essay prompts the giver

by Lois Lowry

The giver essay questions.

What does the ending of The Giver mean for our interpretation of the text?

Answer: Lowry has left the ending ambiguous. The more likely approach is to decide that Jonas did die and was merely hallucinating at the end of the novel, which could imply a pessimistic ending that completes our image of a dystopia that cannot provide its citizens with both safety and independence. Under this interpretation, we also see the difficulty of separating oneself from the collective; successful resistance requires more than just one or two people. One might decide instead that Jonas coincidentally finds the sled and Elsewhere at the conclusion of the novel. This development might suggest the ability of the human spirit to survive centuries of suppression and hint that Jonas's society will recover from the adverse effects of Sameness. It is important to note that in a later novel, Messenger , Lowry resolves the ambiguity by suggesting that Jonas survived, but this does not invalidate the possible interpretation that Jonas died.

What is the significance of snow in The Giver ?

Answer: Jonas's experiences with his memories are intimately connected with the idea of snow, from his first received transmission of sledding through snow on a hillside to his experience of a broken leg and finally to his real encounter with it at the novel's conclusion. As with many other things that have been eradicated through Sameness, snow involves the dangers that the community chose to end in its quest for safety. At the same time, however, it brings Jonas great joy, through his exhilaration in his first memory and in his apparent recognition of the existence of Elsewhere in the last chapter. Snow is neither good nor bad, but the novel implies that its absence takes some essential aspect away from the world. Removing a risk involves removing the benefits that could have resulted from taking the risk.

What meanings does the phrase "back and back and back" hold within the novel?

Answer: The phrase represents the traditional role of The Receiver within Jonas's community, and it gives a sense of history and continuity to the position of Receiver. Yet, as Jonas notes later in the novel, it also represents the burden and constraints that the society has given to The Receiver in the search for safety and Sameness. Whereas The Receiver is forced to remember "back and back and back" and understand all the pains of humanity, the rest of the community has no sense of history and thus loses both the positive and negative aspects of retaining a common history. For the community, the earlier times were times of hurt and danger, "backward" times that the people do not want to remember or relive.

How does The Giver's acquaintance with Jonas change The Giver's outlook on life?

Answer: Although most people read The Giver 's relationship to Jonas in terms of The Giver's teachings to Jonas--The Giver is in control, helping Jonas develop wisdom to augment his intelligence and courage--The Giver also gains some wisdom himself over the course of their relationship. Prior to meeting Jonas, The Giver had resigned himself to the stagnant nature of both the community and his role within the society, judging that the society was supreme and that he was powerless. However, by seeing the changes that his memories and teachings effect in Jonas, he learns that he also has the ability to teach others and perhaps reverse the oppression of individuals. By talking to Jonas about the problems of their society, he gains the resolve to make a difference and affect the society's future course.

Discuss how the idea of release is used in The Giver.

Answer: Because the nature of release is not revealed until very late in the novel--at a point that could be considered the climax of the plot--the continued references to the mysterious process of release unsettle us and lead us to suspect that it is intentionally hidden because of moral cracks in the society. The narrative introduces us to the idea of release in the first chapter as an apparently excessive punishment for a pilot's innocent mistake while indicating the presence of fear, which sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The novel then proceeds to both soothe and unnerve as it alternates examples of people who are happy to be released with those who are banished from the community for wrongdoing or for simply being weak. Considering that the Old are eventually released, it is not hard to figure out that being released means being euthanized. When the process of release is finally revealed, we are not surprised to see that it is lethal injection. The long period before the novel's revelation adds to its significance in revealing the problems in the community's structure. If the society has really done away with the troubles of this world, why do they still call euthanasia a release? Figuratively, people are being released from the bondage of the oppression in this tightly controlled society, but of course they do not see it in this way.

Discuss the role of family in The Giver .

Answer: Over the course of the novel, Jonas forms in a sense a second family. The first one consists of his family unit, and the second is a new family including Gabriel and perhaps also The Giver, who are joined to him by the transference of memories. The first unit serves as a foil for the second, as its apparent functionality is shown to be somewhat lacking in real love or permanent attachment. Most families are tightly controlled for the sake of the society (compare Plato's treatment of families in the Republic ). In contrast, Jonas's relations with The Giver and with Gabriel are more suggestive of the love that he feels in the memory of family and grandparents, and the novel suggests that their ability to feel true emotions such as love represents what is lacking in the rest of the community.

How do Asher and Fiona illuminate our understanding of Jonas's character?

Answer: Asher and Fiona serve as foils throughout the novel for Jonas. Initially, Asher's character description in particular highlights Jonas's characteristics of intelligence and thoughtfulness. Later in the novel, however, as Jonas's training begins to alienate him from the community, Asher's and Fiona's behavior during the war game shows the lack of understanding that results from their lack of historical awareness. The revelation that Fiona is training in release serves as a final indication of how Jonas has grown apart from the conventions and cruelties of his society.

Discuss the role of solitude or isolation in Jonas's experiences.

