1. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
1. Why might the arrival of a jet be a terrifying experience for the entire community?

2. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
1. Why might the arrival of a jet be a terrifying experience for the entire community?
There seems to be a state of tension with the outside world.

3. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
2. What do you think might happen to someone who is released from the community?

4. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
2. What do you think might happen to someone who is released from the community?
Release is a serious punishment. The exceptions are the celebration of the elderly and the release of a newchild.

5. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
3. What was the purpose of the ritual telling of feelings?

6. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
3. What was the purpose of the ritual telling of feelings?
The purpose is to relieve feelings of anger or worry and help each person return to a sense of calm.

7. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
4. What was unique about the way children are born and infants are cared for in the community?

8. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
4. What was unique about the way children are born and infants are cared for in the community?
50 babies were born each year and cared for by the Nurturers, not the mothers.
At one year of age they were given to families who could each have one boy and one girl.

9. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
5. Why was it so difficult to get rules changed in the community?

10. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
5. Why was it so difficult to get rules changed in the community?
Rules needed to be changed by a committee who studied each issue and discussed it for years.

11. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
6. On what basis did children receive life assignments?

12. The Giver – Chapters 1 & 2
6. On what basis did children receive life assignments?
The Elevens were carefully observed by the Committee of Elders, which made its decision based upon ability and interest.

14. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
1. Why were Gabe’s eyes of such interest to Jonas?

15. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
1. Why were Gabe’s eyes of such interest to Jonas?
Most people in the community had dark eyes. Gabe’s pale eyes were like his own; they formed a bond between the two boys.

16. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
2. How did Lily react to the new word “hippo”? Why did she react this way?

17. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
2. How did Lily react to the new word “hippo”? Why did she react this way?
To her, it was a funny word and she had no idea that there actually was such an animal as a hippopotamus.

18. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
3. Why did Jonas risk the humiliation of public chastisement for taking an apple from the recreation area?

19. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
3. Why did Jonas risk the humiliation of public chastisement for taking an apple from the recreation area?
Jonas was so curious about the apple that he felt it was worth the risk to bring it home to try to solve its mystery.

20. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
4. Why was Jonas interested in finding out where Roberto went upon release?

21. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
4. Why was Jonas interested in finding out where Roberto went upon release?
Jonas is very intelligent; it’s natural for him to be curious about an important event that was so shrouded in mystery.

22. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5
5. What effect did the pills have on Jonas and the other people who took them? Why do you think all adults were required to take them?

23. The Giver – Chapters 3 - 5 The pills destroyed sexual impulses.
5. What effect did the pills have on Jonas and the other people who took them? Why do you think all adults were required to take them?
The pills destroyed sexual impulses.
Strong sexual impulses would upset the carefully ordered community.

25. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
1. Under what circumstances was Gabriel allowed a second year of nurturing? Why do you think the community made this exception to the rules?

26. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
1. Under what circumstances was Gabriel allowed a second year of nurturing? Why do you think the community made this exception to the rules?
Gabriel was given a second year based on Father’s plea, and the family’s signed agreement that they would not form a permanent attachment to Gabe.

27. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
2. What do you think was the difference between Release and Loss?

28. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
2. What do you think was the difference between Release and Loss?
“Loss” was the community’s word for accidental death, such as drowning.
“Release” is for weak newchildren, the very old, and third-time transgressors. “Release” is ???

29. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
3. What was the significance of the bicycles that were given to the Nines?

30. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
3. What was the significance of the bicycles that were given to the Nines?
They symbolize the beginning of some independence.

31. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
4. Why was Jonas skeptical that anyone might be unhappy with life in the community?

32. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
4. Why was Jonas skeptical that anyone might be unhappy with life in the community?
Jonas believed that life in the community was perfect.

33. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
5. Why had Asher been punished for confusing the words “snack” and “smack”? What does this punishment reveal about the community?

34. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
5. Why had Asher been punished for confusing the words “snack” and “smack”? What does this punishment reveal about the community?
The community punished children for misusing language because precise language was required in an ordered society.

35. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
6. What set the Ceremony of Twelve apart from all other age ceremonies?

36. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
6. What set the Ceremony of Twelve apart from all other age ceremonies?
It marked the end of childhood and the beginning of adult responsibilities.

37. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8 Selection Assignment
7. Why did the community make the distinction between “Selection” for Receiver of Memory and “Assignment” for all other occupations?
Selection
Assignment

38. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
7. Why did the community make the distinction between “Selection” for Receiver of Memory and “Assignment” for all other occupations?
It emphasizes the importance of it to the entire community.

39. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
8. What was unusual about the appearance of the bearded Elder? What was significant about this characteristic?

40. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
8. What was unusual about the appearance of the bearded Elder? What was significant about this characteristic?
He had pale eyes; this hints at a bond between him and Jonas and maybe even Gabriel.

41. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
9. Why was Jonas chosen to be the next Receiver of Memory?

42. The Giver – Chapters 6 - 8
9. Why was Jonas chosen to be the next Receiver of Memory?
He was intelligent and had integrity, but above all, he was able “to see beyond.”

43. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Jonas feel after receiving his adult Assignment? Why? What did Asher’s hesitation in congratulating Jonas indicate?

44. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Jonas feel after receiving his adult Assignment? Why? What did Asher’s hesitation in congratulating Jonas indicate?
Jonas felt uneasy; everyone seemed wary of him.
Even Asher hesitated, not knowing whether he could talk to his friend in the usual way.

45. The Giver – Chapters
2. Which item in the list of duties and responsibilities frightened Jonas? Why?

46. The Giver – Chapters
2. Which item in the list of duties and responsibilities frightened Jonas? Why?
The rule permitting Jonas to lie startled him because children were taught never to lie.
Permission to lie caused Jonas to question whether everyone in the community lied. What and whom could he believe?

47. The Giver – Chapters
3. Why was the concept of pain beyond Jonas’s comprehension? How did he know this was about to change?

48. The Giver – Chapters
3. Why was the concept of pain beyond Jonas’s comprehension? How did he know this was about to change?
All members of the community had been spared physical pain.
Now, Jonas knew that pain would be part of his training.

49. The Giver – Chapters
4. What was unique about the Annex?

50. The Giver – Chapters
4. What was unique about the Annex?
The Receiver of Memory’s private room had a lock, luxurious furnishings, an “off” switch on the speaker, and a library.

51. The Giver – Chapters
5. At first, why did Jonas misinterpret the Receiver’s job of transmitting memories of the past?

52. The Giver – Chapters
5. At first, why did Jonas misinterpret the Receiver’s job of transmitting memories of the past?
Jonas didn’t understand that an entirely different world existed before his community was established, nor that the Giver could have memories of things before his birth.

53. The Giver – Chapters
6. Why was the transmittal of the memory of snow so exhausting to the old man?

54. The Giver – Chapters
6. Why was the transmittal of the memory of snow so exhausting to the old man?
He had to retrieve it from the far distant past. No one in the community had experienced snow for many generations.
It had been made obsolete because of the unpredictable element it brought into life.

55. The Giver – Chapters
7. What two lessons did Jonas Learn about the sun?

56. The Giver – Chapters 9 - 11 The sun is a source of pleasure and pain.
7. What two lessons did Jonas Learn about the sun?
The sun is a source of pleasure and pain.
There were places beyond his community to learn about.

57. The Giver – Chapters
8. Why did The Giver appear a little sad at the end of the first day of training?

58. The Giver – Chapters
8. Why did The Giver appear a little sad at the end of the first day of training?
The Giver was saddened by the realization of the burden Jonas was about to endure.

59. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
1. How did Jonas’s relationship with his parents and friends change after he received his Life Assignment?

60. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
1. How did Jonas’s relationship with his parents and friends change after he received his Life Assignment?
He could no longer be open and honest with his family and friends because he was not permitted to discuss his dreams or his training.

61. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
2. How did The Giver explain the visual phenomena that Jonas witnessed? What did this reveal about the community?

62. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13 Jonas was beginning to see the color red.
2. How did The Giver explain the visual phenomena that Jonas witnessed? What did this reveal about the community?
Jonas was beginning to see the color red.
Everyone in the community, except for The Giver, did not see color!

63. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
3. Why did the community relinquish the ability to see color?

64. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
3. Why did the community relinquish the ability to see color?
They decided to give up color when they chose sameness as a way of life.
Anything that involved choice was dangerous because it led to the possibility of wrong choices.

65. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
4. Why was it important for The Receiver of Memory to have The Capacity to See Beyond?

66. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
4. Why was it important for The Receiver of Memory to have The Capacity to See Beyond?
He had to observe life objectively, not see things as they had been engineered by the scientists.

67. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
5. Why did Jonas refer to Gabe as his little brother? Could this be true?

68. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
5. Why did Jonas refer to Gabe as his little brother? Could this be true?
A bond had developed between them because both boys had unusual pale eyes.
They might in fact be biologically related.

69. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
6. Why did The Giver warn Jonas about having a spouse and children?

70. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
6. Why did The Giver warn Jonas about having a spouse and children?
From experience, The Giver knew how difficult it was to have a family and not be able to share information about his work.

71. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
7. Why was The Giver bitter about the Council of Elders?

72. The Giver – Chapters 12 &13
7. Why was The Giver bitter about the Council of Elders?
The Giver wished they would ask for his wisdom more often.
Despite the honor, The Giver felt useless and powerless.

73. The Giver – Chapters
1. How was Jonas’s second experience with snow unlike the first? Why did The Giver offer Jonas this experience?

74. The Giver – Chapters
1. How was Jonas’s second experience with snow unlike the first? Why did The Giver offer Jonas this experience?
The first was delightful; the second was painful and terrifying.
The Giver had to transmit the memory of pain to Jonas.

75. The Giver – Chapters
2. According to the Giver, why did Jonas have to receive and store memories of pain? What does this tell you about the community?

76. The Giver – Chapters
2. According to the Giver, why did Jonas have to receive and store memories of pain? What does this tell you about the community?
The Giver believed that wisdom was only achieved through the experience of pain.
He thought the people were selfish and afraid.

77. The Giver – Chapters
3. Why did The Giver apologize to Jonas after sharing the memory of war?

78. The Giver – Chapters 14 -16 He had subjected Jonas to terrible pain.
3. Why did The Giver apologize to Jonas after sharing the memory of war?
He had subjected Jonas to terrible pain.

79. The Giver – Chapters
4. Why were Jonas and his father worried about Gabriel’s fretfulness at night? How did Jonas try to solve this problem?

80. The Giver – Chapters
4. Why were Jonas and his father worried about Gabriel’s fretfulness at night? How did Jonas try to solve this problem?
They knew that Gabriel would have to be Released unless his sleep habits improved.
Jonas transmitted calming memories to him.

81. The Giver – Chapters
5. Why did the Memory of grandparents disturb Jonas?

82. The Giver – Chapters
5. Why did the Memory of grandparents disturb Jonas?
Jonas appreciated the warm family feelings that existed when grandparents were not sent to the House of the Old.
This made him worry about the fate of his own parents.

83. The Giver – Chapters
6. Why couldn’t Jonas’s parents answer his question about love?

84. The Giver – Chapters
6. Why couldn’t Jonas’s parents answer his question about love?
“Love” had become outdated, meaningless because intense feelings were deemed dangerous.
This would upset the pattern of Sameness in the community.

85. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Jonas’s range of emotions differ from those of his family and friends?

86. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Jonas’s range of emotions differ from those of his family and friends?
Jonas had a broader range of emotions than anyone he knew.

87. The Giver – Chapters
2. How did Jonas react to the children’s war game?

88. The Giver – Chapters
2. How did Jonas react to the children’s war game?
Jonas was terribly upset by the war play because he understood the devastating nature of war.

89. The Giver – Chapters
3. Why did Jonas feel powerless and alone when Fiona and Asher rode off on their bicycles?

90. The Giver – Chapters
3. Why did Jonas feel powerless and alone when Fiona and Asher rode off on their bicycles?
Jonas realized he could never recover the relationships he had with his friends.
He could not give his friends memories, and they would never experience real feelings.

91. The Giver – Chapters
4. Why did the community refer to the former Receiver-in-training as a failure? How did this failure affect the rules that applied to Jonas?

