What is UTOPIA? The Giver By: Lois Lowry Pre-Reading Activity

Utopia An ideally perfect place in terms of: social aspects political aspects moral aspects

What would you visualize as the “perfect” world?

Take a minute to reflect… What do you think a Utopian society would be like? What do you think a Utopian society would be like? Are all people free? Are all people free? Do people have monkeys as butlers? Do people have monkeys as butlers? What jobs are there? What jobs are there? What are the rules and the laws? What are the rules and the laws? What happens if people break the laws? What happens if people break the laws? Would there be religion? Would there be religion? Who would rule the country? Who would rule the country?

The reality of UTOPIA Could there ever be a “perfect” world? Could there ever be a “perfect” world? What inhibits us from living in a perfect world? What inhibits us from living in a perfect world?

Utopia and The Giver There is a thin line between utopia and dystopia as we will study in Lois Lowry’s, The Giver. In this “perfect” world, citizens are restricted on clothing, jobs, spouse and children, therefore leaving personal choice out of the question. Is there a price to pay in a seemingly perfect world?

Essential Questions We will consider the following questions during our study of The Giver. –W–W–W–What are the characteristics of a community? –H–H–H–How do members of the community affect one another? –I–I–I–Is belonging to a community a good thing? –S–S–S–Should the government restrict personal freedoms for the good of the community? Introduction