Answer: At one point in the novel, Lowry references the positive aspects of solitude as learned by Jonas through transmitted memories. However, for the most part, the effect of Jonas's role as Receiver-in-Training is to isolate him and make him experience the more negative aspects of his society. Because he has been trained to act always as a member of a group, he now learns that to honor The Receiver increases his burdens by adding the pain of loneliness to the weight of his memories. In his role as sage, he will always stand apart. He will develop his own sense of right and wrong, of good and evil, based on unique experiences that the regular society never has. His distanced vantage point allows him to critique the society more fully than he would have been able to do had he remained a normal member of the collective.

Write a second ending for The Giver that tells the fate of the community after Jonas's departure.

Answer: This question asks you to engage in a creative exercise. One might address the community's reaction to the loss of Jonas and what the people and The Giver are thinking as the people search for him. More importantly, one might consider the community's reaction to the return of their memories and about The Giver's attempt to help them. Such an ending could be written from the perspective of The Giver or the perspective of one of the members of the community, such as Jonas's sister Lily or his friend Asher. The narrative could then describe whether the community chose to reject or keep Sameness or what small risks the community began to take in order to appreciate individuality and the chance of developing a stronger, more free society.

How does Jonas's training as The Receiver of Memory serve as a coming-of-age story?

Answer: Jonas and his society proceed from the assumption that after the Ceremony of Twelve, all of the new Twelves are no longer mere children, although they stay with their family units and continue their schooling. However, Jonas's training reveals that after just twelve years of life, he has not acquired the wisdom necessary to approach his life as an adult. In his interactions with The Giver, he acquires this wisdom and mentally ages rapidly through his experiences of war, death, and starvation. This approach to development contrasts with that of Fiona and Asher, both of whom remain in a sense like children because their experiences do not grant them self-awareness and maturity.

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.

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...

Chapter 13-16

Jonas advocates choices, as well as real family units rather than created family units.

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
• Analysis of themes
• Literary significance and reception

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

What does it mean to be “released” from the community Jonas lives in? Name a few reasons people are released and explain how the act of releasing someone reflects the community’s values.

Receiver is described as a position of honor, while the Birthmother assignment is said to lack honor. Why is this the case? What might happen if the status of these roles were switched?

At several points in The Giver , Jonas expresses that having choices is dangerous. Why does he feel this way, and how does his opinion about choices change as the story unfolds?

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• Literature Notes
• Major Themes in The Giver
• Book Summary
• About The Giver
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Chapters 1-2
• Chapters 3-5
• Chapters 6-8
• Chapters 9-10
• Chapters 11-12
• Chapters 13-15
• Chapters 16-17
• Chapters 18-20
• Chapters 21-23
• Lois Lowry Biography
• Critical Essays
• Style and Language in The Giver
• What Are Utopias and Dystopias?
• A Note about Infanticide and Euthanasia
• Full Glossary for The Giver
• Essay Questions
• Cite this Literature Note

Critical Essays Major Themes in The Giver

Many themes in The Giver demonstrate Lowry's concerns about society and humanity. For example, she concentrates on the tradeoffs involved when Jonas' community chooses Sameness rather than valuing individual expression. Certain themes in the book are familiar because they can be found in other novels by Lowry.

Throughout The Giver , Lowry attempts to awaken each and every reader to the dangers that exist when people opt for conformity over individuality and for unexamined security over freedom. At one time in the past, the people who inhabited Jonas' community intended to create a perfect society. They thought that by protecting the citizens from making wrong choices (by having no choices), the community would be safe. But the utopian ideals went awry, and people became controlled and manipulated through social conditioning and language. Now, even the expression "love" is an empty ideal. For example, when Jonas asks his parents if they love him, his mother scolds him for using imprecise language. She says that "love" is "a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete." To Jonas, however, love is a very real feeling.

Lowry stresses the point that people must not be blindly obedient to the rules of society. They must be aware of and must question everything about their lives. In Jonas' community, the people passively accept all rules and customs. They never question the fact that they are killing certain babies simply because such babies are different, or that they are killing old people whom they determine are no longer productive to the community. The community members unquestioningly follow rules; over time, because killing has become a routine practice, horrible and senseless actions do not morally, emotionally, or ethically upset them. As The Giver says of Jonas' father's killing the lighter-weight twin male, "It's what he was told to do, and he knows nothing else."

Another important theme in The Giver is the value of the individual. Lowry points out that when people are unable to experience pain, their individuality is devalued. Memories are so vital because they oftentimes include pain, and pain is an individual reaction: What is painful to one person might not be painful to another person. Also, people learn from memories and gain wisdom from remembering past experiences.

Life in Jonas' community is very routine, predictable, and unchanging. So are most of the people who live in the community. These characters are uncomplicated and complacent. They are static, simple, one-dimensional characters. Because the majority of them do not change throughout the novel, we see only one part of their personalities — their surface appearances and actions. Nothing happens within static characters; things happen to them.

Most of the citizens in the community passively follow the rules of the community. They always do what they are told. Nothing has ever happened to them except when an earlier Receiver-in-training, Rosemary, asked for release because she no longer could tolerate living in the community. After her death, the people were in total chaos because they didn't know what to do with the memories that Rosemary had experienced. They were not accustomed to thinking for themselves. Experiencing Rosemary's memories was something that happened to the people. Afterward, they resumed their lives as before, so it is evident that nothing permanently changed within them.

Jonas, on the other hand, is a dynamic character. He changes during the course of the novel due to his experiences and actions. We know how Jonas changes because Lowry narrates The Giver in the third person, limited omniscient viewpoint in order to reveal Jonas' thoughts and feelings. When the novel begins, Jonas is as unconcerned as anyone else about how he is living. He has grown up with loudspeakers, rules, precise language, and a family that is not connected biologically, and he has accepted this way of life because he doesn't know any other type of existence. But as he receives The Giver's memories and wisdom, he learns the truth about his community, that it is a hypocrisy and that the people have voluntarily given up their individuality and freedom to live as robots. Jonas' character changes and becomes more complex. He experiences an inner conflict because he misses his old life, his childhood, and his innocence, but he can't return to his former way of life because he has learned too much about joy, color, and love. Lowry writes of Jonas toward the beginning of Chapter 17, "But he knew he couldn't go back to that world of no feelings that he had lived in so long."

Jonas also experiences an external conflict between himself and the community. He is frustrated and angry because he wants his fellow citizens to change and thereby give up Sameness. He knows that the community and each person's life will benefit if only they would — or could — reclaim their individuality. But the people can't change. Generations ago, they chose Sameness over freedom and individuality. Now, they know no other way of life.

Other themes in The Giver , such as family and home, friendships, acts of heroism, as well as the value of remembering the past, are familiar because they are themes in Lowry's previous novels also. Like Rabble in Rabble Starkey , Jonas has to leave the family that was created for him. Through the experience of leaving, both Jonas and Rabble learn to appreciate what it means to have a family and a home. And like Annemarie in Lowry's award-winning Number the Stars , Jonas lives in a repressed society in which he has no freedom. Both Jonas and Annemarie risk their lives in order to save people they love. Because the conclusion of The Giver is so ambiguous, we don't know how Jonas' experiences ultimately affect him or his community. We do know that he matures and that he feels excited and joyful as he and Gabe ride down the hill on the sled.

Lowry challenges her readers to reexamine their values and to be aware of the interdependence of all human beings with each other, their environment, and the world in which they live. When people are forced to live under an oppressive regime that controls every person's actions, meaningful relationships between people are threatened because they involve individual feelings and thoughts. Only by questioning the conditions under which we live, as Jonas does in The Giver , can we maintain and secure our freedom of expression.

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The Giver Thesis Statements and Essay Topics

Below you will find four outstanding thesis statements / paper topics for “The Giver” by Lois Lowry can be used as essay starters. All four incorporate at least one of the themes found in “The Giver” and are broad enough so that it will be easy to find textual support, yet narrow enough to provide a focused clear thesis statement. These thesis statements offer a short summary of “The Giver” in terms of different elements that could be important in an essay. You are, of course, free to add your own analysis and understanding of the plot or themes to them. Using the essay topics below in conjunction with the list of  important quotes from “The Giver”  on our quotes page, you should have no trouble connecting with the text and writing an excellent essay.

Topic #1: The Capacity of Decision Making in the Absence of Experience

Human beings have the unique ability of making decisions based on personal beliefs and knowledge gained from the consequences of previous experiences. In Jonas’s world, individuals have very few choices to make. They are told what to say and do at all times. Through genetic science, individuals cannot distinguish color and are strikingly similar in appearance. Even their most important decisions such as whom to marry or which career path to select are assigned by the Elders. With this limited agency dating back for generations, how capable is the average community member of making choices for themselves? How well could the community survive with the responsibilities and painful knowledge suddenly thrust upon them after Jonas’s departure?

Topic #2: Secrecy and Deception in Totalitarian Governments

Within totalitarian governments, the dictator is the ultimate authority. One of the powers these governments have over their citizens is the ability to withhold information and block communication. In some countries, for example, social media websites such as Facebook are banned. Within the community in “The Giver” contact with the outer world is completely blocked. Only members from similar communities may visit, but only for a brief time. In addition to preventing external communication, an internal structure of secrecy is built within the community. Jonas’s instructions for training include not disclosing information about his training, and the statement, “You may lie.” Upon receiving this, he immediately wonders if others have been given the same instruction. By comparing the Jonas’s community to examples of totalitarian countries, how do the rigid rules, distrust of others, and lack of communication contribute to community loyalty? Why has no individual challenged this concept? If a person attempted to, what would the outcome be?

Topic #3: Family Dynamics Without Love

Some of the strongest emotions people can experience involve love and physical intimacy. The bond between husband and wife is strengthened through sexual passion, as mother and child bond through pregnancy and birth. Jonas’s community separates Birthmothers from those who raise children. These women are looked down upon by other members of the community and are sentenced to hard physical labor after they can no longer bear children. From as early as they are first experienced, sexual desires are inhibited by a mandatory medication. These attitudes and mandates towards intimacy contribute to insubstantial and superficial relationships between family members. In what ways does this mindset contribute to Sameness? How do family dynamics compare with the memories of the past? Which differences between the family structures are most significant to creating love within the family?

