Final Remark

I would recommend this book, because it is exciting. Moreover I like the critical thoughts behind the story. A motionless community without individuals and with too many rules can't exist for a long time. I think the book shows extremely well how important human feelings and individuality are for every social system.

---> Winston Churchill: " You can fool some people some time, but you can't fool all the people all the time."

E-mail to Ms Brunstein

Dear Miss Brunstein,

I think it very interesting to work in this way. I even think it motivates todays media-oriented young.To design an individual blog is not only fun, it also encourages getting active in a creative sense. Of course it takes a lot of diligence and good will, since it really is a lot of work, but I’m convinced that the pupils are willing to make such an effort when they get the opportunity not to have to follow dully the well known and sometimes banal  instructions and tasks of the teacher. You are freer in this way of working ( I won’t do anything today, because I’m busy, so I’ll do double as much tomorrow).  It’s less stress that way. Of course it is difficult to produce good posts, when it’s hard for you to understand the book, but I’ve become more confident with regard to English reading while I have been reading.

I have really liked the individual way of working with selfgiven tasks and the design. Moreover you can see every time what you have achieved. The larger the blog the more stisfied you are with your work. I like being able to see a result and to get positive feedback or  good and objective criticism by way of the comments from the others. In the normal lessons the pupil is often left uncertain about what he or his mates achieve and he consequently loses control.

All in all it is strenuous and demanding, but in spite of that I like this way of working, because

I also noticed how much it seemed to me that my writing  became more fluent while I was writing the posts.

Greetings from

Yours Talea

Post-Reading Activities

Fiona's diary entry:

Hey diary,

it’s me again. So much happened. I don’t know how to put it in words. Since Jonas has been gone there was a big change in our community. I do not really understand the causes why

it was Jonas who had to go away. Why him of all the people. How could something like that happen, something that has never happened before? How could it happen without the

omniscient Elders knowing everything about it? But let me start from the beginning:

After Jonas had disappeared awave of something very intensive and strong overwhelmed all the citizens of our community. It came all of a sudden. Some stood simply shouting with eyes wide with terror, others were lying about with wet faces  while some were laughing ceasless like being out of their minds. Moreover unidentifiable extreme spots appeared to our sight between the familiar grey and some of us perceived strange noises. But the Giver regained control quickly. He brought order into the chaos and explained to us, who were extremely confused,  in a soothing way what had happened. He told us everything about colours, music and, most important, about feelings. It sounded unbelievable but it explained the circumstances. By means of what he called “memories” he step by step got us used to every single feeling. This change makes every new day something special and exciting. Although it hurt  a lot at first, I wouldn’t like to do without it any more, because in my opinion there is a balance between good and bad feelings. I don’t think Jonas disappeared without any reason. I think there is a close relation between Gabe’s and his leaving and the change that has taken place here. Perhaps it was his plan. If so I’m grateful to him. Now it is getting possible to everyone of us to make individual decisions and to go our own ways ....

- you just feel much more lively. What I know for sure in this chaotic time is that since Jonas has been gone I feel hole inside of me and I think it .... hurts?

The Giver explained to me that I miss him. I wish he’s alive somewhere and that he sometimes thinks of me. Thanks to all these incidents the thought has been growing in me that there is another world, in which feelings existed much longer and in which Jonas is right now. It is a funny hope that these two worlds will become one one day and so I will see him again.

Maybe some time I will be brave enough to find out about all of this. Til then I’m simply curious what will happen here.

Well, we’ll see         

Your’s  Fiona

Chapter 21- 23 summarized :

Jonas realizes that he can’t proceed as planned when his father tells him that they are going to have Gabriel released because he cried all night that the Nurturing Center. Jonas decides to flee at once and to take Gabriel with him. He takes his father’s bicycle, because it had the child seat attached to the back. He rides at night and sleeps at daytime always transmitting soothing memories to Gabe to make him sleep quietly. After some time of riding and hiding  they leave the area of the communities and do no longer see signs of human habitation. The road becomes narrower and bumpy. He no longer fears the searchers, but the unfamiliar landscape with it’s unknown, hidden perils. Jonas twists his ankle scrapes his knees when he falls off his bike. He reaches the limits of his strength. Everything he sees is new to him and surprises him after a life of Sameness and predictability. The journey gets increasingly strenuous since they run out of food and the weather worsens till it finally snows. Jonas keeps them going by transmitting memories of food, warmth and joy. In the end on top of a hill almost  at the end of his strength Jonas suddenly begins to feel happy and memories of joy flood through him. And that he remembers the place is a memory of his own. They find a sled and with a heart full of hope they start down. This sled makes its way to Elsewhere, a world with lights, colours, memories and where love is celebrated. For the first time he hears music and feels being expected. He even hears music from the place he left, but is not sure if it’s only an echo.

A little Quiz about Chapter 13-15

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Chapter 11 +12

The last events with the point of view from The Giver :

In the last two days I gave Jonas a lot of memories :

• A memory of snow, hills and a sleigh ride
• A memory of sunshine

---> These memories should help Jonas to understand the difference between "coldness" and "warmth". Moreover these memories are very nice and I want to give him the chance to a little bit childhood in spite of the hard job of a Receiver.

• A memory of sunburn

---> This memory I showed Jonas that memories can be painful. But I showed him just physical pain for now.  Heartache he'll feel early enough.

• And I helped him to see the colour. ( He began to see the colour - red! )

---> This memory I showed him, because when he had seen beyond, the hair of his friend Fiona was changed. ( she's red-haired). He was very confused about it and so I told him about the colours. I try to explain, which colour faces ( flesh) ,too. In the end I gave him a memory of a rainbow.

First memories:

  

Second memories:

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The Giver's point of view :

I like Jonas. He is a diligent,conscientious, brave and clever boy. When I was a child I might have been similar to him. Also I like his curiosity and that he asks a lot. He trust me and teachable. I was very proud, when he came to me after he has seen beyond. He's able to combine memories and feelings very fast, although he actually doesn't know them.
But suddenly his questions are a little bit difficult and

Chapter 20

The plan of escape ( detailed chronology)

1. In the weeks before the December Ceremony:                                        Transfer of every memory of courage and strength to Jonas, which he  would need to find Elsewhere.
2. The night before the Ceremony: Jonas secretly leaves his dwelling at midnight, when there are neither Food Collecters nor Path-Maintenance Crews.
3. Wearing an extra set of clothing he takes his bicycle to the riverbank and leaves it there hidden in bushes with the clothing folded beside it.
4. Then he walks on foot to the Annex, where no nighttime attendant is.
5. The Giver will have left the door open. 
6. Next morning the Giver orders a vehicle and driver and Speaker. When the driver and vehicle arrive the Giver sends the driver away.In his absence the Giver helps Jonas hide in the storage area of the vehicle. Jonas has with him a bundle of foot, which the Giver has saved from own meals.
7. When the Ceremony begins Jonas and the Giver are own their way.
8. When Jonas' bicycle and clothing are found the Giver has returned and Jonas is on his way to Elsewhere.
9. The Giver makes the announcement that Jonas has been lost in the river and he starts the Ceremony of Loss.