all assignments in the giver

• Assignments

Assignments are given out in communities , at the Ceremony of Twelve .

All items (24)

• Assistant Director of Recreation
• Birthmother
• Caretaker of the Old
• Collection Crew
• Director of Recreation
• Drone Pilot
• Fish Hatchery
• Fish Hatchery Attendant
• Food Deliver
• Genetic Scientist
• Instructor of 3’s
• Landscape Worker
• Night-time Nurturer
• Receiver of Memory
• Security Guard
• Street Cleaner
• Swimming Instructor

102 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-15

Chapters 16-18

Chapters 19-21

Chapters 22-23

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Further Reading & Resources

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The Giver is a work of young adult fiction. It is the first installment in The Giver Quartet , which also includes Gathering Blue (2000) , Messenger (2004), and Son (2012). Author Lois Lowry received a 1994 Newbery Medal for her dystopian novel, although the text, with themes considered possibly too dark for the reader's age group, was challenged throughout the 1990s. The Giver takes place in the future, in a carefully-designed community that is extremely safe and orderly. The people who live in this community do not have to deal with problems such as war and famine, but they have given up most of their opportunities to make choices and express their individuality. One citizen of the community is Jonas , a perceptive and intelligent boy who is about to turn 12 years old. The story revolves around his experiences as he reaches an important milestone: receiving his job assignment for adult life.

Jonas’s family unit consists of Jonas; his father, a Nurturer; his mother, who works for the Department of Justice; and his sister, Lily , who is about to turn 8. They live together in a dwelling where they have meals together and take part in daily rituals such as the sharing of dreams and the analysis of feelings. Before long, the dwelling gains another inhabitant at night: Gabriel , a baby who is struggling to meet the community’s expectations at the Nurturing Center. If his weight and sleep habits do not improve soon, he will be released, or sent to Elsewhere. Jonas’s father convinces the Committee of Elders to let the family care for him at night, in the hopes that it will help him meet these goals.

All of the children turning 12 find out their assignments at an event called the "Ceremony of Twelve." At the beginning of the book, Jonas feels apprehensive about his upcoming Ceremony of Twelve. The community’s elders lead these ceremonies and make job assignments that seem like a good fit for each 12-year-old’s temperament, interests, and aptitudes. The elders also pair people with suitable spouses, if they apply for such a partner, and assign children to couples that request them and are deemed adequate.

Shortly before the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas has an unusual experience. When tossing an apple to his friend Asher , he sees in an instant that something about it changes before his eyes. He struggles to describe what has happened. Later it is revealed that he glimpsed the apple’s color. The community’s citizens see nondescript colors , not a variety of bright and muted hues. This incident is an example of something called "seeing beyond" (91), and it sets Jonas apart from others in the community. Jonas is also different because he has pale eyes; most other citizens, including his mother, father, and sister, have dark eyes. Jonas’s pale eyes enable him to perceive and understand things that others cannot. Gabriel also has pale eyes, as does the Receiver of Memory, a community elder who Jonas knows little about. When Jonas is selected to be the community’s next Receiver, he begins training with this mysterious old man after school each day. The community’s Chief Elder tells Jonas that Receiver is the most honored position there is. In this role, Jonas stores the entire world’s memories, including those from eras past. He is told that the position requires him to endure physical pain, something he has barely experienced before.

The outgoing Receiver tells Jonas to call him "the Giver." He teaches Jonas about his new role and transmits memories to Jonas by placing his hands on the boy’s back. When the Giver transmits a memory to Jonas, it leaves him forever. Jonas receives pleasant memories about sunshine, sledding, and rainbows, as well as harrowing ones about war, neglect, and more. One of the most pleasant and meaningful memories involves a holiday scene with children and their loving grandparents. When Jonas receives memories, part of him travels to the time and place the memory was made, and he relives the experience. By experiencing things his community has engineered away—such as terror, hunger, color, and excitement—he sees that the life he is living lacks richness and meaning. He longs to share what he’s learning and experiencing with the people he cares about, but he’s not allowed to utter a word about his training to anyone but the Giver. As Receiver, he’s consigned to a life of secrecy and solitude; he can ask anyone a question and lie if he must, but he’s forbidden from sharing the details of his role. The other people in the community wouldn’t understand since they do not experience pain, intense feelings, or collective memories as Jonas and the Giver do.

