The Giver Chapter 1 and 2

The Giver Chapter 1 and 2

Objective: Objective: Explain how specific words, sentences, and passages in the first two chapters of The Giver help establish the setting. (RL.7.3)

Chapter 1 Summary

The Giver begins in late November, and we meet Jonas, a boy who is nervous about what's going to happen in December. Right away we know something is up; Jonas lives in a place called "the community" where supplies are brought in by cargo plane. Once, when he saw a jet flying overhead, he was frightened by it. After the jet flew by, everyone was ordered to go inside immediately. Jonas remembers that, at the time, his younger sister Lily was at the Childcare Center.

Chapter 1 Summary Continued

Okay, so it sounds like this is some sort of highly controlled society. The citizens all have prescribed jobs, like Street Cleaners or Landscape Workers. But about this jet: shortly after the incident, the loudspeakers announced that the pilot had been flying there by accident, and because he had made a mistake, he would get "released." (Creepy? Yes, a little bit.) This word "released" is a big deal: it would be a big punishment for a regular citizen of the community. It's basically like getting voted off the island. Anyway, the whole jet thing happened last year. Back to the present, where Jonas is feeling "apprehensive."

Chapter 1 Summary Continued

We learn that he is "careful with language"; he doesn't want to use the word "frightened" to describe his feeling, because it isn't technically correct. Apparently everyone is this careful about language in the community, except for Jonas's good friend, Asher, who is laughed at for talking too fast. Jonas is eleven, and this coming December is a very special December for all the kids that are eleven. (They're actually called "Elevens.") That's why he's feeling apprehensive. Next we see Jonas at dinner with his family. They go through a ritual where each person talks about their feelings. No, seriously; they talk about their feelings. And you thought dinner with your family was annoying.

Poll

Would you like to live in a community like Jonas's?

• 100% YES

• Ehhh...Yes and no. I wouldn't like being so controlled, but not having to make so many choices sounds nice.

• No way! I like to make my own choices, thank you!

Open Ended

How are gender roles and expectations different in Jonas' community from our own? Do you think their way of approaching gender is more utopian or dystopian? Explain.

Point of ViewDetermining point of view is one of the first things readers do when they read a work of fiction. They might start out by asking themselves:

• Who is telling the story?

• How does the narrator know what he or she knows about the characters and events?

• How can I figure out from which point of view the story is being told?

As Jonas begins to discuss the upcoming Ceremony with his father (a ceremony that his father, too, had undergone), notice how the author develops and contrasts the points of view of these two characters. Consider paragraphs 1 and 3:

Jonas shivered. He pictured his father, who must have been a shy and quiet boy, for he was a shy and quiet man, seated with his group, waiting to be called to the stage. The Ceremony of Twelve was the last of the Ceremonies. The most important.

 

 

“But to be honest, Jonas,” his father said, “for me there was not the element of suspense that there is with your Ceremony. Because I was already fairly certain of what my Assignment was to be.”

From the beginning of the first paragraph, readers can determine that the author uses a narrator who is not a character in the story. They know this because Jonas is referred to by name, and his father is referred to by the use of the pronouns he and his. Readers can also conclude that the narrator is observing Jonas and is a witness to his thoughts and feelings. From this textual evidence in the first and third paragraphs, readers can determine that the narrator is using the third-person point of view to tell the story. However, because the text focuses only on Jonas and on his thoughts and feelings, not on those of his father or mother, the reader can conclude that the story is being told from a third-person limited omniscient point of view.

Consider these contrasting points of view, in paragraphs 13-15:

“Were any of the Elevens disappointed your year?” Jonas asked. Unlike his father, he had no idea what his Assignment would be. But he knew that some would disappoint him. Though he respected his father’s work, Nurturer would not be his wish. And he didn’t envy Laborers at all.

His father thought, “No I don’t think so. Of course the Elders are so careful in their observations and selections.”

“I think it’s probably the most important job in our community,” his mother commented.

Notice the contrast between the points of view of Jonas and his parents. While Jonas seems unsure and a bit nervous about the ability of the Elders to make the correct Assignment for him, his parents are more reluctant to question their authority and are more confident in the Elders’ ability to make the correct career choice.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes how Jonas feels about the Ceremony of Twelve?

• He is excited. His parents’ words set his expectations high.

• He is apprehensive. He doesn’t know what he wants to be, only what he doesn’t want to be.

• He is almost unaware of it.

• He is angry about it. He is frustrated that he won’t see his friends as often.

Multiple Choice

What can we reasonably infer from the following lines of the excerpt about the Assignment process?

Jonas nodded. During the past year he had been aware of the increasing level of observation. In school, at recreation time, and during volunteer hours, he had noticed the Elders watching him and the other Elevens. He had seen them taking notes.

• The Elders are sneaky and don’t like to be seen when observing the Elevens.

• The Elders employ a high level of observation throughout the children’s lives.

• The Assignments are largely decided in school.

• The Elders try to base their decision off of research on the children.

Multiple Choice

What does the following passage mainly say about Jonas?

"But it means," his mother went on, "that you’ll move into a new group. And each of your friends will. You’ll no longer be spending your time with your group of Elevens. After the Ceremony of Twelve, you’ll be with your Assignment group, with those in training. No more volunteer hours. No more recreation hours. So your friends will no longer be as close."Jonas shook his head. "Asher and I will always be friends,” he said firmly. “And there will still be school."

• He plans to defy his Assignment.

• He plans on receiving the same assignment as his friend Asher.

• Jonas is very afraid that he and Asher will no longer be friends.

• Jonas feels more committed to his friendship than his Assignment.

Read this section (paragraphs 23-26) from Chapter 2 of The Giver to contrast the points of view of Jonas and his mother. Then answer the follow-up questions.

 

"Well, it's the last of the Ceremonies, as you know. After Twelve, age isn't important. Most of us even lose track of how old we are as time passes, though the information is in the Hall of Open Records, and we could go and look it up if we wanted to. What's important is the preparation for adult life, and the training you'll receive in your Assignment."

 

"I know that," Jonas said. "Everyone knows that."

 

"But it means," his mother went on, "that you'll move into a new group. And each of your friends will. You'll no longer be spending your time with your group of Elevens. After the Ceremony of Twelve, you'll be with your Assignment group, with those in training. No more volunteer hours. No more recreation hours. So your friends will no longer be as close."

 

Jonas shook his head. “Asher and I will always be friends,” he said firmly. “And there will still be school."

Multiple Choice

Which of the following BEST expresses Jonas’s point of view about the upcoming Assignment process?

• a.resistant

• B. excited

• C. compliant

• D. terrified

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the passage supports your answer to Part A?

• A. “‘Most of us even lose track of how old we are as time passes, though the information is in the Hall of Open Records, and we could go and look it up if we wanted to.’”

• B. “‘What’s important is the preparation for adult life, and the training you’ll receive in your Assignment.’”

• C. “‘After the Ceremony of Twelve, you’ll be with your Assignment group, with those in training. No more volunteer hours. No more recreation hours. So your friends will no longer be as close.’”

• D. “Jonas shook his head. ‘Asher and I will always be friends,’ he said firmly. ‘And there will still be scho