FAvorite scene
My favorite scene in the book was The Ceremony of Twelve; it had suspense, mystery and drama. It was an important event in the book and of the community. It set the mood for the rest of the book. Even though it was called The Ceremony of Twelve, it is a ceremony for all children under the age of twelve.
When Jonas was skipped over during the announcement, it gave the reader a sense of mystery. I was not sure if he was skipped over because they forgot him or because he was in trouble. When he was selected to be the Receiver of Memory I knew I was in for an exciting adventure. "Jones has been selected to be our next Receiver of Memory" pg. 60
The language that was used to describe or to refer to people and places was funny to me. For example, at the mid-day meal there were two eleven-nineteen. It is like saying there are two Victoria Alexandria Burdens. You can always tell who was a few months older then the other by their number. Jonas' full number was eleven-nineteen meaning he was eleven years old and was the nineteenth child born that year. At the ceremony all children progress to their next birth year. So by the end of the ceremony, Jonas became twelve-nineteen.It would be so much easier if they just got a regular name like we do.
The ceremony marks changes for the children of this community. At year one they receive their name and their new family, at year three females get hair ribbons, at year four they get a back buttoned jacket, at year seven they get a front buttoned jacket , at year eight an identification jacket with front pockets and for the first time they are allowed to do volunteer hours, at year nine they get a bike, at year ten an adult haircut, at year eleven adult clothing, and at year twelve their assignment. Once they are 12 you are considered an adult and begin training. The ceremony lasts two days with only one mid day break. It is considered a community holiday.
When Jonas was skipped over during the announcement, it gave the reader a sense of mystery. I was not sure if he was skipped over because they forgot him or because he was in trouble. When he was selected to be the Receiver of Memory I knew I was in for an exciting adventure. "Jones has been selected to be our next Receiver of Memory" pg. 60
The language that was used to describe or to refer to people and places was funny to me. For example, at the mid-day meal there were two eleven-nineteen. It is like saying there are two Victoria Alexandria Burdens. You can always tell who was a few months older then the other by their number. Jonas' full number was eleven-nineteen meaning he was eleven years old and was the nineteenth child born that year. At the ceremony all children progress to their next birth year. So by the end of the ceremony, Jonas became twelve-nineteen.It would be so much easier if they just got a regular name like we do.
The ceremony marks changes for the children of this community. At year one they receive their name and their new family, at year three females get hair ribbons, at year four they get a back buttoned jacket, at year seven they get a front buttoned jacket , at year eight an identification jacket with front pockets and for the first time they are allowed to do volunteer hours, at year nine they get a bike, at year ten an adult haircut, at year eleven adult clothing, and at year twelve their assignment. Once they are 12 you are considered an adult and begin training. The ceremony lasts two days with only one mid day break. It is considered a community holiday.
Setting
In the book, The Giver, the society is futuristic. It takes place in the future where everything and everyone is controlled by the Elders and the community, more specific the Chief Elder. There is no change in climate so that crops can grow year round. We presume this climate is always sunny. This is an environment where no one has freedom of choice, memories or ability to love and see color. Everyone basically acts the same. The Elders decide who marries who, when you can get a child, what kind of job you will have and even when you are going to be release. You have to follow the rules or else you will be release. This type of setting was appropriate for the book in order to achieve the story line. The book is about Jonas realizing how little freedom he has, the things he has been shielded from, and discovers feelings of love and pain. "It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?" (pg.98), said The Giver. This proves how little freedom they have. Jonas is conflicted because he wants to tell the community of the memories of the experience he has had and how little freedom they have . When Jonas realized that the community cannot comprehend the experiences of the memories, he decided to escape taking Gabriel with him to elsewhere to release the memories to the rest of the community.