As Jonas’s training progresses, he feels increasingly alienated from his family and friends. They only experience mild emotions, and they continue to value the order, control, and predictability that help the community run smoothly. Meanwhile, Jonas feels emotions more deeply than before and begins to question some of the community’s values. He starts to see the value in making choices for oneself, even when risk is involved, and why one might want to pay attention to differences. He starts thinking about the meaning of freedom and pondering what life might be like outside the community. He learns what love is, but his family members can’t comprehend the concept. Jonas gives his love to those who seem to need and understand it the most: the Giver and baby Gabriel. To help Gabriel sleep soundly, Jonas transmits calming memories to the boy each night. Jonas knows this is against the rules, but he doesn’t want Gabriel to be released.

The Giver becomes like a grandfather to Jonas. In addition to providing guidance, he loves and cares about the future Receiver. The Giver helps Jonas deal with the pain and sadness he’s experiencing through difficult memories and the isolating nature of the Receiver role. He also shares wisdom from his life, including a heartbreaking situation from 10 years earlier. The community leaders selected a girl named Rosemary to become the next Receiver. Rosemary happened to be the Giver’s daughter. Partway through the training, after she started receiving heart-wrenching memories, she applied for release. The Giver never saw her again, but he did see a recording of her release. He learned that release is not simply sending someone to Elsewhere, as he had been told. Release involves a lethal injection, and Rosemary delivered her own. The Giver believes he failed his daughter, himself, and the community. After Rosemary died, the memories she stored came flooding back to the rest of the community, whose members were not equipped to deal with them. Because of this incident, Receivers can no longer apply for release.

When Jonas tells the Giver that he wants to see his father prepare a twin baby for release, he gets more than he bargained for. The recording shows that Jonas’s father did not do the things he claimed he would do to help the baby, such as making him clean and comfortable. Jonas watches his father administer the lethal injection to the helpless infant, and then toss the child’s body in a trash bin. Jonas feels betrayed and overwhelmed by anger. He realizes that the gentle, caring father he knew is a farce , and that release is a form of killing. Jonas knows he cannot stay in the community, so he and the Giver plot a plan for his escape. Jonas will flee the community in two weeks, in the dark of night. The Giver will stay behind to help the community deal with the memories that come flooding back.

The plan disintegrates when Jonas learns that Gabriel will be released the next day, despite all the progress he has made over the past year. He places Gabriel in the child seat on his father’s bike and pedals over the river , away from the community. He is not afraid of the changes his new life will hold or the uncertainty it will bring, but he worries that he won’t be able to keep Gabriel safe, especially as search planes fly overhead. Jonas transmits soothing memories to the baby to help him sleep during difficult parts of the journey and memories of snow to cool him so that the planes’ heat sensors don’t detect his presence.

Eventually the airplanes disappear, and the landscape begins to change. New problems arise for the escaped duo. Food has become scarce, and Jonas and Gabriel grow cold and weak. Jonas tries to warm the shivering child with wisps of memories about sunshine. He receives a burst of strength when he experiences his first memories of his very own: recollections about his family, friends, and the Giver. Jonas and Gabriel then find a sled that looks like the one from Jonas’s first received memory. They begin descending a hill, and Jonas thinks he sees the house from the Christmas scene that taught him about love. He hears music and feels hopeful that someone there is waiting for him and Gabriel.

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Introduction to The Giver

Summary of the giver, major themes in the giver, major characters in the giver, writing style of the giver, analysis of the literary devices in the giver, related posts:, post navigation.

The Giver Unit Plan | 6 Weeks of Lesson Plans | Entire Novel Study

This resource includes an  Anticipation Guide  for the novel   The Giver  by Lois Lowry.

An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy that is used  before reading  to activate students’ prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic.

In this lesson, students will respond to several claims by indicating if they agree or disagree with that said statement.

