The Giver

What is "Elsewhere" and "Sameness"?

"Sameness" in The Giver is the idea that everyone is the same and has the same qualities and characteristics. For instance, all the citizen's in their designated age-group all dress the same way, or wear the same clothes. I think that the idea of Sameness was originally created to make no one feel left out, but instead, it limited the diversity of the community. No one knows where "Elsewhere" really is, but it is said to be a place where everything is happy. In The Giver, the community uses "Elsewhere" as both a punishment, and a place where the Old go once their time is up. The community threatens people with the idea of Elsewhere to maintain power and control.

Asher

Asher is Jonas' best friend. He is clumsy and constantly mixes up his words, like saying "smack" instead of "snack". He is the Assistant Director of Recreation.

Elevens

Elevens are given New clothing, different for both male/female as their bodies develop. Signifies maturity and growing up, almost independent

Fiona

Fiona is one of Jonas' good friends. She is intelligent and polite, with red hair. She is assigned to be a Caretaker of the Old.

Gabe

Gabriel is a new child who begins to temporarily live with Jonas' family because he needs extra care and attention. He ends up sleeping in Jonas' room, and Jonas gives him memories when he cannot sleep. He has pale eyes like Jonas.

Jonas

Jonas is the main character. He is a polite and compassionate 12-year old boy. He gets chosen to become the new Receiver of Memory, which is the most honored position in the community, and becomes a good friend with the Giver. He has the capacity to see beyond because he has the ability to see color.

How do Jonas' relationships with friends and family members change throughout the book?

Jonas' relationships with friends and family members change drastically throughout the book. One example of this is Jonas' father. In the beginning of the novel, Jonas' father is portrayed as a kind and caring nurturer, who loves his job and newchildren. However, later, when his father "releases" one of the newchildren, Jonas realizes that his father doesn't have any real emotions and understand what they are. Similarly, he realizes how clueless everyone else in the community also is. He becomes a little more distant towards his friends in the end of the book, as he has less to relate to with them.

Lily

Lily is Jonas' younger sister. She is an 8-year old girl, and is described as being impatient and talkative. She is also very observant, as she notices special characteristics that some people have, such as having a lighter eye color.

Tens

New Haircuts -- females lose their braids, and Males have a shorter hairstyle which exposes their ears. This change represents growing up and becoming more mature.

Nines

Nines are given bicycles. This change represents moving gradually away into the community, and away from their protective family unit.

Ones

Ones receive names and families. This represents the start of a life by establishing comfort and a home.

Twelves

Receive jobs and start training. After 12, age no longer matters. This change represents that they are No longer a child, but a contributing member of the community

Rosemary

Rosemary was the Giver's daughter, whom he dearly loved. 10 years ago, she was chosen to be the next Giver, but after 5 weeks of training, she releases herself from the community.

Sevens

Sevens receive a front-button jacket. The point of this was to teach the Sevens independence and to do their own tasks by themselves.

Birthmother

The Birthmothers are the mothers who have to give birth to the children. There is little honor in the job. Birthmothers get to have a luxurious life until they give birth to a third child. After that, they have to be a laborer for the rest of their life.

Fours-Sixes

The people ages Four to Six receive a jacket that buttons in the back. The point of the jackets with the buttons at the back was because children would have to help one-another dress; the goal of this was to build interdependence, and the first visible sign of growing up

Giver

The Giver is the current Receiver of Memory. He has all the memories of the world, both sad and happy. He is frustrated with the community because he knows the people gave up too much when they chose Sameness.

Describe the Capacity to See Beyond

The capacity to see beyond is a special quality present in some of the members of the community. Some people, such as the Giver and Jonas have better senses than the rest of the community. Jonas has the ability to See-Beyond, because he can see things like Color, which others in the community cannot. The Giver has the ability to Hear Beyond because when he was younger he could hear things like music, which other's in the community were unable to.

What characteristics are needed to be the next Receiver of Memory?

The characteristics that are necessary to be The Receiver of Memories are to have Intelligence, Integrity, Courage, Wisdom, and the Capacity to See Beyond. The Elders believe that these are the necessary traits one must possess in order to be the Receiver of Memory.

Why is this book a dystopian novel?

This book is a dystopian novel due to the extreme amount of control and authority the Community of Elders has over the citizens. The goal of the amount of control was originally to create a Utopian society, where no one ever experienced things such as pain or suffering. However, to accomplish that goal, the government began to control people's lives and dictate almost everything they could or could not do. In order to maintain the amount of obedience and control the government had, they threatened people with the idea of "release," (or death) as a punishment for those who disobeyed the rules. The emotions people feel are also superficial, and because they have no memories they have no experience for what certain emotions such as love, or pain really feel like. The amount of control the government has over the people in the community makes The Giver is a dystopian novel

Eights

When people are Eight, their comfort object is taken away, Volunteer hours begin, and they receive a Jacket with smaller buttons and with pockets. The pockets on the jacket signify that they are now mature enough to keep track of their own belongings.