Novel Study: The Giver
By Lois Lowry
During this novel study the students in EF7A will be expected to keep up with the reading and questions. The novel has been divided into three sections. As a class we will explore section one together, reading and discussing the questions. We will read most of section two together as a class and may have discussions but they will not be focused on the chapter questions. In section three the students are expected to do some of the reading and answer all of the questions independently. In addition to the questions students are required to complete a story arch for the novel. Each student has received a story arch in this package; this will be the only copy given to the student. Upon completing the novel the students will showcase what they have learned by two assignments of their choice.
The answers to these questions should be completed on lined paper and to the best of your ability. These questions will require you to use the text and your own ideas to answer the questions. All questions should be answered in paragraph format with sufficient evidence to support your ideas (I only want to see grade 7 answers to the questions). All questions will be collected and marked upon completion of the section.
Before Reading:
Read the front and back covers of the book. List two things you have learned about this book from the covers. List two questions you have about the book after reading the covers.
Part 1 – Chapter 1 to 8:
Did you read the chapters? (These question are comprehension questions, you should be able to find the information in the text)
1. What does it mean to be released? How do the characters feel about this?
2. What is different about Jonas’ assignment? How does he feel about it?3. What were the five essential attributes required for Jonas’ new position?
4. What happened when Jonas looked out at the audience?
Did you think about what you were reading? (Each answer should be at least 5-6 sentences! Good, thoughtful paragraphs!)
1. So far, what do you see as the positive aspects of the Community where Jonas lives in?
2. So far, what do you see as the negative aspects of the Community where Jonas lives in?
3. Why do you think members of this society must do volunteer work while they are
young? Do you think this is a good or idea or a bad idea? Defend your answer.
5. Look again at Chapters 1 and 2. Mostly, the things in the chapter are perfectly normal and like our world. But not quite. Make a list of all the things that are mentioned, or terms that are used, that identify the setting as different from our world
Part 2 - Chapter 7 to 12Did you read the chapters? (These question are comprehension questions, you should be able to find the information in the text)
1. Other than receiving the same assignment, what did Jonas and the Receiver have in common? Do you think this is a coincidence or a specific character trait?2. What lined the walls of the Receiver’s room? Why was this so unique?
3. What is the first memory that Jonas receives? How does Jonas feel about his new position after this memory?
4. On a separate piece of paper, draw an image that stood out in your mind while you were reading chapters 9 and 10. What was it about this image that made it stand out? Don’t worry; you will not be marked on your artistic ability!
5. Who says the following; “Our people made the choice. . .We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.” What is this quote talking about?
6. What memory is Jonas receiving at the end of chapter 12? What is Jonas’s reaction to the memory? Why do you think he is having this reaction?
Did you think about what you were reading? (Each answer should be at least 5-6 sentences! Good, thoughtful paragraphs!)
1. Agree or disagree, and say why: People should learn history, and learn about the past.
2. Agree or disagree, and say why: It is possible to have a world where everyone is equal, but everyone is not the same.
3. Agree or disagree, and say why: A world without any pain would be a bad thing.
Part 3 - Chapter 13 to 23Did you read the chapters? (These question are comprehension questions, you should be able to find the information in the text)
1. At the beginning of chapter 13 Jonas and The Giver have a discussion about choice. What do we learn about the community from this conversation?2. At the start of chapter 14 we see Jonas receiving painful memories. Why is it important for Jonas to receive these painful memories?
3. Why do you think Jonas’ understanding of the river that ran through the community had changed?
4. How does Jonas describe the change in his feelings at the start of chapter 17?
5. What has Jonas learned about the previous Receiver of Memories? What affect does this information have on Jonas?
6. Jonas experienced feelings of loss, what did he feel he was losing or had lost?
7. Why does the community release one of set of twins? How does this fit with what we have learned about the community? What are your feelings about the community at this point in the book?
8. We have already learned that Jonas has the ability to see-beyond. What is meant by the ability to hear-beyond?
9. What is the plan that Jonas and The Giver develop during chapter 20? What goes wrong with the plan?
10. What happens in the last two chapters, and how does the novel end?
Think about what you’ve read. Write at least five sentences for each one!
1. Somehow, you come upon Jonas’s Community…a group of people living peacefully, with no poverty, no suffering, no pain, and no war. Should you tell them about pain and war and all those bad things, or not? List the arguments for telling them, and then list the arguments for not telling them. Then decide whether you’d tell them or not.
2. EXCEPT for the “Release” of babies and others, describe what you think are the worst parts of the society described in this book.
3. Describe the best parts of the society described in this book.
4. Re-read the last two pages of the book. First, decide…Do Jonas and Gabriel reach Elsewhere? Another Community? Is he hallucinating? Do they just die together in the snow? To you, when you read it, what exactly happens? DEFEND your answer by quoting from and referring to the book. To you, is the ending of this book a happy one or a sad one?
