Analyzing Lois Lowry’s The Giver: Themes and Summary
Lois Lowry: Biography and Key Works
- Full Name: Lois Ann Lowry
- Birth: March 20, 1937, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Profession: American writer of children’s and young adult literature.
- Main Themes: Memory, freedom, social control, human emotions, family relationships, and ethical dilemmas.
- Famous Works: The Giver (her most well-known book), Number the Stars, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son.
- Awards: She won the Newbery Medal twice, one of the most important awards in young adult literature.
- Style: She writes stories that seem simple but deal with deep themes like what it means to be human, to have freedom, and to make your own choices.
- Important Fact: The Giver is part of a four-book series and is considered a dystopian novel that prompts readers to reflect on “perfect” societies.
Literary Concepts in Dystopian Fiction
Foreshadowing (Anticipation)
Hints the author gives so the reader can predict what will happen later.
- The sky gets very dark and windy → hint that a storm is coming.
- A character says, “I have a bad feeling about today” → something bad is approaching.
Inference (Conclusion using Clues)
A conclusion you make using clues plus logic, even if the text doesn’t state it directly.
- Your friend arrives with red eyes and stays very quiet → you infer they were crying.
- A character says, “I haven’t eaten in two days,” and their clothes are dirty → you infer they are having financial problems.
Dystopia and Utopia Defined
Utopia
An ideal society where everything is perfect: no violence, no poverty, no injustice.
- Wakanda (Black Panther): A highly advanced nation with incredible technology, peace, order, and prosperity.
- Tomorrowland: A futuristic world where science, creativity, and innovation allow people to live without war or problems.
Dystopia
The opposite: a society that seems ordered or “perfect,” but is actually oppressive, controlling, or dangerous. The Giver starts like a utopia, but is actually a dystopia.
- The Hunger Games: Society is controlled by the Capitol; there is extreme poverty, and young people must participate in deadly games.
- Divergent: People are forced to live in factions based on their qualities; if you don’t fit, you’re rejected. The government manipulates everyone to maintain control.
Understanding Types of Humor
Here are several common types of humor:
- Slapstick (Physical Humor): Humor based on physical actions, often exaggerated.
- Someone steps on soap and slips (without getting hurt).
- A friend bumps into a door because they didn’t see it.
- Irony: Saying the opposite of what you mean, often for humorous or emphatic effect.
- It’s raining horribly and you say: “What a beautiful day.”
- You fail a test and say: “I’m a genius.”
- Sarcasm: A sharp, often mocking or contemptuous form of irony.
- Your friend does something obvious and you say: “Wow, amazing scientific discovery.”
- Someone arrives super late: “Yeah, very punctual.”
- Parody: Imitating a specific work, style, or person, often exaggerating characteristics for comic effect.
- Imitating a teacher by exaggerating their voice or gestures.
- Making a funny, exaggerated version of a famous commercial.
- Satire: Using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
- Joking about how people say they will “start their diet on Monday” but never do it—to criticize lack of consistency.
- Mocking how some schools claim to be “high quality” even though their internet doesn’t work.
The Giver: Detailed Chapter Summary
Part I: Chapters 1–5 (Jonas’s Community Life)
Chapter 1: The Ceremony of Twelve
Jonas is nervous about the “Ceremony of Twelve.” The community punishes small infractions, and everyone must follow strict rules. A plane flies over the community and causes alarm.
Chapter 2: Preparation for Assignment
Jonas and his parents discuss the Ceremony. They remind him that the Elders observe children throughout their lives to assign them a profession.
Chapter 3: Seeing Beyond
Jonas notices that Gabriel, the new baby, has the same strange eyes he has. Jonas remembers when he saw an apple “change” momentarily.
Chapter 4: Volunteer Hours
Jonas completes volunteer hours at the House of the Old. He watches how they bathe and care for the elderly.
Chapter 5: The Stirrings and the Pills
Everyone shares their dreams. Jonas dreams about Fiona and feels something strange. His parents give him pills to stop the “Stirrings” (desires/emotions).
Part II: Chapters 6–10 (Selection and Training)
Chapter 6: The Children’s Ceremonies
The children’s ceremonies begin. Rules, punishments, and procedures are reviewed. Gabriel receives another year to develop because he isn’t ready yet.
Chapter 7: The Assignment
During the Ceremony, the Elders assign jobs. Jonas is skipped by accident, causing tension and confusion among the community.
Chapter 8: The Receiver of Memory
The Chief Elder explains that Jonas was not assigned, but selected as the next Receiver of Memory, a rare and highly honorable role.
Chapter 9: New Rules
Jonas receives his new list of rules: he may lie, must not take the pills, cannot ask for anything unnecessary, and cannot talk about his training.
Chapter 10: Meeting The Giver
Jonas meets the current Receiver, an old man called The Giver. The place is very different—it has books and comfort. He receives the first memory: snow and a sled.
Part III: Chapters 11–15 (Pain and Knowledge)
Chapter 11: Receiving Sensory Memories
The Giver passes him memories of sun, cold, heat, and colors. Jonas learns that the community removed these things to maintain order and Sameness.
Chapter 12: Seeing Color
Jonas sees the color red. He learns that colors were removed to avoid differences. He also begins to think the community could change.
Chapter 13: Painful Memories Begin
Jonas wants people to see colors. He receives memories of animals and nature. He also learns painful memories like sunburn.
Chapter 14: Carrying the Community’s Pain
Jonas experiences a very painful memory: falling off the sled. The Giver explains that he carries everyone’s pain so the rest can live without suffering.
Chapter 15: The Memory of War
The Giver is exhausted and gives Jonas a terrible memory of war and death.
Part IV: Chapters 16–23 (Escape and Resolution)
Chapter 16: Love and Family
Jonas receives happy memories: Christmas, family, and love. He discovers that his community has no love. He tries to talk about it with his parents, but they don’t understand the concept.
Chapter 17: The Celebration of Sameness
It’s a play day. Children pretend to “play war,” and Jonas feels uncomfortable. The community celebrates sameness and control.
Chapter 18: The Story of Rosemary
Jonas asks about the previous Receiver, Rosemary. She couldn’t handle the memories and asked to be “released.” Jonas still doesn’t know what that truly means.
Chapter 19: The Truth of Release
Jonas watches a video of his father “releasing” a baby… and discovers that release means killing. He is shocked.
Chapter 20: The Escape Plan
The Giver says he wants to help Jonas change the community. They create a plan for Jonas to leave. If he escapes, the memories will return to the people.
Chapter 21: Fleeing the Community
The plan changes when Jonas learns that Gabriel will be released. Jonas escapes that same night with the baby. They take food, a bicycle, and flee.
Chapter 22: Suffering Outside
Jonas and Gabe suffer hunger, cold, and rain outside the community. Jonas uses warm memories to keep the baby alive. They almost give up.
Chapter 23: Elsewhere
Jonas finally reaches a snowy hill (like the first memory). He rides a sled with Gabriel. He believes he hears music and people celebrating below. The ending is open: it can be interpreted as hope or a metaphor.