Topic #4: Growth Through Experience

Oscar Wilde, a playwright of the Victorian Era, stated, “Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” In other words, he believed personal experience is the most critical aspect of learning and growth. On a related note, Marcel Proust, a French philosopher, claimed he gained the most profound learning and sense of self through the times in life that he suffered. If novel opportunities promote growth, Sameness prohibits it. Discuss how Jonas’s development throughout the novel supports this claim. How does his personal evolution compare to his friends and family?

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Themes and Analysis

By lois lowry.

'The Giver' is, at times, a dark and disturbing novel, touching on themes of loss and control.

About the Book

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.

At the same time, it’s also a novel of hope , depicted through the beauty of colors seen for the first time and joys never before experienced. It’s a novel that ends with an image that alludes to the enduring nature of the human spirit and future possibilities.

The Giver Themes 

Memory .

It’s through memory in The Giver that the community leaders exert control over everyone else. Collective memory is a thing of the past. Wars, loves, hate, joy, and any remnant of the time before the community is lost. Lowry was interested in using this novel to explore what happens when all memories disappear. Does a happier community emerge when the dark parts of human history are lost?

Despite the community’s desire to leave their past behind, the elders also understood the age-old proverb that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. This meant that someone had to remember. The Giver plays the role, and Jonas was meant to take it up after him. He’s there to make sure that no one starts down a dangerous path that might lead to consequences known only to him. 

Free Will/Control 

Jonas’s community is nothing without control. The community leaders exert control by making everyone believe that total obedience is the only way to live. The rules are their lives, and there is no choice but to follow them. There are rules for every part of life, ensuring that free will is surprised and the individual. 

The Individual 

This final theme is tied directly to the other most prominent themes in the novel. There are moments in Lois Lowry’s novel where Jonas notes the individuality of his friends, family members, and most importantly himself. Jonas feels different than his friends do, and he knows he sees the world differently as well. This is something that proves to be correct when at the Ceremony of the Twelve, he’s singled out to be the new Receiver of Memory. It’s the first time in his life, and in the lives of the other children, that they’ve had their differences highlighted. Some are more suited for one job or another.

Jonas only becomes more of an individual, something the community doesn’t encourage, as the novel progresses. He’s given memories, something unique in his world.  One of the more powerful moments of the novel comes at the end when Jonas realizes that he’s making memories of his own, ones that belong only to him. 

Analysis of Key Moments in The Giver 

• Jonas sees an airplane, learning that there’s life outside the community. 
• His father brings Gabriel home. 
• Jonas feels the “stirrings.”  
• Jonas goes to the Ceremony of the Twelve and becomes the next Receiver of Memory. 
• Jonas meets the Giver and learns about good and bad experiences.  
• He gives Gabriel memories to calm him down. 
• Jonas starts to see colors. 
• He learns about the Giver’s daughter, the previous receiver of memory, and her release. 
• Jonas learns what “releasing” means . 
• The Giver and Jonas make a plan for him to escape the community. 
• Jonas runs away with Gabriel. 
• Jonas and Gabriel sled down the hill towards Elsewhere. 

Style, Literary Devices, and Tone in The Giver 

Lowry’s narrative style in The Giver is straightforward and clear. It comes across as a simple recitation of events, almost journalistic. The plot progresses from the beginning to the end of the story with very few exceptions. Lowry uses clear language that’s easy to understand throughout the book, solidifying her choice to direct this novel towards young adults. Additionally, the simple language helps describe the simple lives of Jonas, his family, and his friends. Everyone lives preplanned, organized lives, similar to how Lowry’s writing depicts them. This is also how one might describe the tone. It is direct in most parts of the novel and, as it progresses, becomes more emotional and distressed as Jonas learns more about his community. 

It’s not until the Giver comes into the narrative and starts relaying memories to Jonas that the style changes at all. The memories are moving, mysterious, and strange. This changes the way that Lowry writes and the images she creates. In these passages, and in all those in which Jonas is thinking about his world, Lowry uses rhetorical questions. These are questions to which the speaker does not expect an answer. Jonas is filled with them regarding every element of his life. 

Lowry makes use of several other literary devices in The Giver as well. These include euphemisms or phrases that stand-in for something uncomfortable or difficult. For example, “release” is used instead of kill. This is a great example of how the language Lowry selected for the community reveals something about them as much as it tries to hide the truth. When the families gather together to share their feelings, they’re doing the exact opposite. Lowry employs a cliff hanger at the end of the book when she chooses not to reveal what happens to Jonas and Gabe. 

Symbols in The Giver

The apple .

The apple is a symbol for all that’s missing in the community. Its red color, something that’s lost to everyone in the community except Jonas, represents freedom, human nature, and emotions. The red of the apple also appears in other parts of his life. It comes to represent desire when he sees it in Fiona’s hair, and then later. It features in the rainbow that the Giver shares with him. It reemphasizes the entire range of human experiences and emotions that Jonas, his friends, and family members are missing out on.

Gabriel 

Gabriel is different as Jonas is different . This is something that Jonas recognizes right away. He has pale eyes (later revealed to be blue, like Jonas’s), and Jonas can tell he’s far more thoughtful. The child represents innocence and acts as a powerful contrast to the emotionless community that chooses to kill him. For Jonas, Gabriel also represents hope. Hope for a better life, one filled with love, and one where a child can grow up without the threat of being “released.” 

Sled Ride 

The sled rid is the first memory that Jonas receives from the Giver. It’s one of pure joy, untouched by anything unpleasant. It’s a wonderful experience that does not prepare him for the terrible memories to follow. After receiving the memory, Jonas dreams about the sled ride and the unknown destination at the hill’s bottom. There’s something in the distance that he’s riding towards, but he doesn’t know what it is. It symbolizes his future and the new life that waits for him when he escapes the community at the end of the novel. 

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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Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Lois Lowry's The Giver . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Giver: Introduction

The giver: plot summary, the giver: detailed summary & analysis, the giver: themes, the giver: quotes, the giver: characters, the giver: symbols, the giver: theme wheel, brief biography of lois lowry.

Historical Context of The Giver

Other books related to the giver.

• Full Title: The Giver
• When Written: Early 1990s
• Where Written: Maine
• When Published: April 16, 1993
• Literary Period: Contemporary
• Genre: Dystopian novel
• Setting: A managed community in a futuristic society. The community is cut off from the outside world, which is referred to as "elsewhere."
• Climax: Jonas learns that when his father "releases" newchildren, he actually kills them. Jonas decides to leave the community.
• Antagonist: Jonas's community and its system of Sameness
• Point of View: Third-person limited, through Jonas's eyes

Extra Credit for The Giver

Awards: The Giver won the 1994 Newbery Medal, considered the most prestigious award for children's literature.

Banned Book: Although The Giver tops countless school reading lists, it has also been banned by some schools, which claim that some of the material, like euthanasia and suicide, is inappropriate for children.

One of Three: Lowry has written two more books set in the world of The Giver and including some of the characters from The Giver . The three books together are often described as a "loose trilogy." The second book in the series is Gathering Blue and was published in 2000. The third, The Messenger , was published in 2004.

The Study Blog :

How to write the giver essay [summary, themes + topics included].

By Evans Nov 28 2022

Have you ever wondered how life would be if there was no pain in the world? Imagine if you did not have to struggle to understand what to pursue in life, who to have as your partner, or even the number of children to have since all these have already been decided for you! The Giver gives us a glimpse into such a world. If you have been tasked with writing an essay on The Giver , worry not for we will help you not only understand this thought-provoking book but also how to write The Giver essay .

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Do not panic, hire a professional essay writer today.

A summary of The Giver

T he Giver is about a futuristic community that exists in a world where there are no feelings and everyone is practically the same. The Elders control everything that one has to do. At the age of 12, every child is assigned a job depending on their talents and capabilities. When the time comes to marry, someone will be assigned someone who suits you. This means that this Sameness society feels no pain, no war, or hunger (some pretty goods not to feel, huh!) unfortunately, this also means that they do not experience love, sex, music, or anything of the sort. Jonas is selected to become the Receiver, meaning he gets to keep all of the community’s past memories. As a result, he gets to feel things that almost everyone in the community has never felt. Unable to watch the community continue living in its ignorance, he chooses to run away so that people can finally feel things.

How to write an essay on The Giver

When writing an essay on The Giver , you have to, first of all, take time to read the book. It is quite difficult to write on a subject that you do not understand. Immerse yourself in the world of Jonas and his Sameness community.

Find the right angle

Once you are done reading the book, you can now find the right angle for your essay. Finding the right angle will help give you a clear picture of how your essay is going to look like. If you have no idea how to find the right angle for your essay, do not worry, we will help you with some of the essay topics that you can choose from.

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The Giver essay topics

Is the giver a dystopian or utopian community.

The community in The Giver is not your normal kind of community. This is a community that can be seen as either a utopian community in that nothing bad ever “happens” here or dystopian in that people in the community are not allowed to experience things such as music, love, color, or sex! In your essay, you choose to view this community as either of the two.

Symbolism in  The Giver

Symbolism is always a safe choice when it comes to writing a literature essay. The Giver comes loaded with its symbolism, from using biblical names for its characters to the symbolism of the apple and the eye among others.

How Jonas’ community managed to create a society of sameness

It is not easy to create a community that is completely different from the norm. This is an important part of the book and it deserves as much attention as you can give it. Explore various ways that the Elders managed to modify behavior, punish rebels, and avoid an uproar.

The power of words

Words are powerful (so have we been told time and time again). Words can be the greatest tool of propaganda. It is also the greatest tool that has been used time and time again to incite people, either for good or for worse. The Giver uses specific words that help distort the reality of the community. These words include release, nurturer, and elsewhere among others. You can choose to discuss how these words have been used to keep people satisfied with a very dull life.

Transformation

Perhaps Jonas is the character that encounters the greatest transformation in the community, from a young, ignorant child who’s scared of the kind of job that will be assigned to him to being the Receiver who is not willing to keep lying to everyone in the community. You can come up with such an incredible essay just by focusing on Jonas' transformation.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Giver

Essays on The Giver

Prompt examples for "the giver" essays, dystopian society.

