The Giver- Comprehension Questions
Chapter #1
1. What have you learned about the society in which Jonas lives?
It is very strict and you don't have choices.
2. How is Jonas’ family like your family and different from your family?
My family has grandparents. My family chose to have kids. My parents chose to be together.
3. How is the care of children different in Jonas’ world from your world?
In our world, the parents care for the baby from birth. In Jonas' world, the babies are cared for by nurturers until the ceremony.
Chapter #2
1. Identify these items from the book: -Ceremony of One, -Ceremony of Nine, -Naming, - Comfort Objects, -Bicycles
Ceremony of one is were the parents receive there child they are assigned to. Ceremony of nine is when children receive there bicycles. Naming is were the babies are named at the ceremony of one. Comfort objects are toys that children until eight use to sleep with. A mechanism with two wheels and a seat that kids in the Giver receive when they are nine.
2. What rules does Jonas’ father disobey?
He looks at the name list before the ceremony.
3. How do people receive their Assignment?
The elders look at their talents and volunteer hours to decide what their assignment should be. Then they are assigned at the ceremony of twelve.
Chapter #3
1. What about the society is revealed by the reaction to eye colour?
It is plain and boring.
2. What is a Birthmother?
A girl that is implanted with a baby that grows then the birth mother gives birth. They have three babies then become laborers.
3. How was Jonas disciplined for taking an apple home?
He dispose of the apple and then had to apolpogize the recreation director.
4. Why had the apple intrigued Jonas?
It changed. It flashed into color for a split second.
Chapter #4
1. What seems to be the purpose of the volunteer hours?
To find out what the child's assignment should be.
2. What are the Releasing Room and the releasing ceremony?
When a person in the house of the old are being released, they have a ceremony and then the person walks into a room and is never seen again.
Chapter #5
1. What is the morning ritual?
Telling about the dreams they had the previous night.
2. Why must Jonas start taking a pill every day?
He has stirrings.
3. How are you feeling about the society in the book?
I don't like it. i think people should have the freedom to choose.
Chapter #6
1. What is interdependence? Give an example of interdependence from your experiences.
Depending on other people. When i need help doing a project in class.
2. What is the difference in the book between loss and release? Why do you think the author points out the distinction on page 44 (starting on page 56 of the newer version)?
Loss is when someone dies accidently. Release is when people are released from the comunity.
3. Who makes the important decisions in the book’s society?
The elders.
Chapter #7
1. How does the Ceremony of Twelve start?
The twelves sit in the front and the main elder gives a speech.
2. What do the numbers mean for each person?
The order they were born in.
3. What do you think Jonas’ Assignment will be?
I think it will be caretaker of the old or instructor.
Chapter #8
1. What is announced as Jonas’ Assignment? What is the job?
Receiver of memory. He has to take all memories good or bad and keep them in hos mind forever.
2. What qualities does the Chief Elder explain Jonas will need?
Wisdom and bravery.
Chapter #9
1. What happened to the Receiver selection that failed?
She ran away and all the memories were given to the people.
2. What are Jonas’ instructions for his Receiver training? Why are the rules particularly puzzling?
He is allowed to lie. His community bans lying so it is different for him.
Chapter #10
1. What does Jonas notice about the Receiver of Memory’s dwelling?
It is full of books.
2. Why is it important to save the memories?
So the people don't have to endure the bad memories.
3. How will the old Receiver transmit the memory of snow to Jonas?
He touches his back and Jonas goes into the memory.
Chapter #11
1. Once Jonas receives the snow and sledding, how does he feel?
He feels amazing.
2. What other memories are transmitted on this day of training?
Sunshine and sunburn.
3. Why did the book’s world eliminate sunshine and hills?
They took away sun so there wouldn be days it was hotter than others. THey took away hills because it slowed transportation.
Chapter #12
1. What is Jonas’ first lie?
When he tells his parents he understands that love is not proper vocabulary.
2. Why doesn’t Jonas tell his friends about his training?
He isn´t allowed to.
3. Why don’t the people in the book perceive colours?
So they don´t experience the difference.
Chapter #13
1. What does The Giver share of his personal family life?
He says that he had a wife and kids. He said that he couldn´t share his work with them.
2. What are you feeling about the book’s way of life?
I still think that the elders are stupid and need to let the people open up and be different and make their own choices.
Chapter #14
1. How does Jonas react when The Giver gives him memory of breaking a leg in sledding? How does Jonas’ understanding and growing wisdom increase after he experiences that pain?
