The Giver

Receiver is described as a position of honor, while the Birthmother assignment is said to lack honor. Why is this the case? What might happen if the status of these roles were switched?

At several points in The Giver, Jonas expresses that having choices is dangerous. Why does he feel this way, and how does his opinion about choices change as the story unfolds?

The Giver tells Jonas that wisdom he’s gained from memories—especially painful ones—has helped him advise the Committee of Elders on important matters. Share an example of how the Giver’s wisdom has influenced the committee’s decision-making.

Jonas is given permission to lie when he becomes the Receiver-in-training. Identify a lie he tells, why he tells it, and how it shapes his future.

Name two instances of irony in The Giver and explain how they contribute to Jonas’s journey. Also, how might these uses of irony shape the reader’s perception of Jonas and his community?

Discuss how Jonas’s relationship with his parents evolves throughout the book. How does his growing awareness about the community’s shortcomings contribute to this shift?

Jonas starts to understand and value love through his relationship with the Giver. How does this affect his role in Gabriel’s life as well?

The Giver insists that he cannot escape the community with Jonas. Why does he feel that he needs to stay there, and what will he do for the community if Jonas departs?