Examine the characteristics of the dystopian society depicted in "The Giver." How does the society control its citizens, and what are the consequences of this extreme control?

Individuality and Memory

Discuss the themes of individuality and memory in the novel. How does the absence of memory and emotions impact the characters' sense of self, and what does the importance of memory reveal about the human experience?

The Role of the Receiver

Analyze the role of the Receiver of Memory in the community. How does Jonas's training and experiences challenge the conformity of the society, and what does it teach him about the power of knowledge and emotions?

Freedom and Rebellion

Explore the themes of freedom and rebellion in "The Giver." How do Jonas and others in the community resist the oppressive rules and seek a more liberated existence, and what risks are involved?

Ethical Dilemmas

Discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by Jonas and other characters as they confront the reality of their society. What moral decisions do they make, and what are the implications of their choices?

Symbolism and Color

Analyze the symbolism of color and its significance in the novel. How does the absence of color represent the lack of individuality and emotion in the community, and what does the introduction of color symbolize?

Hook Examples for "The Giver" Essays

Anecdotal hook.

"As I ventured into the seemingly utopian world of 'The Giver,' I couldn't help but reflect on the price of conformity, the value of individuality, and the profound consequences of memory."

Rhetorical Question Hook

"What if you lived in a society where all memories, emotions, and choices were controlled? Lois Lowry's 'The Giver' prompts us to explore the boundaries of human experience and the cost of a so-called perfect world."

Startling Quote Hook

"'When people have the freedom to choose, they choose wrong.' These words from the novel encapsulate the central theme of 'The Giver' and its exploration of the human desire for both freedom and security."

Dystopian Elements Hook

"In the dystopian community depicted in 'The Giver,' individuality is sacrificed for sameness, and memories of the past are erased. Explore the chilling aspects of this controlled society."

Narrative Hook

"Step into the shoes of Jonas as he embarks on a journey to challenge the norms of his society and uncover the truth. This narrative captures the essence of Lois Lowry's thought-provoking storytelling."

Character Development Hook

"Witness Jonas' transformation from a compliant citizen to a courageous individual who questions the status quo. Analyzing the character arc adds depth to the narrative."

Ethical Dilemmas Hook

"What ethical dilemmas do the characters face in 'The Giver,' and how do these dilemmas resonate with contemporary moral questions? Exploring the novel's ethical dimensions prompts reflection on our own values."

Memory and Emotion Hook

"How do memories and emotions shape human identity, and what happens when they are suppressed? Delving into the role of memory in the story sheds light on the characters' experiences."

Utopian vs. Dystopian Hook

"What does 'The Giver' reveal about the complexities of utopian ideals and the dangers of conformity? Examining the contrast between utopia and dystopia offers valuable insights."

Lois Lowry's Literary Impact Hook

"How does 'The Giver' contribute to Lois Lowry's literary impact and her legacy in young adult literature? Exploring the novel's place in the genre reveals its enduring significance."

Conformity in The Giver

The controversy surrounding "the giver": a case for banning, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

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Reflection on The Giver

Understanding emotions and feelings in "the giver" by lois lowry, the dystopian society in "the giver" by lois lowry, lois lowry "the giver": book review, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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Plot Summary of "The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Freedom versus security in "the giver", the rules in jonas society in "the giver" by lois lowry, analysis of society in "the giver" as utopian, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Censorship, Control and Conformity in "The Giver"

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Novel, Young Adult Fiction, Children's Literature, Science Fiction, Soft Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Utopian Fiction

Asher, Jonas, The Giver, Fiona, Gabriel, Lily

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Order bidding, ‘the giver’ essay topics that you will adore.

‘The Giver’ is an excellent student book that can be read as an initial introduction to anti-utopian literature. History will provide important discussions on certain ‘The Giver’ literary essay topics, the concept of freedom, and much more. The following topics will help students create interesting papers!

Discussion ‘The Giver’ Midterm Essay Topics

• Discuss character development, plot, perspectives, and the theme conveyed in ‘The Giver.’
• Discuss some of the socio-historical circumstances that gave rise to ‘The Giver.’
• Discuss dystopia in ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry.
• Discuss the author’s purpose in writing this book.
• Discuss how Jonas changes throughout the book. What evidence do you have of this change?
• Discuss how Jonas is different from other characters in ‘The Giver.’
• Discuss the community in ‘The Giver’ as a dystopian society.
• Discuss Jonas’s decision to leave the community to go elsewhere.
• Discuss strengths and weaknesses of the book ‘The Giver.’
• Discuss the value of memory in ‘The Giver.’

Compare and Contrast ‘The Giver’ Book Essay Topics

• Compare the movies ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘The Giver.’
• Compare and contrast ‘The Giver’ book and movie.
• Compare narrative mimicking in ‘The Giver’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’
• Compare the book ‘The Giver’ to now and then.
• Compare ‘1984’ by George Orwell and ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry.
• Compare society in ‘The Giver’ vs. our society.
• Compare Hutcheon’s ‘Beginning to Theorize Adaptation’ and the 2014 film version of ‘The Giver’ in relation to Lois Lowry’s original novel.
• Compare and contrast ‘Brave New World’ and ‘The Giver.’

