The Giver — Chapter 21

About This Passage

This is the first moment in the novel where Jonas uses the memories for a purpose the Giver never taught him. Before now, Jonas has been a receiver — memories have been given to him. Here, Jonas gives a memory, and the gift works: Gabriel falls into a sleep so deep Jonas can lift him from the crib without waking him. Lowry chose the words 'languid,' 'rhythmic,' and 'hypnotically' with care — each of them means something that slows a body down, and placed in a single sentence, they carry the slowness into the reader's own hand as it copies the words.

Narration Prompt

Summarize Chapter 21 in four parts: what Father announces at the evening meal about Gabriel; how Jonas prepares and leaves the dwelling with Gabriel and the bicycle; how Jonas and Gabriel survive the search planes by using memories of snow; and how Jonas's memories begin to grow weaker as he moves farther from the community.

Discussion Questions

1. Father announces at the evening meal that Gabriel will be released in the morning, and says 'It's bye-bye to you, Gabe, in the morning' in his 'sweet, sing-song voice.' What makes the sweetness of Father's voice more disturbing than anger would be? What does Lowry want the reader to notice about the voice the community uses to kill?
2. Jonas breaks three rules before he even reaches the bridge: he leaves the dwelling at night, he takes food, and he steals his father's bicycle. Examine the order in which Lowry lists these transgressions. What does the order reveal about Jonas's priorities, and what does it mean that Jonas hesitates at the bikeport because he does not want 'anything of his father's'?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide