Reading Guide for Chapter 12 and Chapter 13

Chapter 12 Reading Guide

1. What do we learn about Gabe at the beginning of the chapter, and why might that be important?

2. What feeling does Jonas's dream about sledding give him? What do you think that feeling represents? (112)

3. Name two ways in which Jonas is beginning to feel different from those around him. (111 – 112)

4. What do we learn about the limits of precision of language on page 113?

5. Do you think it is good that Fiona does not ask Jonas the question she would like to ask him? Why or why not? (113)

6. What is “seeing beyond”?

7. What does The Giver mean when he says, “We've never completely mastered Sameness?” (119)

8. How does memory relate to wisdom? (120-121)

Chapter 13 Reading Guide

1. What do we learn that Jonas desires that makes him say it is unfair that he can not see colors? (122-123)

2. What community value is described on page 124?

3. Why does Jonas feel frustration and anger at his groupmates? What does this tell us about Jonas? (124)

4. What emotions and facts about human life and the world are represented by the elephant scene that Jonas is forced to experience? (126)

5. Why does Jonas keep trying to share his memories, first with Asher, and then with his father and Lily? (127)

6. What happens to adults when they finish raising their children? (128)

7. Why doesn't The Committee of Elders call on The Giver for advice more often? (130)

8. Why does the community need a Receiver? (131)

9. What does The Giver mean when he says that his life is “Here, in my being. Where the memories are.” What does that tell us about his opinion of life in the community? (132)

10. The Giver says, “without the memories, it's all meaningless.” What is all meaningless? (133)