The Giver — Chapter 22

About This Passage

This passage gives us the clearest view in the whole book of what Jonas has been missing. The community gave him Sameness every day of his twelve years. Outside the community, the world gives him surprises — wildflowers he has never seen, a bird whose song he has never heard, wind in leaves he has never noticed. Lowry uses the word 'awed' carefully; it means something bigger than surprised, closer to wonder and reverence. Jonas is having an experience the community designed him not to have.

Narration Prompt

Retell chapter twenty-two in your own words. Begin with the changing road and Jonas's fall from the bike, and end with Jonas weeping because he is afraid he cannot save Gabriel. Try to include the first bird, the stolen fish, the hills, and the rain.

Discussion Questions

1. Jonas sees a bird, a deer, and a small creature with a thick tail — all for the first time in his life. Why did the community not have birds or deer or small creatures? What does it cost a community to build a world without wild animals?
2. Jonas remembers being chastised as a small child for using the word 'starving' wrong. His teacher told him, 'You have never been starving. You will never be starving.' Now he is. What does it mean that the community taught Jonas to use a word correctly by making sure he never experienced the thing the word means?

+ 3 more questions in the complete study guide