Next, students will work collaboratively in groups to answer related discussion questions to further build anticipation about the novel before reading.

This lesson includes an  after reading  worksheet as well for students reassess their opinions after completing the novel.

This resource includes a PDF copy that is ready to print as well as a WORD DOCUMENT copy in case teachers would like to modify the assignment.

If you are working on a  novel study for  The Giver  by Lois Lowry, these Vocabulary Lists, Practice Activities, and Quizzes  will work perfectly for you!

There are 5 sets of vocabulary words, divided by chapters, with 12-15 words in each section, totaling 63 words.

Included in this resource:

• Vocabulary Charts for Students
• Powerpoint presentation with words, parts of speech, definitions, synonyms, and example sentences—for teaching purposes
• Corresponding practice activities for every section
• Quizzes (or additional practice) for every section
• Teacher Guide and ANSWER KEYS

This resource includes both PDF files (ready to print) and Word Documents (editable) that way teachers can make modifications if needed.

While completing a novel study for The Giver  by Lois Lowry,  have your students answer reading comprehension questions for every chapter!

Included are 11 sets of questions (divided by every 2-3 chapters) which delve into character motives, themes, symbols, and essential plot details. The questions are a combination of literary analysis, reading comprehension, and critical thinking.

Detailed answer keys are provided for all questions. You can print this resource as one all-encompassing packet or you can provide students worksheets one section at a time.

This resource includes the following formats:

• READY TO PRINT Student Copy of Questions (PDF)
• EDITABLE Copy of Questions (Word Document)
• ANSWER KEY TEACHER COPY of Questions with Answers (PDF)

Make sure your students are completing their independent reading for the novel  The Giver  by Lois Lowry  with these quick  Reading Checks or Chapter Quizzes ! This product works well if your students are reading independently or if you are reading as a class and you want to ensure students are paying attention.

These questions require brief responses; they are recall questions that are meant to be simple for anyone who has completed the reading.

This is a tool used simply to check that students are completing the independent reading, comprehending the basic information, and/or are engaged during class.

The reading checks are divided by the following sections:

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-9

Chapters 10-13

Chapters 14-18

Chapters 19-23

This product includes the following file types:

• Powerpoint Presentation
• Printable Worksheets (PDF)
• Editable Worksheets (word document)

Teacher answer keys included!

After reading the novel   The Giver  by Lois Lowry , have your students take a closer look at how the fictional society functions compared to our own contemporary society.

By engaging in discussion and reflection, students will deepen their understanding of societal structures, norms, and values, while also recognizing parallels and contrasts between the two worlds.

Students will not only deepen their understanding of  The Giver  but also develop critical thinking skills that enable them to analyze and reflect on the complexities of their own society.

Answer key included.

File types included:

• Teacher Copy (PDF)
• Student Copy (PDF)
• EDITABLE Student Copy (Word document)

Your students will enjoy searching for different words from the novel  The Giver  by Lois Lowry  in this activity. This resource includes  5 different Word Search worksheets .

Each worksheet is divided by section:

The words are hidden in all directions making these the perfect challenge! The words in each puzzle are pulled directly from each chapter in the book.

ANSWER KEYS INCLUDED!

This is an awesome activity for  early finishers . You could also assign these as  extra credit  or just something fun to enjoy in class/at home.

Use this Powerpoint Presentation to teach students all about  themes in  The Giver,  and other essential background information that is related to  themes  in the novel.

The presentation includes interactive prompts to facilitate discussions that foster critical thinking and engagement. Students will make  real-world connections  with examples such as China’s One-Child Policy and the Holocaust.

Students will consider a world without color and a life without memory as well as the importance that pain plays in our lives.

This lesson includes a  Guided Notes Theme Packet  for students to fill out as they actively listen to the information presented.

Ask your students to share their understanding of the novel  The Giver by Lois Lowry  by imaginatively blending their written ideas with colorful images based on information from the text.

With this   one-pager reading comprehension project,   students will analyze literary elements from   The Giver   as well as share their own personal responses to the book. This activity is the perfect addition to your  dystopian novel study!

