonas feel lonely that evening? (ch. 14)

Jonas feels lonely because he realizes that no one in his family has ever known pain. He can't share the pain with them.

Why does the phrase "Back and back and back" suddenly seem ominous to Jonas? (ch. 14)

He realizes nothing is ever going to change just as nothing has ever changed.

What release is Jonas' father preparing for? (ch. 14)

One of the twins.

What happens to Larissa? (ch. 14)

She is released.

How does Jonas quiet Gabriel when he wakes? (ch. 14)

Jonas accidentally transmits a memory to Gabe while patting him on the back and recalling the sailing memory.

What memory does The Giver give to Jonas? (ch. 15)

A memory of war with carnage and bloodshed.

What does Jonas learn from the birthday memory? (ch. 16)

Jonas learns how it feels to be celebrated and honored as a unique individual.

Which memory is The Giver's favorite? (ch. 16)

A Christmas memory of a family.

Which new words, concepts or emotions does Jonas learn in this memory? (ch. 16)

Family, grandparents, and love.

What do Jonas' parents tell him when he asks if they love him? (ch. 16)

They tell him it is inappropriate to use a generalized and obsolete word like "love."

What is Jonas' first lie to his parents? (ch. 16)

He lies when he says that he understands why it is inappropriate to use the word like "love."

How does Jonas feel now about the ritual of the family members telling their feelings? (ch. 17)

He thinks it is off-base. Now that he has experienced real feelings, he know that feelings cannot be told; they are felt.

What are Asher and the other children playing? (ch. 17)

War.

Why does father bring home a discipline wand now? (ch. 17)

Gabe began to walk, which marks the introduction of the discipline wand.

What does father say will happen at the release of the twin? (ch. 17)

He will weigh them and then take the smaller one, clean him up, make him comfortable, perform the Ceremony of Release, and wave "bye-bye."

What painful memories did The Giver give to Rosemary? (ch. 18)

Loneliness, loss, anguish, poverty, hunger and terror.

What happned to the previous Receiver-to-be? (ch. 18)

She received five weeks of memories. She experienced loss and loneliness and other negative feelings but no physical pain. One day after training, she hugged and kissed The Giver, and then requested from the Chief Elder.

Why was Rosemary's failure a disaster? (ch. 18)

The memories went back to the people and overwhelmed the community.

What would occur if something happened to Jonas after one year of training? (ch. 18)

The community would receive the memories and would be forced to deal with them.

How is Jonas able to to watch the release after it happened? (ch. 19)

He watches a recording. All private ceremonies are recorded and stored in the Hall of Closed Records.

Describe the twin's release. (ch. 19)

The naked children are weighed. The larger child is wrapped and taken away. Jonas' father takes out a syringe and fills it with clear liquid from a bottle. He punctures the smaller child's forehead with the syringe. The child squirms, wails and goes limp. Jonas' father cleans up the room, puts the body into a small carton and then places it in a trash chute. As he dumps the body, he says "Bye-bye, little guy."

Describe Father's attitude toward the release. (ch. 19)

He seems detached and calm.

What do you learn about Rosemary's release in this chapter? (ch. 19)

Rosemary performed her own release.

What does The Giver identify as the worst part of keeping the memories? (ch. 20)

The loneliness.

What finally causes The Giver to decide to make a change? (ch. 20)

Jonas' company over the past year helps The Giver realize that things must change. His question about falling into the river helps The Giver formulate a plan.

Why does The Giver need to stay in the community? (ch. 20)

He needs to help the community deal with the memories so they are not thrown into chaos.

What is the plan that Jonas and The Giver have created? (ch. 20)

The Giver will transfer all of his memories of courage and strength. Jonas will leave at midnight, taking an extra set of clothing. He will ride his bicycle to the river and leave the extra clothing in the bushes. Then he will go to The Giver's dwelling. The next morning The Giver will request a vehicle. He will send the driver out on a errand, and Jonas will hide in the storage area. They will drive him out of the community. Jonas will have two weeks' worth of food saved up for the journey. The Giver will arrive at the Ceremony to announce to the community that Jonas' clothing and bicycle were found by the river. The Giver will lead the community in the Ceremony of Loss.

How does Jonas get Gabe to sleep? (ch. 21)

He transmits a memory of a hammock swing on an island.

What was routine during Jonas and Gabe's journey? (ch. 21)

They slept during the day and rode at night. Jonas searched for water and food at night, too.

Why does Jonas give Gabe memories of snow when the planes fly overhead? (ch. 21)

The planes use heat sensors to locate people. By transmitting cold memories to Gabe, Jonas can help them avoid detection.

What evidence do you have that Jonas is Elsewhere? (ch. 22)

The road is changing; it is narrower and bumpier. There are more trees and a forest by the road. THe landscape is unfamiliar. They see things they have never seen before, such as a waterfall and wildlife.

What is the "plane" that Gabe sees? (ch. 22)

A bird.

What is Jonas' biggest fear? (ch. 22)

Jonas is afraid he and Gabe will starve.

Why does Jonas think he made the wrong choice? (ch. 22)

He is starving.

What is Jonas' feeling at the end of the chapter? (ch. 22)

If he stayed, he'd be starving in other ways (emotionally).

What memory does Jonas give to Gabe? Why? (ch. 23)

Warmth and sunshine. To make Gabe feels happy and warm

What is waiting at the top of the hill? (ch. 23)

A sled.

What do you think happens to Gabe and Jonas at the end?

No answer...just think.