The Giver Flashcards
The Giver takes place in a dystopian society. What is a dystopia?
A society that attempts to be perfect, but very clearly isn’t. Characterized by:
Abundance of propaganda control
Lack of independent freedom
Ruling figurehead
Citizens are under constant surveillance
Fear of the outside world
Daily lives in dehumanized state
The natural world is banished
High expectations and lack of individuality
What is a utopia?
A perfect society
Censorship is a major theme in The Giver. What is censorship?
the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
Free will is a major theme in The Giver. What is free will?
Free will is the idea that humans can choose freely between right and wrong
“Big Brother” is a major theme in The Giver. What is “Big Brother”
“Big Brother” is a term coined in George Orwell’s book 1984. It is a term for government surveillance
“Generational trauma” is a major theme in The Giver. What is generational trauma?
Generational trauma is the idea that trauma and trauma responses can be passed down throughout generations and can impact people beyond just the people who experienced it
List some values in Jonas’s society
Politeness, sameness, obedience, hard work, conformity
In Jonas’s society, how are families created?
Adults apply for spouses, must be matched successfully for at least 3 years before applying for children, then they apply for children and can receive a boy and a girl from the Ceremony of Ones when the babies are named.
What is a birthmother?
A birthmother is a job in Jonas’s society where you have 3 births in 3 years and then become a laborer. The babies are given to families at the Ceremony of Ones
Why do the adults in Jonas’s society all take a pill each morning?
To stop them from having normal human feelings of attraction and romance, so that families can be put together the way the elders decide
What happens at the Ceremony of Twelve?
Children are given their assignments (jobs) and begin job training. It is also when most citizens stop keeping track of age
What is Jonas’s assignment?
Receiver of Memory
What is Asher’s assignment?
Assistant director of recreation
What is Fiona’s assignment?
Caretaker of the old
What is Jonas’s little sister’s name?
Lilly
What is the name of the baby Jonas’s father brings home for “Extra nurturing”?
Gabe/ Gabriel
What physical feature do Jonas and Gabe have in common?
Light eyes
What ability do only Jonas and the Giver understand?
The capacity to see beyond
How did the Giver first begin “seeing beyond” when he was young
“Hearing beyond” hearing music
What is the first color Jonas begins to see?
Red
What is release?
Killing someone
Why does the Giver tell Jonas he shouldn’t hold the twin’s release against his father?
He doesn’t know what it is
List some ways the Giver’s house is different than the other dwellings in the community
The door locks, there are books everywhere, it is much more comfortable, and he can turn the speaker off
What word does Jonas’s parents tell him is too old and meaningless?
Love
Why does Jonas end up leaving with Gabriel sooner than he and the Giver had originally planned?
Gabriel is about to be released
Who is Rosemary?
The previous failed receiver, the daughter of the Giver, who asked to be released and injected herself
What do light eyes symbolize?
The capacity to see beyond
What does the river symbolize?
Death/ the boundary between the community and the outside world
What does the apple and the color red symbolize?
Change/ lack of sameness