Students’ final masterpieces make beautiful bulletin boards!

Included in this purchase is:

• Student directions for the one pager project PDF
• Rubric for the one pager project PDF
• Example one pager for the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry
• 11 BLANK TEMPLATES (printable—optional)
• Student Directions/rubric EDITABLE word document

Have your students analyze characters from  Lois Lowry’s  The Giver   in a fun and engaging way:  Character Collabs !

Your students will use several  characterization  methods to depict each character’s profile, demonstrate their understanding of the literature, and present their final work on a poster.

Posters will showcase your students’ body of work after completing each character’s biography.

Additionally, students will learn the importance of collaboration and effective communication.

There are 9 characters from  THE GIVER  included in this resource:

• The Chief Elder
• Jonas’s Mother
• Jonas’s Father

This resource includes the following:

• Teacher Guide
• Student Directions
• Brainstorm Character Analysis Worksheet
• Blank Coloring Pages for each character
• Answer Keys
• Example of Final Project for the Giver
• Digitally Colored Examples for every character
• Editable documents: directions, rubric, brainstorm worksheet

Your students will love solving puzzles in this  360° Digital Escape Room  based on the novel  The Giver  by Lois Lowry.

Deepen your students’ understanding of the novel while providing an unforgettable experience for them. Check out the video preview to see more!

This activity is designed to work for a laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

Students will try to “escape the cold” and enter a warm house where a Christmas celebration is taking place… just like Jonas at the end of the novel.

To open the lock, students most work together and solve a series of clues based on major plot points and themes from  The Giver.

This activity is a great way to get students to work collaboratively and practice problem-solving skills.

Included in this download are: teacher instructions, student instructions, the master lock graphic organizer, answer keys, printable clues (optional), and a reflection sheet (optional).

This resource includes:  The Giver  Final Test with Answer Key!

This test, based on the novel  The Giver by Lois Lowry , requires students to establish what they learned from the novel and their overall comprehension of the book. This assessment requires students’ knowledge about: symbolism, characterization, theme, and more.

The exam consists of 46 questions and offers students an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of ways:

• 18 multiple choice questions
• 11 true or false questions
• 10 character identification questions
• 6 short answer questions (1-2 sentences)
• 1 open-ended question (4-6 sentences)

This resource includes the following file types:

• READY TO PRINT Test Student Copy (PDF)
• EDITABLE Test Student Copy (Word document)
• READY TO PRINT Test Teacher Copy with Answers (PDF)

This  Movie Guide  is based on the 2014 film,   The Giver ,   directed by   Phillip Noyce, and starring  Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites, Alexander Skarsgård, Katie Holmes, and Taylor Swift.

Students can appreciate the film and analyze the extent to which the movie stays faithful to or departs from the original text, evaluating the choices made by the director. Answer key included.

This  movie analysis  packet works perfectly at the end of a  novel study for  The Giver  by Lois Lowry.

Students will also have an opportunity to share their opinions on casting choices and adaptation decisions.

The film is 1 hour and 37 minutes in length.

This resource includes  SIX Full Weeks of content for the novel  The Giver  by Lois Lowry.

Additionally, in this  UNIT PLAN BUNDLE , you will receive a teacher guide that encompasses an example Unit Schedule/ Pacing Guide!

You can purchase each lesson individually or save money and get the Bundle!

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by Lois Lowry

The giver summary and analysis of chapters 1-2.

Jonas feels uneasy, but he knows that "frightened" is not the correct word. He has been truly frightened only once before, when a plane flew off course over the community a year ago. During the incident, an announcement over the speakers ordered everyone inside, and Jonas had been afraid as he saw the silent, waiting community. However, the speakers soon explained that a Pilot-in-Training had made a navigational mistake and that the pilot would be released from the community for his error, which is the worst possible fate for members of the community. Upon recalling this event, Jonas confirms that his current feelings do not represent fear. He remembers that his teachers have taught him to be careful with his terminology, unlike his friend Asher , who often uses the wrong word, and he decides that rather than feeling frightened, he feels apprehensive about upcoming events this December.

