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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.

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. 

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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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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.

How does the author begin showing that Jonas may not quite fit in or not agree with everything in his community? How might these details contribute to the conflict in the story going forward?

Jonas interperets events like the jet at the beginning as the stringent rules differently than others. Jonas asks questions and doesn't take things at face value. He also begins to see colour which others do not see. Jonas eventually questions the...

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...

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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The Individual vs. Society

Jonas's community is founded on the idea of Sameness—the elimination of difference in its members. In order to achieve this Sameness, individualism is discouraged, and rules and discipline matter most. Jonas learns from an early age that both breaking rules and being different is considered shameful. By celebrating group birthdays, allowing only one kind of clothing and haircut, assigning spouses, jobs, children and names, and eliminating sexual relations, Jonas's society stifles the things that allow…

Freedom and Choice

In Jonas's community, no one makes choices. All choices about the community were made in the distant past when Sameness was created, and any additional changes involve painfully slow bureaucratic procedures. Without choice, no one suffers the consequences that come from making wrong choices, but they also don't experience the joys that come with making right ones. By sacrificing the freedom of choice, community members are guaranteed a stable, painless life. Consequently, the people lead…

Feeling and Emotion

The people of Jonas's community don't understand genuine emotion or pain, because their lifestyles allow no opportunity to experience it. Birthmothers are not allowed to raise their own children. Sex is forbidden and sexual urges medicated away. Adults are not allowed to choose their own spouses. Identical twins are not both allowed to survive because they would be too close emotionally. Every decision made in the community serves a purely practical purpose and is based…

Coming of Age

The annual December ceremony, when the "birthdays" of all children are celebrated simultaneously, is a ritual full of rites of passage. As children grow older, these rites allow them more responsibility; at eight, for example, they are given pockets and stuffed animals are taken away. At Nine, children are given bicycles. At Twelve, children are assigned jobs and adult status is conferred upon them. After Twelve, age is not counted. Yet these rites of passage…

Sometime in the past, Jonas's community decided to give up their memories in order to eliminate the pain and regret that came with them. They were trying to create a totally peaceful and harmonious society without conflict, war, or hate by eliminating emotion entirely. They succeeded: the community is almost perfectly stable and totally safe. Yet Jonas realizes that without memories, a person can't learn from mistakes, celebrate accomplishments, know love or happiness or any…

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Essay Samples on The Giver

“The Giver” by Lois Lowry is a groundbreaking dystopian novel that has captivated readers since its publication in 1993. Set in a seemingly perfect society known as “Sameness,” the story follows Jonas, a young boy who is assigned the prestigious role of Receiver of Memory. However, as Jonas begins to receive memories of the past from the Giver, an older man who holds the collective memories of society, he starts to question the rigidly controlled world he inhabits.

Lowry’s masterful storytelling explores themes such as conformity, individuality, and the importance of emotions and experiences. Through the vivid portrayal of a society devoid of pain, suffering, and personal choice, “The Giver” challenges readers to reflect on the essence of humanity itself. The absence of color, music, and strong emotions in this austere society raises profound questions about the true meaning of life and the price paid for an artificial sense of peace.

Writing a Compelling “The Giver” Essay

The novel’s thought-provoking narrative and memorable characters provide fertile ground for insightful “The Giver” essay topics. Consider exploring the moral implications of a society that suppresses individuality and the potential consequences of eradicating pain and suffering. Examine the role of memory and its impact on human identity, highlighting how memories shape our understanding of the world and influence our choices.

To enhance your essay, delve into Lowry’s stylistic choices, such as her use of symbolism, foreshadowing, and descriptive language. Analyze the significance of recurring motifs like the color red, the sled, or the apple, unraveling their deeper meanings within the context of the story, and look at “The Giver” essay free samples.

