The Giver Study Guide: Test 2 Flashcards

Study guide flashcards for The Giver covering literary terms, symbolism, dramatic irony, and vocabulary definitions.

Science fiction

A genre of fiction in which the action takes place on another planet, in the future, or in another dimension.

Elements of science fiction

Major scientific or technological advances, major social or environmental changes, space or time travel, and life on other planets.

Symbolism

In literature, an object, person, or event that represents an idea or a set of ideas.

Symbolism in The Giver

Objects symbolized in The Giver include the sled, Lily’s comfort object, and colors.  The sled is a symbol of both escape from the community's daily life and return to a world that values emotions, memories, individuality, choice, and love. Comfort objects represent childhood in the Community and also the distant past.  Colors (rainbow) represent feelings and emotions.

Mood

The feeling the author creates through carefully chosen words and phrases, setting, and events.

Mood change in Chapter 16

Lowry changes the mood when The Giver transfers the treasured memory of a large family celebrating Christmas at home to Jonas.

Personification

A device in which an author grants human characteristics to nonhuman objects.

Varying Chapter Length

A technique used by authors to change rhythm and to achieve special emphasis.

Emphasis in Chapter 15

In Chapter 15, Lowry uses varying chapter length by creating a very short chapter where The Giver transfers the powerful memory of warfare to Jonas. This was done to put extra emphasis on this powerful event, and to illustrate a moment in the novel that will change Jonas’s character forever.

Dramatic Irony

A device used in fiction or drama, when one character is ignorant of something that the reader or audience understands.

Dramatic Irony in The Giver

Jonas and community members believe they are released to Elsewhere, but the reader understands they are put to death.

Climax

The turning point of the story is when the main character comes face-to-face with the main problem or conflict.

anguish

torment; agony

assuage

make less severe

billow

swell out

daub

smear

obsolete

no longer in use

ominous

menacing; threatening

pervade

spread; be present throughout

placidly

calmly; peacefully

wisp

fleeting trace

wry

twisted expression of disgust