The Giver
Chapter 17 (Pick one of these questions to answer)
1. How had no longer taking the pills changed Jonas?
2. What is significant about his observation that “there was an Elsewhere…it was going?” (P131)
Chapter 18 (Answer only 1 of these questions)
1. Why has the concept of Release taken on more importance and meaning for Jonas?
2. If “Memories are forever.” (p144), why were they kept only by one person and away from members of the community? Why would the loss of the Receiver be such a problem for the community?
Chapter 19 (Answer only 1 question)
1. At the end of Chapter 18 the Giver said to Jonas, “I suppose I could help the whole community the way I’ve helped you.” (p145) At the end of Chapter 19 the author describes Jonas as having “…the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry.” (151)
Explain how you see these situations as being connected. How can the Giver leading Jonas to experience pain be a way of helping him, and the community?
2. Why do you think Rosemary chose to inject herself when it was time for her release?
3. What has the Giver come to realize that makes him see that things in the community must change? How has his time with Jonas helped to provoke this realization?
Chapter 20 (Only one question to answer)
1. How/why is the holding of memories described as being a lonely experience for the Giver?
2. What reasons does the Giver provide to Jonas to explain why he must remain when Jonas leaves the community?
2. What is the significance of the Giver telling Jonas that his daughter’s name was Rosemary? Why would revealing this information make the Giver look happy?
Chapter 21
1. What prompted Jonas’s early departure? Support your answer from the text.
Chapter 22
As Jonas begins his journey he begins to realize that he will not return to “…the orderly, disciplined life…without colour, pain, or past.” (165) As he continued on his journey began to wonder if he had made the right choice. He thought about how “…he would have starved in other ways…hungry for feelings, for colour, for love.” (174)
What has Jonas come to realize that he needs in his life that living in his community did not provide? Why do you think he finds these needs so important? What do they provide?