2. How does Jonas calm Gabriel?
He gives him the memory of the sailboat.
3. Why does Jonas decide not to confess giving a memory away?
He could get in trouble.
Chapter #15
1. Why do you think this chapter is so short?
It was directed on that one memory.
2. Why does The Giver say, “Forgive Me”?
The memory was so horrible, he thinks that he shouldn´t have given it to Jonas.
Chapter #16
1. How does Jonas learn of love?
The memory of christmas.
2. Why are grandparents a new idea fro Jonas?
His community has a system were birthmothers have the babies and give them to parents who don´t remember their parents who raised them.
3. What provokes Jonas’ first lie to his parent?
He still doesn´t understand why love shouldn´t be used in language.
Chapter #17
1. Why does Jonas stop taking his daily pill?
He likes having stirrings.
2. How is Gabe proceeding?
He is doing well and sleeping soundly at night when in Jonas´ room.
Chapter #18
1. What was the story of Rosemary?
She was going to be receiver of memory until she got a bad memory and ran away, giving that bad memory to the people.
2. Why does The Giver advise Jonas to stay away from the river?
So he doesn´t fall in and die giving those bad memories he has already received to the community.
Chapter #19
1. How does The Giver feel about Rosemary’s release?
Sad because he loved Rosemary.
Chapter #20
1. Why does Jonas refuse to go home?
He doesn´t want to see his father.
2. What is the plan Jonas and The Giver hatch?
For Jonas to go to elswere and give all his memories to the people.
3. What are the specifics of the escape plan? Will Jonas succeed in his escape?
He gets all the couragous memories until the next ceremony. The midnight before the ceremony Jonas leaves his dwelling. THe giver would get a driver and sneak Jonas into elsewere
Chapter #21
1. What makes Jonas’ escape plan fall apart?
He takes Gabriel because he would be released the next morning.
2. Is Jonas justified in his escape?
Chapter #22
1. What new dangers does Jonas encounter in Chapter #22?
Starvation
2. In which different ways does Jonas think about starvation?
He never knew what it was like other than a memory. He then got to expereince it for himself.
Chapter #23
1. What weather conditions impede Jonas’ progress toward Elsewhere?
It is snowing heavily.
2. How do Jonas and Gabe finally get to safety?
They sled down the hill.
Chapter #1
1. What have you learned about the society in which Jonas lives?
It is very strict and you don't have choices.
2. How is Jonas’ family like your family and different from your family?
My family has grandparents. My family chose to have kids. My parents chose to be together.
3. How is the care of children different in Jonas’ world from your world?
In our world, the parents care for the baby from birth. In Jonas' world, the babies are cared for by nurturers until the ceremony.
Chapter #2
1. Identify these items from the book: -Ceremony of One, -Ceremony of Nine, -Naming, - Comfort Objects, -Bicycles
Ceremony of one is were the parents receive there child they are assigned to. Ceremony of nine is when children receive there bicycles. Naming is were the babies are named at the ceremony of one. Comfort objects are toys that children until eight use to sleep with. A mechanism with two wheels and a seat that kids in the Giver receive when they are nine.
2. What rules does Jonas’ father disobey?
He looks at the name list before the ceremony.
3. How do people receive their Assignment?
The elders look at their talents and volunteer hours to decide what their assignment should be. Then they are assigned at the ceremony of twelve.
Chapter #3
1. What about the society is revealed by the reaction to eye colour?
It is plain and boring.
2. What is a Birthmother?
A girl that is implanted with a baby that grows then the birth mother gives birth. They have three babies then become laborers.
3. How was Jonas disciplined for taking an apple home?
He dispose of the apple and then had to apolpogize the recreation director.
4. Why had the apple intrigued Jonas?
It changed. It flashed into color for a split second.
Chapter #4
1. What seems to be the purpose of the volunteer hours?
To find out what the child's assignment should be.
2. What are the Releasing Room and the releasing ceremony?
When a person in the house of the old are being released, they have a ceremony and then the person walks into a room and is never seen again.
Chapter #5
1. What is the morning ritual?
Telling about the dreams they had the previous night.
2. Why must Jonas start taking a pill every day?
He has stirrings.
3. How are you feeling about the society in the book?
I don't like it. i think people should have the freedom to choose.
Chapter #6
1. What is interdependence? Give an example of interdependence from your experiences.
Depending on other people. When i need help doing a project in class.
2. What is the difference in the book between loss and release? Why do you think the author points out the distinction on page 44 (starting on page 56 of the newer version)?