As you embark on your “The Giver” essay-writing journey, ensure you craft a compelling thesis statement that encapsulates your unique perspective on “The Giver.” Support your arguments with evidence from the text, and engage in critical analysis to shed new light on the novel’s enduring themes.

The Mood Of The Giver: The Struggle Of The Youngster

In the book The Giver, it all starts when an average innocent young boy named Jonas, the protagonist, receives his assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, he discovers that his perfect community is not what it seems. Within the novel, rituals tend to border the...

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The Giver: The Imagery And The Dystopian Society

The Giver by Llois Llowry is about a utopian society. This society and our modern society have some similaritiessimalarities and many differences. A utopian societysoceity is meant to be perfect - everyone is fine and everything is the same for everyone. A modern society, such...

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Sociological Analysis of The Giver

In The Giver by Lois Lowry the society she shows is a perfect one, it has eliminated all the negative things that we face in our society today for example pain, war, hatred, and fear. Nobody has freedom in society choices are never made by...

The Giver Vs The Modern Society

In Jonas’s world, everyone in the community lives by the community’s rules. The rules are very strict, and they are all based on the principle of Sameness. At its most basic, this means that all of the big decisions are made. Your family, your occupation,...

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Imperfect Guardians In The Giver And Matilda

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Importance of Children Literature on Education of Children

It is widely acknowledged that some of the basic purposes of education include perpetuating the culture of the individual as well as ensuring that the person develops to their full potential. Education generally frees a person from ignorance and prejudice, leading to the development of...

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The Dichotomy of Dystopian and Utopian Societies in "The Giver"

Lois Lowry's novel "The Giver" explores the concept of a society that strives for perfection, leading to both a utopian and dystopian reality. In the novel, the protagonist, Jonas, lives in a seemingly perfect world, where everyone is content and there is no suffering or...

Literary Analysis of the Novel "The Giver" by Lois Laurie

The novel "The Giver" is about a boy by name Jonas who turns 12 and lives in a utopian society as it seems to be. The society has rules that every single person in the society has to follow, otherwise, the individuals get “released”. Individuals...

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The Giver - From a Futuristic Society Without Pain, Fear and Struggle

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The Giver - That a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Community Should have Rules and Restrictions

In every town, city, or community, stability is necessary for effective functioning. People rely and depend on the concept of sameness because few people adapt readily to change and uncertainty. Society is however dynamic and successful societies support individuals through change. Throughout the Giver we...

What do You Do When Your Life Turns Around - Analysis of Lois Lowry's The Giver

What do you do when your life turns around and you find out everything you have trusted your whole life has a completely different story behind it? You change. That is exactly what happens to Jonas in the book “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. Through...

Best topics on The Giver

1. The Mood Of The Giver: The Struggle Of The Youngster

2. The Giver: The Imagery And The Dystopian Society

3. Sociological Analysis of The Giver

4. The Giver Vs The Modern Society

5. Imperfect Guardians In The Giver And Matilda

6. Importance of Children Literature on Education of Children

7. The Dichotomy of Dystopian and Utopian Societies in “The Giver”

8. Literary Analysis of the Novel “The Giver” by Lois Laurie

9. The Giver – From a Futuristic Society Without Pain, Fear and Struggle

10. The Giver – That a Happy, Healthy, and Safe Community Should have Rules and Restrictions

11. What do You Do When Your Life Turns Around – Analysis of Lois Lowry’s The Giver

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Outline For Giver Essay

Name: Zach Humanities 7th Grade The Giver

Outline for GIVER LITERARY ESSAY

Themes: Control and Freedom ( Talk about Jonas when talking about freedom) P Paragraph #1: Introductory Paragraph (GIT)

Grabber Statement (G): In a world where fear strikes through the souls of the citizens in the form of control, a young boy named Jonas searches for freedom. This is the the Giver by Lois Lowry.

Introduce Plot Summary (I): Jonas the main character is very thoughtful of his everyday life. He yearns for difference. On his 12 birthday he receives a job with great honor. This opens eyes, the world he lives in is riddled with casualties.

