Chapters 11-15 Study Guide KEY – The Giver
Chapters 11-13
1. Describe Jonas's consciousness while he received the memory.
One part of his consciousness knew he was lying on the bed in the Annex room,
but another part could experience the sensation of snow and the sled. He could
see, even though his eyes were closed.
2. What words or concepts did Jonas experience?
He experienced snow, sled, hill, runners, and frigid air.
3. What happened to the old man's memory of the ride on the sled after he transmitted it to
Jonas?
He did not remember it anymore. He had given the memory completely to Jonas.
4. What kind of questions did Jonas ask about snow, sleds, and hills? What was the old
man's answer? What was Jonas's response?
Jonas asked why they did not have the things. The old man said that they had
disappeared when the communities got Climate Control. Jonas said he wished
they still had snow and the other things.
5. Jonas thought the Receiver of Memory had power. What did the old man tell him?
The old man said he had honor, but not power, and they were not the same.
6. What did the old man tell Jonas to call him? Why?
The old man told Jonas to call him The Giver. Jonas was the new Receiver.
7. Describe Jonas's experiences of "seeing beyond."
It was a short, indescribable change. First it happened with the apple. Next, it
happened with the audience at the Auditorium. Then it happened with Fiona.
Her hair changed in a way he could not describe.
8. What was happening when Jonas "saw beyond?" Why was it important?
He was seeing the color red. It was the beginning of his ability to see colors.
9. Could the other people in the Community see colors? If not, why not?
No, they could not. They gave up that ability when they went to Sameness.
10. Summarize the conversation between Jonas and The Giver about choices.
Jonas wanted to have colors all the time. He wanted to be able to make decisions,
to choose what color to wear. He thought being able to see colors might help
Gabriel develop. The Giver said that if people were able to make their own
choices, they might choose wrongly. Jonas agreed that it was not safe for people
to make choices.
11. The Giver explained why the people needed a Receiver of Memory. What were the
reasons?
They sometimes needed the Receiver to use his memories to help them make
decisions. Most of the time, they needed the Receiver to keep all of the old
memories so they would not have to have them.
Chapters 14-15
1. Jonas asked what made The Giver suffer. What memory did The Giver transmit to
explain it?
The Giver transmitted a memory of a sledding accident. Jonas fell off the sled
and broke his leg.
2. What did Jonas realize about his family after his session with The Giver?
He realized his family members had never known pain.
3. Jonas asked why he and The Giver had to hold the memories. What was The Giver's
answer? What was his example?
He said the memories gave them wisdom. He explained the request from the
Committee of Elders when they wanted to increase the birth rate. The Giver
remembered hunger and famine and warfare and told them not to increase the
birthrate.
4. What did Jonas want to do about the memories and the traditional way of doing things?
He wanted to change the traditional way of doing things and give everyone the
memories.
5. How did Jonas help Gabriel get to sleep?
Jonas gave Gabriel a memory of sailing on a lake.
6. What pain did The Giver ask Jonas to take in Chapter 15?
The Giver transmitted the pain of being injured in a battle during a war.