Participial Phrases / 59B, 60T, 61M, 64M, / Participial phrases are right at home in narrative writing. Lois Lowry’s participial phrases in chapter 8 helped to lengthen the description, giving us more information, and drawing out the anxiety that Jonas was feeling at this time in the book.
Colons / 62M, 64M / While colons are not as common in writing as some other punctuation, Lowry uses them frequently and appropriately. In the first example we are introduced to the Giver for the first time. The colon focuses the reader on this new character who is being introduced. The second time is right before they begin chanting his name; it hushes and slows the reading so that the reader can feel the silent anticipation in the room described. Both colons demonstrate skillful uses of the colon that were so subtle that as a reader I didn’t notice them.
Fragments/ short sentences / 61B, 63T, 64M /59B, 60M, 63B, 64T / Lowry frequently contrasts her longer sentences with shorter sentences and even fragments. This variance helps to emphasize Jonas’ shock and allows his voice to come across to readers. At the end of this particular chapter, the community is accepting Jonas as the new Receiver; In this ceremony they chant his name. Lowry shows this chanting in fragments which enhances the idea of choppy but forceful chanting. The contrast of Jonas’ uncertain fragmented sentences of the chanting of the community demonstrates his impending isolation.
Dialogue / 59-64 / Dialogue provides writers the opportunity to move the plot along outside of the character or narrator’s perspective. In this work, Lois Lowry uses very descriptive adjectives with the dialogue which helps the reader understand how the spoken parts of the text affect the other parts of the text.
Italicized Words / 62M, 63B / Italicized words are used to demonstrate emphasis on particular words in the tone the author writes in. In this chapter Lois Lowry uses a systemized system of italics to demonstrate the speaker’s tone when talking about the characteristics that are required of The Receiver. This technique helps the reader to hear the change in the voice of the speaker. When Lowry uses it from Jonas’ perspective it serves to demonstrate disbelief and shock without lengthy explications of feelings.
Craft Table for The Giver by Lois Lowry (Chapter 8)