E Thesis Statement (T): This society is a dystopia because the citizens are manipulated by the Elders and there is no room for freedom. _________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #2: Thematic Analysis

Topic Sentence (T): Control and freedom is something the community of the Giver struggles with.

Explanatory Sentence (E): In The book The Giver control is clouded by perfection. The Council of Elders uses the thought of perfection and or the thought of a “utopia’ for control. In this book freedom is imperfection.

Evidence (E): One example of that is this quote. “Of course our community can’t function smoothly if people don’t use precise language. You could ask, ‘Do you enjoy me?’ The answer is ‘Yes,’” his mother said. “Or,” his father suggested, “‘Do you take pride in my accomplishments?’ And the answer is wholeheartedly ‘Yes.’” “Do you understand why it’s inappropriate to use a word like ‘love’?” Mother asked. Jonas nodded. “Yes, thank you, I do,” he replied slowly. It was his first lie to his parents.” Page 106

Analysis (A): In this example of control, its emotion. Since emotion defines who you are, the elders created homogeneity. So now not only do the Elders control you, they also made you equal to everyone else. This makes it easier to take control of the community. All of the rules in the society were made around the thought of leadership. In a way the people of the giver are robots. They have no emotion, they don’t feel anything and they can’t even see color. The Elders made them this way so that they can program themselves into power.

Concluding/ Transition (C): The only way to have a perfect society is to have no freedom

__________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #3: Thematic Analysis Continued

Topic Sentence (T): In the giver freedom is unable to coexist with the citizens.

Explanatory Sentence (E): The freedom to choose is what puts people in poverty. The choices that humans make in our world everyday that decisions their future. In The Giver’s society your fate is decided as soon as your our born.

Evidence (E): This shows most in The Giver on page 90. “‘They know nothing,’ The Giver said bitterly. Jonas was shocked. Since the first day in the Annex room, they had together disregarded the rules about rudeness, and Jonas felt comfortable with that now. But this was different, and far beyond rude. This was a terrible accusation. What if someone had heard?”

Analysis (A). In a world where everything is carefully thought out, emotions don’t fit in. Emotions are unpredictable. To keep these emotions in check The Elders have strategic rules in place. Rules in The Giver oppress freedom. The rule about rudeness gave Jonas a taste of freedom. As soon as he had a sliver of freedom he set out on a journey for more because he knew that he would not find any staying where he was.

Concluding/ Transition (C): Perfection is a great thing, but everything comes with a cost.

Paragraph #4: Concluding Paragraph (ROC)

Reflection of Thesis (R): Choice does not have a place in a utopia and when there’s no choice that creates control by a dictatorship.

Overview of Main Points (O):

Concluding Sentence– Comparisons and Connections (C): The Giver makes forces readers to reflect on what is means to be a perfect world. Everybody on earth dreams to be rich and successful. Although some think the distribution of power and difference is unfair. Those people want equality. The Giver made equality but took it to a whole new level. To be equal is not being the same. The giver make you realise having the same privilege is not the same as being the same.

4 thoughts on “ Outline For Giver Essay ”

thank you this really helped me

Same, I’m not good with essays but this is really really helpful for me!

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A great book to read!

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The Giver - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” unravels a meticulously controlled utopian society where pain and strife have been eradicated at the cost of individual autonomy and emotional depth. Essays could delve into the central themes of memory, choice, and the human capacity for both good and evil as explored through the narrative. The discussions could extend to the exploration of the societal critique embodied in “The Giver”, particularly the examination of a society’s quest for perfection and uniformity at the expense of individuality and freedom. Moreover, essays might explore the character dynamics, particularly the mentor-mentee relationship between the Giver and Jonas, and the philosophical dialogues that emerge through their interactions. Additionally, the discourse might touch upon the dystopian elements of the narrative, its place within the canon of young adult literature, and its broader implications concerning the nature of control, freedom, and human experience. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about The Giver you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Comparing and Contrasting ‘Pleasantville’ and ‘The Giver’

