Analysis of Chapter 7 in The Giver by Lois Lowry

CHAPTER 7 Objective summary (main idea) of the chapter (no more than 5 sentences) In chapter 7 of Lois Lowry’s THE GIVER, the Ceremony of Twelve began, where each Twelve was called up in order of their birth number. All of Jonas’s friends, including Fiona and Asher, received their Assignments. While Asher was receiving his Assignment, it was revealed that children can be hit with the “discipline wand” if they do something wrong. Still, Jonas had no clue what his Assignment would be. Suddenly, Nineteen, Jonas’s number, was skipped and humiliation fell upon the whole audience. Find TWO PIECES of evidence in chapter 7 that stand out to you. Analyze each piece of evidence and explain why this is important in this chapter and to the plot of the story. Be sure to cite each piece of evidence properly. Text evidence #1 : “The punishment used for small children was a regulated system of smacks with the discipline wand: a thin, flexible weapon that stung painfully when it was wielded. The Child-care specialists were trained very carefully in the discipline methods: a quick smack across the hands for a bit of minor misbehavior; three sharper smacks on the bare legs for a second offense.” (Lowry 69). EXPLANATION: I found this piece of evidence to be important in this chapter because the community finds the statement about how Asher was disciplined to be humorous. However, the piece of evidence above explains the unrecognized abuse. I think the fact that they call it “offense” is odd because they are young children. First of all, there is no reason to be disciplining children for making mistakes as simple as mixing up words. Secondly, the word “offense” seems a little extreme. Obviously, children do not commit offenses. I believe that this is important to the plot of the story because it further indicates just how terrible the community is. In addition, it highlights the ignorance of community members. Despite the fact that abusing children is wrong, the community members ignore it simply because it is part of the training of the Child-care specialists. Text evidence #2: “She skipped me, Jonas thought, stunned. Had he heard wrong? No. There was a sudden hush in the crowd, and he knew that the entire community realized that the Chief Elder had moved from Eighteen to Twenty, leaving a gap…But she had skipped him. He saw the others in his group glance at him, embarrassed, and then avert their eyes quickly. He saw a worried look on the face of his group leader…Jonas bowed his head and searched through his mind. What had he done wrong?” (Lowry 72-73). EXPLANATION: This text appeared to be significant in this chapter because the entire chapter is based on the Ceremony of Twelve that Jonas has been anticipating for so long. However, when the time comes for him to be called up, he is skipped. Finally, I think that this is important to the plot of the story because it creates suspense and sort of singles Jonas out. This part of the story builds up suspense for the moment when Jonas’s “Assignment” is revealed. I think that this did a good job of singling Jonas out and finally making him stand out in the crowd. I believe this occurred because he was to recieve such a rare and important job. It almost seems like Jonas is the “chosen one.” In addition, I think that this shows how intense the community is. When something embarrassing happens, they all act in a way that increases the person’s level of embarrassment. Everyone seems to be vulnerable to humiliation at all times. In real life, everyone would just take it to be an honest mistake if someone was skipped during a Ceremony, but that is not the case in this community. It seems like they take every inconvenience to be a disgrace. CHAPTER 8 Objective summary (main idea) of the chapter (no more than 5 sentences) In chapter 8 of Lois Lowry’s THE GIVER, the Ceremony comes to an end, and the Chief Elder announces that Jonas was skipped on purpose. Once he is called up to the stage, Jonas finds out that he has not been assigned, but selected as Receiver of Memory. This is a rare selection and the person who had been selected 10 years ago was a failure. The Chief Elder lets him know that he has the necessary traits, including intelligence, integrity, courage, potential wisdom, and most importantly, the Capacity to See Beyond. Finally, Jonas realized that he really was qualified for the job and the crowd began to chant his name, as they did with Caleb’s before. Find TWO PIECES of evidence in chapter 8 that stand out to you. Analyze each piece of evidence and explain why this is important in this chapter and to the plot of the story. Text evidence #1 : “‘Jonas,’ she said, turning to him, but speaking in a voice that the entire community could hear, ‘the training required of you involves pain. Physical pain.’” (Lowry 78). EXPLANATION: This piece of text evidence stood out to me. I believe it is important in this chapter because it introduces a down side to Jonas’s selection. It gives him something to think about and intensifies his worries. In addition, I think this is significant to the plot of the story because it creates further suspense. As the reader, I am wondering what the Chief Elder meant by this. What kind of pain will Jonas endure? Why is pain necessary for being a Receiver of Memories? Is it possible for Jonas to die during the training? This piece of text brings about many questions for both the readers and ordinary characters. Text evidence #2: “With the chant, Jonas knew, the community was accepting him and his new role, giving him life, the way they had given it to the newchild Caleb. His heart swelled with gratitude and pride. But at the same time he was filled with fear. He did not know what his selection meant. He did not know what he was to become. Or what would become of him.” (Lowry 81). EXPLANATION: I think that this piece of evidence is important in this chapter because it ends of the chapter in a good way. In the beginning of the chapter, Jonas is nervous and does not even know what is going on. Making this the final part of this chapter sort of finalizes his emotions about his new selection. In addition, I find this to be important to the plot of the story because it brings about a new version or era of Jonas. It is almost like we are beginning a whole new part of the story. Like we are being introduced to a whole new life. I really like the last two lines where it says, “He did not know what he was to become. Or what would become of him.” (Lowry 81). I really like this because it identifies Jonas’s uncertainty and gives readers things to think about. I like the hint of suspense that it gives off. What physical description does the text include of the Current Receiver? The text describes the Current Receiver to be oddly separated from the rest of the Elders. It says that he was a bearded man with pale eyes. In addition, it explains that he was closely watching Jonas. The text states, “...the Chief Elder’s eyes were now on one who sat in the midst but seemed oddly separate from them. It was a man Jonas had never noticed before, a bearded man with pale eyes. He was watching Jonas intently.” (Lowry 61). Based on the text, the Current Receiver sat separately from the other Elders. He also had a beard and pale eyes. Finally, he seemed to be watching Jonas earnestly. How does Jonas realize he does have the Capacity to See Beyond? Jonas realizes he does have the Capacity to See Beyond when he looks at the audience and they all seem to change for a moment, just like the apple did previously. The text explains, “For a moment he froze, consumed with despair. He didn’t have it, the whatever-she-had-said. He didn’t know what it was. Now was the moment when he would have to confess, to say, ‘No, I don’t. I can’t,’ and throw himself on their mercy, ask their forgiveness, to explain that he had been wrongly chosen, that he was not the right one at all. But when he looked out across the crowd, the sea of faces, the thing happened again. The thing that had happened with the apple. They changed. He blinked, and it was gone. His shoulders straightened slightly. Briefly he felt a tiny sliver of sureness for the first time…‘I think it’s true,’ he told the Chief Elder and the community. ‘I don’t understand it yet. I don’t know what it is. But sometimes I see something. And maybe it’s beyond.’” (Lowry 63-64). At first, Jonas does not believe the Chief Elder when she says he has the Capacity to See Beyond. However, after he looks at the audience and notices that they have changed just like the apple from the Recreation Area, he figures that he really must have the Capacity to See Beyond.