Possible Research Topics on ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry

• The importance of memory in ‘The Giver.’
• The relationship between pain and pleasure.
• The importance of the individual in ‘The Giver.’
• Rules and control in ‘The Giver.’
• Rituals in ‘The Giver.’
• Individuality and freedom of choice in ‘The Giver.’
• The dangers of stability and predictability in ‘The Giver.’
• The importance of human emotion in ‘The Giver.’
• The relationship between memory and wisdom in ‘The Giver.’
• Utopia and dystopia in ‘The Giver.’

A Few Words About ‘The Giver’

‘The Giver’ is a notable work in the field of children’s literature of the 20th century and the first dystopian novel written specifically for adolescents. In 2014, a movie based on the book was released on world screens, starring Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges. Unlike the adult anti-utopia of George Orwell, in ‘The Giver’ there is no external struggle and violence. All discoveries and all struggles take place in the inner world of Jonas. Nevertheless, the plot of the book, with its unexpected twists and merciless details, keeps the reader in suspense and breaks the usual stereotypes.

Immediately after the release in 1993, the novel caused a great deal of controversy. ‘The Giver’ even got placed on the list of books that many parents tried to ban: they believed that such serious topics should not be discussed with young readers. Despite criticism, however, the book was included in the middle school curriculum of some American schools and received many prestigious awards, including the Newbery Medal of the American Library Association.

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The Lawyer Defending Idaho’s Abortion Ban Irritated the One Justice He Needed on His Side

Justice Amy Coney Barrett famously provided the crucial fifth vote to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. So if you are arguing in favor of an abortion ban, you probably don’t want to alienate Barrett—by, say, condescendingly dismissing her concerns when she points out that your legal theory doesn’t make any sense. Yet that is what Joshua Turner did on Wednesday while defending Idaho’s draconian abortion restrictions, and much to Barrett’s evident irritation. Turner—who represented the Idaho solicitor general’s office in the second major abortion case to come before the high court after it promised us in its Dobbs opinion that the court was out of the abortion business in 2022—might just have lost his case by repeatedly mansplaining his self-contradictory position to Barrett and the other three women justices. In his toneless, dispassionate telling, his entirely incomprehensible position was just too complex for them to understand. And so he just kept repeating it, over and over. These justices, including Barrett, sounded increasingly fed up with his chin-stroking dissembling on an issue that’s literally life-or-death for pregnant women in red states. If the court’s male members noticed Turner’s dismissive attitude toward their colleagues, they didn’t care. The gender divide on the court has never been so revealing.

Perhaps because Dobbs was a threat to unknown future women, whereas real women are now being left to hemorrhage, lose the functioning of their reproductive organs, or be popped onto helicopters to receive out-of-state stabilizing care, none of the life-and-death harms being experienced in red states around the country feel very theoretical to anyone who has thought about pregnancy in a serious way. Yet, for male justices more worried about harms to the spending clause , nothing about potentially lethal pregnancies warranted even a moment’s pause.

Wednesday’s case, Moyle v. United States , revolves around a clash between Idaho law and a 1986 federal statute called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (or EMTALA). Idaho’s abortion ban has no exception for the health of the patient; rather, it criminalizes abortion unless it’s “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” EMTALA, meanwhile, requires virtually all hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment for any condition that “could reasonably be expected” to put the patient’s health “in serious jeopardy,” as well as any condition that could seriously impair bodily functions or organs.

The Biden administration argues there’s a conflict between Idaho law and EMTALA: Where Idaho allows termination only when the patient is at the brink of death, EMTALA mandates intervention earlier, to stabilize the patient before she is literally dying, including situations in which she is facing organ damage, infertility, or other serious harms. So the administration sued the state, and a federal judge issued an injunction compelling Idaho to allow emergency abortions to preserve a patient’s “health.” Now SCOTUS must decide whether the federal statute limits the ability of states like Idaho to criminalize abortions that are health-sparing but not necessarily lifesaving. And that means slipping into their white coats and stethoscopes and explaining to America’s emergency physicians how to do their jobs without risking two to five years in prison and a loss of licensure for making poor guesses about what stabilizing care involves.

Turner, representing Idaho on Wednesday, made a hodgepodge of his state’s arguments that are frankly difficult to harmonize. He seemed to make three central claims: First, that EMTALA does not mandate any particular standard of care (despite prescribing one pretty clearly); second, that even if it did, Idaho’s law would comport with that standard (even though it criminalizes abortion as stabilizing treatment); and third, that abortion is never a standard of care under Idaho law. Except for when it is, which is when it’s necessary to save a patient’s life. Which is a narrower standard than what EMTALA mandates. Which is irrelevant, because, according to Turner, EMTALA doesn’t mandate anything at all. But also, that there is a difference between the care demanded by EMTALA and Idaho, but also that there is no difference, but also that physicians shouldn’t sweat this because beneficent prosecutors probably won’t jail them on the basis of a close call.  

