The Giver by Lois Lowry Lesson 1 Chapter 1

Genre: Science Fiction

Activate your schema (background
knowledge):
What other science fiction books
What do you know about this genre?

What do science fiction books have in common?

Dystopian Literature

Dystopia=a society that claims to be a utopia (perfect

place) but in reality is the exact opposite.
Dystopias are repressive societies that often hold
secrets and prevent people from having choice and
freedom.
Science Fiction
Time Travel, Robots, Alternate Realities and
Universes, and Advanced Technology
 Climax
Plot Diagram -Turning Point for Main Character
-Learn outcome of main conflict (problem)

Falling Action
Rising Action -Events leading to the
-Main character faces a end of the story
series of problems

Exposition Resolution
-Introduced to the setting
-Ending of story
(time/place), and characters
 Before Reading Discussion Questions
What do you think this book will be about?
WHY do you think that?
What characters do you think might be in the story?

What do you know about the topic

or author of the book (schema)?
What questions would you like to ask the author before you read this
book?
What are you wondering about as you look at the cover and back of the
book?
 Back Cover of Book

‘’Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control.

There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices.
Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive

special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds
the memories of the true pain and pleasure of
life.  Now, it’s time for Jonas to receive the truth. There
is no turning back.’’
Protagonist— Antagonist
Chapter 1 (Exposition)
 
Introduced to the setting (time/place)
Almost December
 
Main character- Jonas
Frightened, Obedient, Fearful

Flashback to a year ago--‘’…the aircraft a year ago had been different...he had
never seen an aircraft so close… all of the citizens had been ordered to go into
the nearest building IMMEDIATELY...’’ ‘’He will be released. ’’
Mood
The feeling you get from reading a piece of writing. Another way to describe
mood is atmosphere.
 
When you walk into a place, it has an atmosphere that makes you feel a certain
way; when you “walk into” a story, it too has an atmosphere that creates a
feeling.
Writers create mood through word choice, imagery, dialogue, setting, and plot.
 Mood Words
 
Positive Negative
Determined Worried
Hopeful Concerned
Surprised Unhappy
Joyous Suspenseful
Passionate Threatening
Serious
What is the mood the author creates in Ch. 1?

‘’Then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the nearest building
and stay there.’’
‘’[Jonas] saw only the abandoned bikes here and there on their sides; an
upturned wheel on one was still revolving slowly.’’
Discussion Question:
What are you learning about life in this society?
‘’Even at play, children were scolded if they used the term
[released] at play…’’
‘’Jonas was careful about language.’’
‘’It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of
feelings...Their parents, of course, were part of the
ritual...they told their feelings each evening’’
Before Reading: Discussion Question
What do you think it must be like to live in
Jonas’s community?
Positives? Negatives?
 Release Rules and Rituals

Directions:      
Create a web of words to describe Jonas’s
community.     
               
You should add to this web throughout your
reading of the novel Jonas ‘s community
 Jonas
Protagonist (Good guy; main
character)

In fiction, the main character encounters a conflict

(problem). The main character must overcome this
problem in the story.

Watch and listen to the main character in the

story.
Words
Actions
Looks
Thoughts
Others’ reactions to him
Jonas
What does this quotation tell you about Jonas?
‘’ He had waited a long time for this special December.

Now that it was almost upon him, he wasn’t frightened, but

he was eager… and he was excited…but there was a shudder
of nervousness…apprehensive.’’
Characters (Ch.1)
 
Identify who these characters are.
Describe each.

Asher
Father
Mother
Lily
Characters (Ch.1)
 
Identify who these characters are.
Describe each.

Asher
Father
Mother
Lily
‘’Release’’
 
Why does this society release people?

‘’There were only two occasions of release which were not a

punishment. Release of the elderly, which was a time of
celebration for a life well and fully lived; and release of a new
child, which always brought a sense of what-could-we-have-
done.’’
The third type of release is what happened when the pilot-in-
training made a wrong turn.
 Sharing of Feelings
‘’It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings.’’

What is the point of this activity? Does this seem ‘’normal’’?