Loss is when someone dies accidently. Release is when people are released from the comunity.
3. Who makes the important decisions in the book’s society?
The elders.
Chapter #7
1. How does the Ceremony of Twelve start?
The twelves sit in the front and the main elder gives a speech.
2. What do the numbers mean for each person?
The order they were born in.
3. What do you think Jonas’ Assignment will be?
I think it will be caretaker of the old or instructor.
Chapter #8
1. What is announced as Jonas’ Assignment? What is the job?
Receiver of memory. He has to take all memories good or bad and keep them in hos mind forever.
2. What qualities does the Chief Elder explain Jonas will need?
Wisdom and bravery.
Chapter #9
1. What happened to the Receiver selection that failed?
She ran away and all the memories were given to the people.
2. What are Jonas’ instructions for his Receiver training? Why are the rules particularly puzzling?
He is allowed to lie. His community bans lying so it is different for him.
Chapter #10
1. What does Jonas notice about the Receiver of Memory’s dwelling?
It is full of books.
2. Why is it important to save the memories?
So the people don't have to endure the bad memories.
3. How will the old Receiver transmit the memory of snow to Jonas?
He touches his back and Jonas goes into the memory.
Chapter #11
1. Once Jonas receives the snow and sledding, how does he feel?
He feels amazing.
2. What other memories are transmitted on this day of training?
Sunshine and sunburn.
3. Why did the book’s world eliminate sunshine and hills?
They took away sun so there wouldn be days it was hotter than others. THey took away hills because it slowed transportation.
Chapter #12
1. What is Jonas’ first lie?
When he tells his parents he understands that love is not proper vocabulary.
2. Why doesn’t Jonas tell his friends about his training?
He isn´t allowed to.
3. Why don’t the people in the book perceive colours?
So they don´t experience the difference.
Chapter #13
1. What does The Giver share of his personal family life?
He says that he had a wife and kids. He said that he couldn´t share his work with them.
2. What are you feeling about the book’s way of life?
I still think that the elders are stupid and need to let the people open up and be different and make their own choices.
Chapter #14
1. How does Jonas react when The Giver gives him memory of breaking a leg in sledding? How does Jonas’ understanding and growing wisdom increase after he experiences that pain?
2. How does Jonas calm Gabriel?
He gives him the memory of the sailboat.
3. Why does Jonas decide not to confess giving a memory away?
He could get in trouble.
Chapter #15
1. Why do you think this chapter is so short?
It was directed on that one memory.
2. Why does The Giver say, “Forgive Me”?
The memory was so horrible, he thinks that he shouldn´t have given it to Jonas.
Chapter #16
1. How does Jonas learn of love?
The memory of christmas.
2. Why are grandparents a new idea fro Jonas?
His community has a system were birthmothers have the babies and give them to parents who don´t remember their parents who raised them.
3. What provokes Jonas’ first lie to his parent?
He still doesn´t understand why love shouldn´t be used in language.
Chapter #17
1. Why does Jonas stop taking his daily pill?
He likes having stirrings.
2. How is Gabe proceeding?
He is doing well and sleeping soundly at night when in Jonas´ room.
Chapter #18
1. What was the story of Rosemary?
She was going to be receiver of memory until she got a bad memory and ran away, giving that bad memory to the people.
2. Why does The Giver advise Jonas to stay away from the river?
So he doesn´t fall in and die giving those bad memories he has already received to the community.
Chapter #19
1. How does The Giver feel about Rosemary’s release?
Sad because he loved Rosemary.
Chapter #20
1. Why does Jonas refuse to go home?
He doesn´t want to see his father.
2. What is the plan Jonas and The Giver hatch?
For Jonas to go to elswere and give all his memories to the people.
3. What are the specifics of the escape plan? Will Jonas succeed in his escape?
He gets all the couragous memories until the next ceremony. The midnight before the ceremony Jonas leaves his dwelling. THe giver would get a driver and sneak Jonas into elsewere
Chapter #21
1. What makes Jonas’ escape plan fall apart?
He takes Gabriel because he would be released the next morning.
2. Is Jonas justified in his escape?
Chapter #22
1. What new dangers does Jonas encounter in Chapter #22?
Starvation
2. In which different ways does Jonas think about starvation?
He never knew what it was like other than a memory. He then got to expereince it for himself.
Chapter #23
1. What weather conditions impede Jonas’ progress toward Elsewhere?
It is snowing heavily.
2. How do Jonas and Gabe finally get to safety?
They sled down the hill.