Confused? So were the justices. Progressive Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor all took turns trying to draw out a single scrap of consistent logic from Turner’s rhetorical detritus. Kagan pressed him to admit that EMTALA sets forth an “objective standard” of care—the stabilization of a patient—that sometimes includes abortion. He refused. She sounded aghast. Does the statute, she asked, at least require states to permit abortions for ectopic pregnancies, which will cause death if not terminated? No, Turner responded, adding: “That understanding is a humble one with respect to the federalism rule of states.” To which Kagan in turn responded: “It may be too humble for women’s health.”

Jackson questioned Turner’s insistence that EMTALA does not require anything that Idaho prohibits, rebuking his strange declaration that the state’s trigger ban simply defers to the “medical judgment” of state legislatures rather than doctors. And Sotomayor pummeled Turner with real stories, all ripped from the headlines, of women denied abortions and then forced to bleed out in agony, then asked him whether these women would be allowed to terminate under Idaho law. When Turner refused to give a yes-or-no answer, Barrett finally stepped in. “I’m kind of shocked, actually,” she told Turner, “because I thought your own expert had said below that these kinds of cases were covered. And you’re now saying they’re not?” Turner responded that he wasn’t, to which Barrett retorted: “Well, you’re hedging. I mean, Justice Sotomayor is asking you, ‘Would this be covered or not,’ and it was my understanding that the legislature’s witnesses said that these would be covered.” Turner told her, in short, not quite —the witnesses said that, in “exercising their medical judgment, they could in good faith determine that lifesaving care was necessary.” Barrett sounded irritated. “But some doctors might reach a contrary conclusion, I think is what Justice Sotomayor is asking you,” she told him. “If they reached the conclusion that the legislature’s doctors did, would they be prosecuted under Idaho law?”

Turner said no, but Barrett wasn’t convinced. “What if the prosecutor thought differently?” she went on. “What if the prosecutor thought, well, I don’t think any good-faith doctor could draw that conclusion, I’m going to put on my expert?” Remarkably, Turner told her that’s “the nature of prosecutorial discretion”—meaning prosecutors might well bring charges anyway. At that point, doctors would have to defend their decision in court while facing a two-to-five- year prison sentence. (And ER doctors also face lawsuits if they defer lifesaving care.) So in Idaho you can pretty much just decide how to end your career, while spinning the wheel until someone sues you. No wonder physicians are bolting from the state.

Barrett was, to put it mildly, not satisfied. Later, when Turner tried to blame the Department of Justice for launching this case, she again put him in his place. “Well, hold on a second,” she said. “You’re here because there’s an injunction precluding you from enforcing your law. And if your law can fully operate because EMTALA doesn’t curb Idaho’s authority to enforce its law …” But she couldn’t finish her thought, because Turner interrupted her. It was one of many interruptions she would face from the Idaho attorney. And as the morning went on, she was less and less indulgent of his let-me-explain-this-like-you’re-a-toddler style of argument. When Turner accused the solicitor general of taking an overly aggressive litigation posture, Barrett declined to engage, instead sharply informing him: “OK, well, I would like to hear the solicitor general’s response to that,” and moving on. When she called out one of his silliest claims—that the Justice Department demanded emergency abortions to treat a “mental health condition”—Barrett sounded fed up. Turner hemmed and hawed, butchering the statute so badly that she had to step in to remind him of what it actually said.

When Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar had her turn at the lectern, she faced a barrage of questions from Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch about whether Congress had run afoul of the spending clause when it passed EMTALA, an issue that was not briefed and should not be in the case. Samuel Alito, who brought all of his dictionary-wielding and woman-erasing skills from his star turn in Dobbs to bear, devoted his time to defending the “unborn child” who—in his view—was the real goal of EMTALA’s drafters, laying the groundwork for fetal personhood arguments that were too radioactive even for Turner to take on. Alito hectored Prelogar about her grasp of preemption, her reading of text, and her understanding of the term “unborn child,” casting her as some drunk lunatic who had staggered into court without any comprehension of the law.

Throughout the day doctors were referenced as “he” whereas every nurse was a “she.” Women were, as Alito conceded, “individuals,” but man, oh man, are they ever whiny and demanding. Alito also breathlessly cited Ronald Reagan as the deity who signed EMTALA and would never have wanted it to undermine the precious rights of “unborn children.” And a little “temporary” organ damage, he mused, might not be so bad if suffered for the benefit of a fetus. The task fell to Kagan to remind everyone that in the few months that Idaho has enforced its near-total ban, six women have already been airlifted to other states to receive emergency abortions that are criminal under Idaho law. Real women, flown out in great pain and at great expense, to get treatment that is objectively recognized as the standard of care.

It’s not clear where this case will land: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked a handful of breezy questions but didn’t tip their hands. It’s odd, though, that Wednesday’s arguments didn’t fully break through the news cycle (as tomorrow’s in the Donald Trump immunity case surely will). As Turner conceded, none of this madness will stop at Idaho; at least five other states, including Texas, have nearly identical bans. But for anyone who listened to these arguments, the symmetry was striking: Turner could spew whatever nonsense he wanted, ignoring serious questions from female interlocutors or evading them because they were invisible to him—just as the pregnant women who will get sicker and lose blood and be turned away at hospitals are invisible to the state he represents.