After dinner, Jonas's family holds the customary ritual of the telling of feelings. His younger sister Lily goes first by explaining the anger that she felt today when someone from a visiting group of Sevens, or seven-year-olds, did not obey the rules about waiting in line. She compares the boy to an animal, but she is not exactly sure what an animal is, and she recalls that she made a fist at him. Lily's parents remind her of a past experience when she was a Six and had felt out of place while visiting a different community of Sixes, and Lily decides that she now feels sorry for the Seven, who must have felt like a stranger, rather than angry at him.

Jonas's father speaks of a weak infant at the nursery whom he is going to temporarily bring home in order to provide better care, since if the baby cannot recover he will have to be released. Lily wants to keep the baby, but Mother reminds Lily that each family unit can have only one son and one daughter. Next, they comfort Mother after she relates a tale about a repeat offender who came before her at the Department of Justice for a second time, knowing that she is upset at the possibility of release should the man break the rules for a third time.

Jonas feels worried enough that he does not particularly wish to share his feelings, but he knows that to hide them is against the rules. Consequently, when it is his turn to speak, he explains that he feels apprehensive about the approaching Ceremony of Twelve. In response, his parents send Lily to bed because they wish to speak privately with Jonas.

At his father's prompting, Jonas recalls all the changes that result each December, beginning with the Ceremony of Ones when all fifty of the children born during the year turn One and are brought to the community stage by Nurturers such as Jonas's father. During this ceremony the Naming occurs, and Jonas's mother reminds him of when Lily had been named and given to their family. Father admits that this year he looked at the list of names ahead of time so that he could call his struggling infant (number Thirty-six) by his real name, Gabriel , which he shortens to Gabe.

Father recalls that when he was Eleven and waiting for the Ceremony of Twelve, he barely remembered anything other than the Ceremony of Nine, during which his sister got a bicycle. Unlike the vast majority of other rules, the rule that children cannot learn to ride bicycles before they get their official ones is generally ignored and goes unpunished. No one has managed to revise the rule, however, since putting anything through a committee takes years, and it is not important enough to bring before The Receiver.

Unlike Jonas, his father had more or less known that the Committee of Elders would give him the Assignment of Nurturer, since he spent most of his volunteer hours working with the newchildren. Jonas knows that the Elders observe all the Elevens closely to give them Assignments that are both appropriate and satisfying for each individual. Jonas worries a little that the Elders will have trouble assigning something for Asher, but his parents reassure him.

Jonas's parents also remind him that after the Ceremony of Twelve, he will work mostly with his Assignment group in training, so he may make new friends while drifting apart from friends such as Asher, although Jonas resists this latter idea. His parents reassure him that he will still have fun while Lily interrupts to request her comfort object, which is the stuffed version of an imaginary creature called an elephant. Jonas returns to his homework, feeling reassured but still somewhat nervous about what Assignment the Elders will give him.

Throughout the plot of The Giver , we experience the protagonist Jonas's society in two ways, first through his point of view as told through third-person limited narration, and second as the modern observer of a future society, via a modern point of view. Through the first lens, we initially experience Jonas's community as a constructed utopia, where the citizens lead a safe and peaceful existence and where the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve is a source of anticipation but not, as Jonas explains, fear. However, a second point of view of The Giver develops from the first sentence and chapter of the novel to create an image of a dystopia instead.

Within the exposition of the plot, the utopian characteristics of Jonas's society are at first unmistakable. If orderliness and security are key virtues, then the community of The Giver provides these in excess, as even the occasional misdirected airplane is quickly and efficiently handled, and as each citizen remains assured that his future vocation and family will be eminently suited to his personality. The ubiquity of bicycles has essentially eliminated dangerous vehicles such as gasoline-powered cars. In addition, the citizens have been raised from early childhood to learn such virtues as sharing and interpreting their feelings with their families each evening and using precise language, as shown by Jonas's example of Asher, who throughout the novel serves as a foil for Jonas.

