English 9 Rosemary Dibben (707) 965-6759, PrepEnglish@yahoo.com English Dept. PUC Preparatory School McKibbin Hall, 1 Angwin Ave. Angwin, CA 94508 Office Hours: Periods 2, 8 & 9. Other times by appointment.

Example Discussion Questions

The Giver, Chapters 1-3

1. After the first chapter, we already know that Jonas's community is very different from ours. People are released if they are not strong enough as infants, if they break rules, or when they grow old. Spouses are assigned. There are set phrases of apology for inconveniencing others. How can we describe Jonas's community, and what are our first impressions of it? So far, would we like to live there?

2. "When something went to a committee for study, the people always joked about it. They said that the committee members would become Elders by the time the rule change was made" (13-14).

This aspect of Jonas's community may seem similar to our own. Why do committees stereotypically take so long to decide on matters?

4. In Jonas's community, jobs are assigned. What effects, positive and negative, would assigning jobs have on a community? Is it a good idea or a bad idea?

3. For those who haven't read ahead, what do you think Jonas noticed about the apple that he thought was strange?