Chapter 3
- Why do you think mirrors were “rare”?
- What is a “birthmother”? How is this different from the concept of mothering in our world?
- What do you think happened with the apple?
Chapter 4
- In what areas of life do the members of the community have free choice? What areas of their lives are tightly controlled?
- Do you think the rule against bragging is a good one? Why or why not?
- What advantages and disadvantages does Jonas see in the way he decides to spend his volunteer hours?
- What do you think about release now?
Chapter 5
- What do you think of the morning “dream telling” ritual?
- Explain in your own words why Jonas must start taking a pill every day. What effect do you think the pills will have on him?
- Why do you think “Stirrings” are treated with pills in this community?
Chapter 6
- What do you think of the pledge the family has to sign about Gabriel? Why, according to the narrator, would it have been sad if they had to release Gabriel?
- What is interdependence?
- Draw a picture of one of the Ceremonies described in this chapter.
- Do you think it would be possible in our world to have a match-making service with a 100% success rate like the one in the community? Why or why not?
Chapter 7
1. EXPLAIN Describe birthdays in Jonas’s community. Answer this by explaining how Jonas could have been “already standing and bright-eyed, soon to walk and talk” at his Naming ceremony (63).
2. INFERENCE Based on what you know, why do you think riding someone else’s bike and opening your tunic on a breezy day is against the rules of the community? (65)
3. CONNECT Do you think corporal punishment is a good way to discipline?
4. IMPORTANT PHRASES Why do you think the Chief Elder says, “thank you for your childhood” after each Twelve is given their assignment (71)?
5. INFERENCE Infer way Jonas “felt dizzy, and couldn’t focus his attention” at the end of Chapter 7 (72).
2. INFERENCE Based on what you know, why do you think riding someone else’s bike and opening your tunic on a breezy day is against the rules of the community? (65)
3. CONNECT Do you think corporal punishment is a good way to discipline?
4. IMPORTANT PHRASES Why do you think the Chief Elder says, “thank you for your childhood” after each Twelve is given their assignment (71)?
5. INFERENCE Infer way Jonas “felt dizzy, and couldn’t focus his attention” at the end of Chapter 7 (72).
Chapter 8
1. VOCABULARY Use context clues to determine what “ill at ease” means (74).
2. VOCABULARY Which vocab word is used on page 75. Write the sentence using the word.
3. VOCABULARY What do you think the difference between being “assigned” and being “selected” means (75)
4. COMPREHENSION Who has been described as having “pale eyes” so far in The Giver?
5. CONNECT If you were Jonas, and you had just heard the description of Jonas’s assignment as Receiver, how would you be feeling?
6. PREDICT Predict what it means to “See Beyond” (80).
2. VOCABULARY Which vocab word is used on page 75. Write the sentence using the word.
3. VOCABULARY What do you think the difference between being “assigned” and being “selected” means (75)
4. COMPREHENSION Who has been described as having “pale eyes” so far in The Giver?
5. CONNECT If you were Jonas, and you had just heard the description of Jonas’s assignment as Receiver, how would you be feeling?
6. PREDICT Predict what it means to “See Beyond” (80).
Chapter 9
1. INFER Why do you think Jonas notices moments of “hesitation” and “uncertainty” from Asher after the Ceremony of Twelve?
2. COMPREHENSION What are Jonas’s rules for becoming the Receiver? Are you surprised by these rules?
3. CONTEXT CLUES Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “requisitioned” on page 88.
4. CONNECT Make a connection (text, self, or world) to how Jonas might be feeling after reading his instructions.
2. COMPREHENSION What are Jonas’s rules for becoming the Receiver? Are you surprised by these rules?
3. CONTEXT CLUES Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “requisitioned” on page 88.
4. CONNECT Make a connection (text, self, or world) to how Jonas might be feeling after reading his instructions.
Chapter 10
- INFERENCE Infer why you think Jonas’s community might not have locks on doors?
- VISUALIZE Draw the room where Jonas meets The Receiver?
- CONNECT Why might books be banned?
- CONTEXT CLUES On page 96, what vocabulary word could you replace with the word “strength” in the sentence: “I need what strength I have remaining for your training.”
- CONNECT If you were The Giver what would be the first memory you would transmit?
Chapter 11
- CONTEXT CLUES Using context clues, on page 106, what might the word “obsolete” mean? (Read the sentence using this word and the sentences around it).
- COMPREHENSION What do Jonas and the Giver decided to call each other?
Chapter 12
Group X & Y- Ch. 12
CONNECT: Jonas describes the classes he usually takes on page 112. Research what these classes might be about. Then, decide whether or not these classes would be a good idea to take in middle school.
COMPREHENSION: What is “seeing beyond”?
CONNECT: Consider the quote on page 120, “We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.” Do you think Jonas’s community made the right choice in getting rid of color for sameness? What are the costs and benefits?
CONNECT: Jonas describes the classes he usually takes on page 112. Research what these classes might be about. Then, decide whether or not these classes would be a good idea to take in middle school.
COMPREHENSION: What is “seeing beyond”?
CONNECT: Consider the quote on page 120, “We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.” Do you think Jonas’s community made the right choice in getting rid of color for sameness? What are the costs and benefits?