The community's apparently utopian nature draws especially on some ideas of the commune, in which all citizens contribute to and partake in the society with apparently few class differences. Although some jobs are held in higher esteem than others, citizens are taught from early childhood to respect all professions and to treat others with respect. When Lily expresses frustration at a playmate that breaks the rules at the nightly sharing of feelings, her parents teach her to consider the thoughts and emotions of others in order to understand their behavior. Over the course of the novel, the ideas of equality and sameness are continually upheld by the community.

Despite the community's many idyllic traits, when we interpret The Giver as an observer outside of Jonas's society, we begin to see several discordant notes that are distinctly dystopian rather than utopian. Most importantly, the enforcement of rigid rules is often shown to be harsh and to be so everpresent as to limit personal choice and freedom severely. All major aspects of Jonas's future, such as his spouse, job, and children, will be assigned by the community. The society appears to be communist and socialist with elements of totalitarianism, even though the rules and practices appear to be well-intentioned and are usually not resisted. Furthermore, the concept of release immediately raises alarms, as the question arises of what happens to the unfortunate pilot-in-training and to people who have broken the rules three times. In addition, the lack of animals in the novel serves as a reminder that this society is lacking some vital elements.

Lowry has created an unsettling mood of fear from the opening sentence. December, which heralds the beginning of winter, is foreshadowed as a significant month throughout the book, first as the time of the Ceremony of Twelve and later in the novel as connected to Jonas's experience of snow. At the same time, although Jonas comforts himself, the fear to which he refers in the initial paragraph remains in the novel's suspenseful tone, and we come to echo Jonas's anticipation, which is made even stronger by the displacement of the community in time and space. Although the narration provides hints that allow us to glimpse how the society relates in time to our own modern day, our confusion about Jonas's circumstances provides suspense that leaves us nervous and on edge.

The Giver Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Giver is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How does the author begin showing that Jonas may not quite fit in or not agree with everything in his community? How might these details contribute to the conflict in the story going forward?

Jonas interperets events like the jet at the beginning as the stringent rules differently than others. Jonas asks questions and doesn't take things at face value. He also begins to see colour which others do not see. Jonas eventually questions the...

What do you think of the morning dream telling ritual?

This question calls for your opinion. There is no right or wrong answer. In my opinion, dream telling is rather ridiculous. We all know that dreams are inexplicable for the most part.... and most dreams disappear when we wake up.

Should Jonas have asked them to stop playing the game of bad guys and good guys? CHAPTER 17

No, I don't think Jonas should ask them to stop playing. These kids cannot handle the emotional trauma  of forgetting their lunch let alone understanding emotions behind war and death. They simply would not comprehend what Jonas is talking...

Study Guide for The Giver

The Giver study guide contains a biography of Lois Lowry, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of The Giver.

• About The Giver
• The Giver Summary
• The Giver Video
• Character List

Essays for The Giver

The Giver essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Giver by Lois Lowry.

• The Cost of Security
• A Lonely Mind With a Heavy Burden: Hope in The Giver
• Is the Society of The Giver a Utopia?
• Reproductive Regulation and the Construction of Relationships for Populace Control in The Giver and “Pop Squad”

Lesson Plan for The Giver

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Giver
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Giver Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Giver

• Introduction

Character List

By lois lowry.

The characters in 'The Giver' are a complex group of men, women, and children who are, at their heart, seeing out what they think is best for themselves and those around them.

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

Some, like Jonas, Gabriel, The Giver, and Rosemary, are capable of feeling much more than others, like Jonas’s father and his friend Fiona. Their heightened perceptiveness sets them apart from the rest of the community. 

Jonas 

Jonas is one of the most important characters in the novel . He’s an eleven-year-old and the protagonist. Jonas finds out towards the beginning of The Giver that he’s been chosen to be the new Receiver of Memory when he turns twelve. This means that he’s going to be bestowed with the memories of the time before the Community was created. 

Jonas is a thoughtful child, deeply perceptive, and intelligent in ways that he doesn’t quite understand yet. He loves his family and friends but also longs for closer relationships. These are characteristics that he can maintain when he steps into his new role. Once his training for his new role as Receiver of Memory begins, his understanding of the world expands, and he’s confronted with a new means of perception. After Jonas starts to realize his world’s truth and the fact that his people gave up their freedoms for “Sameness,” he experiences a new kind of anger. 