92. The Giver – Chapters
4. Why did the community refer to the former Receiver-in-training as a failure? How did this failure affect the rules that applied to Jonas?
The former Receiver-in-training had been unable to deal with painful memories and had requested Release.
Now the rules change makes it impossible for Jonas to request Release.

93. The Giver – Chapters
5. What shocked Jonas when he viewed his father “releasing” one of the newborn twins?

94. The Giver – Chapters
5. What shocked Jonas when he viewed his father “releasing” one of the newborn twins?
His father had given the newborn child a lethal injection.

95. The Giver – Chapters
6. What did Jonas learn about the community’s prohibition against lying?

96. The Giver – Chapters
6. What did Jonas learn about the community’s prohibition against lying?
He realized that lying seemed to be permitted when he understood that “release” really meant killing.

97. The Giver – Chapter 20
1. Why would Fiona, a trainee in the care of the old, probably accept the practice of releasing the old?

98. The Giver – Chapter 20 She had been trained to follow instructions.
1. Why would Fiona, a trainee in the care of the old, probably accept the practice of releasing the old?
She had been trained to follow instructions.
She had not been trained to have deep feelings such as distress.

99. The Giver – Chapter 20
2. Why was The Giver now ready to make a plan for change?

100. The Giver – Chapter 20
2. Why was The Giver now ready to make a plan for change?
Jonas was strong enough to help The Giver make a change in the community.

101. The Giver – Chapter 20
3. Why would Jonas’s departure from the community lead to possible change?

102. The Giver – Chapter 20
3. Why would Jonas’s departure from the community lead to possible change?
In learning to deal with the memories, the people might gain some wisdom, which could lead to change.

103. The Giver – Chapter 20
4. Why did The Giver decide to stay behind to help the community? Is it the right decision?

104. The Giver – Chapter 20
4. Why did The Giver decide to stay behind to help the community? Is it the right decision?
Without his assistance and protection, the people would be thrown into chaos by the memories.

105. The Giver – Chapter 20
5. Why did Jonas and The Giver choose the December Ceremony as the time to implement their plan?

106. The Giver – Chapter 20
5. Why did Jonas and The Giver choose the December Ceremony as the time to implement their plan?
Everyone in the community would be attending the Ceremony and the roads would not be watched.

108. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Father’s sweet, sing-song voice affect Jonas on their last evening together?

109. The Giver – Chapters
1. How did Father’s sweet, sing-song voice affect Jonas on their last evening together?
He made up his mind to leave that night with Gabe because he couldn’t stand to have his father kill Gabe.

110. The Giver – Chapters
2. What would have happened to Jonas and Gabe had the searchers found them?

111. The Giver – Chapters 21 - 23 Gabe would have been released.
2. What would have happened to Jonas and Gabe had the searchers found them?
Gabe would have been released.
Jonas would have been given another chance because the community needs him to be the Receiver.

112. The Giver – Chapters
3. In what way was Jonas handicapped by his early departure?

113. The Giver – Chapters
3. In what way was Jonas handicapped by his early departure?
He couldn’t bring enough food and clothes for both of them.
He could have used more memories of strength and courage.

114. The Giver – Chapters
4. How was Jonas able to use memories to foil the search planes? In what other ways did memories help Jonas during the journey?

115. The Giver – Chapters
4. How was Jonas able to use memories to foil the search planes? In what other ways did memories help Jonas during the journey?
He thought of memories of snow making them both cold and preventing the heat-seeking search planes to find them.
The memory of the sled, the ride, the house and people at Christmas time gave him strength and courage to continue.

116. The Giver – Chapters
5. How was Jonas able to recall their destination from a memory of his own?

117. The Giver – Chapters
5. How was Jonas able to recall their destination from a memory of his own?
This was The Giver’s favorite memory and he had given it to him.

118. The Giver – Chapters
6. What might have been the source of the music that Jonas thought he heard behind him?

119. The Giver – Chapters
6. What might have been the source of the music that Jonas thought he heard behind him?
The Giver had the power to “hear beyond.” Maybe he was “sending” music to Jonas to comfort him and keep him going on his difficult journey.