Chapter 13
CONNECT: As Jonas contemplates on page 124, is the risk of making the wrong choice worth making?
COMPREHENSION: What memory disturbs Jonas in chapter 13? Describe it in detail.
COMPREHENSION: What will happen to the memories if Jonas fails?
INFER: On page 133, The Giver turns Jonas away because he is in too much pain. Infer why he is in too much pain for training.
PREDICT: What is elsewhere?
COMPREHENSION: What memory disturbs Jonas in chapter 13? Describe it in detail.
COMPREHENSION: What will happen to the memories if Jonas fails?
INFER: On page 133, The Giver turns Jonas away because he is in too much pain. Infer why he is in too much pain for training.
PREDICT: What is elsewhere?
Chapter 14
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: What is the example of personification on page 137?
CONTEXT CLUES: Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “assuage” on page 139.
CONTEXT CLUES: Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “ominous” on page 143
COMPREHENSION: What happens to twins in Jonas’s community?
COMPREHENSION: What does Jonas find out about Gabriel in chapter 14?
CONTEXT CLUES: Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “assuage” on page 139.
CONTEXT CLUES: Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “ominous” on page 143
COMPREHENSION: What happens to twins in Jonas’s community?
COMPREHENSION: What does Jonas find out about Gabriel in chapter 14?
Chapter 15
COMPREHENSION What is the memory that is torturing The Giver upon Jonas’s arrival?
INFERENCE Infer why The Giver may have “looked away as if he could not bear to see what he had done to Jonas” after he shares the memory that was torturing him when Jonas walks into the Annex?
INFERENCE Infer why The Giver may have “looked away as if he could not bear to see what he had done to Jonas” after he shares the memory that was torturing him when Jonas walks into the Annex?
Chapter 16
COMPREHENSION What is the word that Jonas finds in the positive memory The Giver shares with him?
COMPREHENSION Describe how Jonas’s parents react after he asks if they love him.
CHARACTERIZATION Explain how Jonas feelings are changing in this chapter.
COMPREHENSION Describe how Jonas’s parents react after he asks if they love him.
CHARACTERIZATION Explain how Jonas feelings are changing in this chapter.
Chapter 17
COMPREHENSION Why did Jonas almost cry during his friends’ game?
THINK CRITICALLY What is separating Jonas from the others that he knows?
POINT OF VIEW What is the Point of View of The Giver?
THINK CRITICALLY What is separating Jonas from the others that he knows?
POINT OF VIEW What is the Point of View of The Giver?
Chapter 18
COMPREHENSION Describe who Rosemary is.
COMPREHENSION What was the first NEGATIVE memory the Giver transferred to Rosemary?
COMPREHENSION Why can’t Jonas apply for release?
CONNECT Jonas’s community cannot handle experiencing pain. How does our community handle painful experiences and memories? Would it be better if we could eliminate pain? What are the costs and benefits of eliminating pain?
COMPREHENSION What was the first NEGATIVE memory the Giver transferred to Rosemary?
COMPREHENSION Why can’t Jonas apply for release?
CONNECT Jonas’s community cannot handle experiencing pain. How does our community handle painful experiences and memories? Would it be better if we could eliminate pain? What are the costs and benefits of eliminating pain?
Chapter 19
INFER What do you think would happen if the twins were exactly the same weight?
EXPLAIN What does Jonas find out about release in this chapter?
THINK CRITICALLY Why doesn’t Jonas’s father know what he is doing while performing the release of the new child?
EXPLAIN What does Jonas find out about release in this chapter?
THINK CRITICALLY Why doesn’t Jonas’s father know what he is doing while performing the release of the new child?
Chapter 20
What is Jonas reacting to at the beginning of Chapter 20?
Why are Jonas and The Giver coming up with a plan?
What is the plan that Jonas and The Giver are creating?
Infer why The Giver plans to give Jonas memories of courage and strength?
Who was Rosemary to The Giver?
Why are Jonas and The Giver coming up with a plan?
What is the plan that Jonas and The Giver are creating?
Infer why The Giver plans to give Jonas memories of courage and strength?
Who was Rosemary to The Giver?
Chapter 21
On page 204, use context clues to determine the meaning of the word “meticulously.”
What happens in Chapter 21 that changes Jonas’ and The Giver’s plans?
Why does Jonas take Gabriel with him on his journey?
Why does Jonas use his dad’s bicycle?
Write the sentence that uses a vocabulary word on page 210.
Why did Jonas transfer memories of snow to Gabriel while they hid?
Infer why planes might be overhead less often.
What happens in Chapter 21 that changes Jonas’ and The Giver’s plans?
Why does Jonas take Gabriel with him on his journey?
Why does Jonas use his dad’s bicycle?
Write the sentence that uses a vocabulary word on page 210.
Why did Jonas transfer memories of snow to Gabriel while they hid?
Infer why planes might be overhead less often.
Chapter 22
As the environment changes, describe what Jonas begins to see. What is this a sign of?
What are the figurative and literal uses of the word “starving” on pages 217 and 218?
What is Jonas’ frightening realization at the end of Chapter 22?
What are the figurative and literal uses of the word “starving” on pages 217 and 218?
What is Jonas’ frightening realization at the end of Chapter 22?