5. In a paragraph, tell what the lessons, themes, and messages are that the author would like us to get from this bookThe Giver: Final Assignment
As a conclusion to our study of the novel The Giver you will complete 2 of the assignments listed below. Be prepared to share at least one of your assignments with the class (this will be one of your oral marks this term). Make sure you refer to each individual rubric to ensure you have all aspects of the assignments done.
New Book Cover - Create a new cover for the book; be sure to include all the important information that must be found on a cover.
Front Cover – The title of the book, the author’s name, your name, a creative illustration (this should be eye-catching and reflect an important part of the book. Your illustrations needs to be hand drawn and can be in coloured pencils or markers.)
Book Spine – Include the title of the book and the author’s name, write the name of the publisher at the bottom of the panel (include creative lettering to design the spine of the book cover).
Back Cover – The title and author, barcode and publishing company, a 2 – 3 paragraph summary of the book that highlights the beginning middle and end of the book (the summary is to be the facts and not your thoughts about the book – you can include quotes from the book to make it more interesting). Also, include quotes that someone might have said about the book (you are trying to sell the book; you might what the quote to be by someone famous).
Inside Front Flap – A brief description of the book’s main characters. This should be at least 3-5 sentences; think about why the characters are important to the book. Also include a picture of the character your wrote about (use coloured pencils or markers)
Inside Rear Cover Flap – Include a picture of the author and 1-2 paragraphs about the author (things you might consider: education, where she lives, family, other books, awards won, and interest/hobbies).
Poetry- Create a poetry book of several (more then 2) poems. In your poetry book, you may want to use some of the vocabulary words that you learned as you read, or you may want to create more freely. See whether you can capture the spirit of the book in your poems. Remember that poems do not have to rhyme.
Character Diary – Choose several important days at strategic points throughout the book. Write diary entries (more the 2) that Jonas might have written if he had kept a diary.
Diorama – Create a diorama for an important scene in the book. This is a miniature scene, using dried plants, stones, dirt, small figures, and background pictures, etc., to create a three-dimensional effect. Include a one page summary of the scene and why you think it is significant to the book. If this is the project you choose to present, be ready to discuss orally why you choose the scene you did.
Collage- Browse through magazines, looking for illustrations that remind you of characters or scenes from the book. Then cut them out and arrange them in interesting patterns on a poster. Include a one page explanation of the connections the pictures have to the book. If this is the project you choose to present, be ready to discuss orally why you choose the images you did.
Book in a Bag- Select five to ten objects that have significance to the story. Place the objects in a bag or box. As you deliver your oral presentation, pull out an object one at a time and explain why it belongs. When you hand in your project don’t forget to include a description of the significance of each of the objects.
Professional Review – Pretend you are a professional critic and write a review of The Giver. Start with a summary of the book (but don’t give too much away), then write a recommendation (who do you think will like/hate the book). Some tips to writing a professional review include: writing in the third person point of view, using present tense, anticipating and addressing the concerns of the reader, and supporting your opinion with evidence and examples from the book.
Comic Strip – Make a comic strip about an event from the story. Make very neat and clear illustrations that are easy to understand. Remember to keep the pictures simple and not too detailed so that it is easy to see what is happening. You are retelling a part of the book in comic form; the reader of the comic should be able to understand the section of the book without having read The Giver.
Letter to a Friend – Write a letter to a friend telling him or her all about The Giver. Explain what you liked about the story and what you didn’t like about the story. Include what you might have learned from the book.
Illustrations – Illustrate 10 pictures of characters or scenes from the story. On the back of each page, write a short paragraph explaining what the picture is and why you chose to include it.
Change the ending - Rewrite the last chapter of the book. Change it to the way that you believe it should have ended. Be sure to include dialogue and descriptive language. Including an image of your new ending may help make it more effective.
Picture Book - Create a picture book version of The Giver that you will share with the class. Your picture book should have a picture for each chapter along with a sentence or two that describes what happens in that scene. Your picture book should have a decorated cover, color illustrations, as well as page numbers.
Playlist - Examine how the author uses words to create different moods in the book. Music also creates moods. Select music to represent five different events and moods in the story. Create a cd or PowerPoint (with at least six songs) that you will share this with the class. For each song, write a paragraph describing the scene and how the music relates to that scene (justification for using that song). Design and create a cd cover for this soundtrack for The Giver.
Board Game - Create a game using places, characters, problems, and details from the novel The Giver. You should have a paragraph summary of the book, a detailed explanation of how to play the game, and rules for it.
If you have other ideas to demonstrate that you have read and understood the book, you should come and talk to me. Decisions about projects should be made by: _____________.