The Giver 

The Giver starts the novel as the current Receiver of Memory, which Jonas is chosen to fill. It is his job to train Jonas to take over. The Giver is a lonely man, separate from the rest of the Community due to his knowledge of what the world was like before the Sameness. He can’t share what he knows with other people, makings the burden even greater. The Giver has held the Community’s memories for a long time, and he’s filled with pain over their presence in his mind. He confesses to the belief that the memories should be shared with everyone. 

The Giver lives in larger and nicer quarters than most people in the community, but he lives an inactive life. He grieves over the death of his daughter, Rosemary, and worries about the future. He eventually uses his pain and grief positively to plan Jonas’s escape. He gives Jonas his most precious memories, those of music and love. He is also willing to risk his own life to help everyone in the Community once their memories are returned. 

Jonas’s Father 

Jonas’s Father fills the role of Nurturer. He works with infants, something that suits his kind, mild-mannered personality. He enjoys his job and works hard at it, willingly releasing, or killing, the children that the Community deems unfit to survive. He is a perfect example of how a dystopian society can seem completely normal if one is born into it. He plays games with the children he cares for, calls them by nicknames, and seems to want the best for them truly. Jonas’s father likes the way the Community functions and claims not to believe in love, despite evidence to the contrary. 

Jonas’s Mother 

Jonas’s Mother is another pleasant, mild-mannered character in the story. She works in a very different job from her husband, though, within the Department of Justice. There, she works to help redeem those who break the rules. She expresses worry several times in the novel about Jonas’s future. She’s intelligent and sympathetic. 

Lily is Jonas’s sister, and she displays many of the characteristics of a normal, eight-year-old child. She became an Eight towards the beginning of the novel but is still over-talkative and unable to keep her mouth closed at important times. She’s also intelligent, like her mother. 

Gabriel 

Gabriel, also known as Gabe, is a young child, a “newchild,” who Jonas’s family cares for at night. He’s a perfect baby during the day but fusses at night. This is something that Jonas rectifies with some of his memories. He’s able to help the child relax. This relationship becomes quite important to Jonas. Once Jonas can see colors, he realizes that Gabriel’s eyes, his own, and the Giver’s are all blue. Once Jonas learns that Gabriel will be released, he is inspired to rebel against the Community. 

Asher 

Asher is Jonas’s best friend, who is assigned to the position of Assistant Director of Recreation. He’s high-energy and often speaks too fast. His personality is well-suited for the job he’s given. 

Fiona 

Fiona is another of Jonas’s friends. She’s much more quiet and thoughtful than Asher is and is assigned to be a Caretaker of the Old at the Ceremony of the Twelve. She has red hair, something that only Jonas can see. Jonas finds her attractive and has an imitate dream about her. Fiona is incapable of feeling any strong emotion for Jonas. 

Larissa 

An older woman living at the House of the Old, where Jonas goes to volunteer. She, like all the older men and women, is looking forward to her death or release. Jonas bathes her, and she expresses a fondness for gossip. At one point, she tells him about two people who were released recently. 

The Chief Elder 

The Chief Elder is the elected leader of the community. She’s affectionate with the children, remembering each of their names at the Ceremony. 

Roberto 

An elderly man who was released from the community. His name is given to a newchild. 

Fritz 

An awkward child who lives next to Jonas’s family. He often gets in trouble but takes part in the December Ceremony, where he receives a bicycle. 

Rosemary 

The Giver’s daughter who was selected before Jonas to become the next Receiver of Memory. She asked to be released or killed, after starting her training and learning the secrets that the Community keeps from everyone else. 

Caleb 

Caleb is a young child who died at four-years-old when he fell into a river. At the December Ceremony, the child’s parents are given a new “Caleb” to replace the boy who died. 

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About Emma Baldwin

Emma Baldwin, a graduate of East Carolina University, has a deep-rooted passion for literature. She serves as a key contributor to the Book Analysis team with years of experience.

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