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Lois Lowry’s “The Giver”

Would you be willing to give up your freedoms if that meant that you would always be safe? In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, society manages to run smoothly because they have implemented techniques to help keep the order of the community, this community doesn't really have their own freedom or their own rights. The techniques that society uses may cause people to lose some freedoms, but their goal of maintaining order is accomplished by erasing memories, manipulating words, and suppressing […]

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Sameness in “The Giver” by Lois Lowry

Would you like to live in a community that has sameness? Sameness is when everything in the community is exactly the same. Lois Lowry wrote the book The Giver. The Giver is about a boy named Jonas. He lives in a society that is controlled by strict rules by The Elders. Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of Memories. When he starts receiving memories he starts feeling sadness and love. None of the people in the community are able […]

What is the Community Like in the Giver?

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Critical Book Review of the Giver by Lois Lowry

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The Novels “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and ‘The Giver” by Lois Lowry

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Giver and the Hunger Games

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Memory and Past – the Giver

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The Maze Runner and the Giver

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The Significance of Memory in ‘The Giver’: Exploring Themes of Identity

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Book Review: the Giver by Lois Lowry

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Value of Memory to Humans and Life in “The Giver”

The Value of Memory A theme is a universal idea, lesson or message explored throughout a work of literature. In this essay, I will discuss the significant themes within Lois Lowry's novel, The Giver. One of the key themes in The Giver is the value of memory to humans and life. For those who didn't know, Lowry was inspired to write The Giver after visiting her old father, who had lost most of his long term memory. She began to […]

Gender Stereotypes – Society in the Giver

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Lois Lowry’s Futuristic Novel

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The Giver: Argumentative Writing

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Analysis of Lois Lowry’s the Giver

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Letter : Mohamad Yassine

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Person Experiences Fear

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Ali Al-Shimary Mr. Pasley 8th Grade Language Arts March 4, 2019

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The Rich Themes in “The Giver”

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“The Giver” Film: a Fascinating Journey through Dystopia

"The Giver," directed by Phillip Noyce, presents an intriguing cinematic venture into a dystopian realm crafted from Lois Lowry's seminal novel. Within this meticulously constructed world, viewers are transported into a seemingly idyllic society, where conformity and uniformity reign supreme. Through the lens of Jonas, a young protagonist chosen to bear the weighty role of the Receiver of Memories, the film peels back layers of tranquility to reveal a darker underbelly. What sets "The Giver" apart is its adept use […]

Shadows of Memory: Rosemary’s Legacy in the Giver

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A Closer Look at “The Giver’s” Compassionate Character

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“The Giver”: a Reflection on Lois Lowry’s Dystopian Vision

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Unraveling the Mystique: Rosemary in “The Giver”

Within the pages of Lois Lowry's dystopian masterpiece, "The Giver," lies a character whose enigmatic presence leaves an indelible mark on the narrative – Rosemary. Amidst the controlled sameness of the Community, Rosemary emerges as a symbol of rebellion, choice, and the haunting consequences of challenging societal norms. Rosemary, the Receiver-in-training before Jonas, encapsulates the dichotomy of a society that suppresses individuality in the pursuit of harmony. Her mysterious disappearance and the pain she experienced during the failed training contribute […]

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In the culminating chapters of Lois Lowry's dystopian masterpiece, "The Giver," the narrative takes an unexpected and resonant turn, unraveling threads of complexity and emotion that persist long after the final page is turned. The denouement of this captivating novel is a poignant tapestry, blending haunting revelations with thought-provoking nuances, challenging readers to grapple with the intricacies of a seemingly utopian society built on the suppression of individuality and emotions. As Jonas, the protagonist, ventures into uncharted territory beyond the […]

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