Chapter 2 · The Giver

Copywork

Well, it was clear to me—and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too—what my aptitude was. I had always loved the newchildren more than anything.

Jonas went to his own desk and began to sort through his school papers for the evening's assignment. But his mind was still on December and the coming Ceremony. Though he had been reassured by the talk with his parents, he hadn't the slightest idea what Assignment the Elders would be selecting for his future, or how he might feel about it when the day came.

The last lines use one word two ways. Jonas sorts his papers for tonight's school assignment. His mind is on the Assignment the Elders will give him for life. What does the writer make you notice by putting the two side by side?

For the educator Two passages, in story order: Father explaining how he knew his Assignment, and the last lines of the chapter. The first passage is Father speaking; the student copies his words without the quotation marks around them. Its first sentence sets off a whole extra thought with a pair of dashes, about what his own mother and father later admitted, and the student copies both dashes exactly from the book; inside that thought, “too” is set off by a comma. The sentence then turns back to finish: “what my aptitude was.” The second sentence is short and plain. The second passage is three sentences. The first has the possessive “evening's” and a lowercase “assignment.” The second begins with “But.” The third begins with “Though,” uses the contraction “hadn't,” and ends with two parts, one beginning “what” and one beginning “how,” joined by “or.” The student copies “Assignment” with its capital letter, two sentences after the lowercase one. The vocabulary words “aptitude” and “reassured” come from these passages, one from each. The talk prompt asks about the pair of assignments.

Discussion

Narration Tell back the evening talk in order. Start with Father pouring his coffee and talking about Decembers. Stop where Jonas sits at his desk, still thinking about the Ceremony.

Father broke a rule to learn the baby's name. Then he shortened it to “Gabe.” What does the short name give him that the list did not? Character
When Father lists the games his friends played, Jonas breaks in: “All the things I do with my friends.” Why does he break in right there? Inference
Mother warns that friends grow less close after Twelve. Jonas answers firmly, “Asher and I will always be friends.” Is that a promise, or a hope? Character
Father says, “Fun doesn't end when you become Twelve.” The fun he names is the games he plays with the babies at work. Who is that true for? Theme
Mother tells Lily to start sleeping without her elephant. But Father has already taken it down from the shelf. Which of them is kinder to Lily? Moral reasoning

Make a Connection Think of a story, or a time in your own life, when someone made a big choice for another person. The chooser knew that person well. Did that make it a gift, or did something still get lost?

Vocabulary

adherence: He glanced at his mother, the one responsible for adherence to the rules, and was relieved that she was smiling. Sticking closely to something, such as always following the rules.
confided: "I could have sneaked a look at the list prior to the ceremony," Father confided. Told someone something private, trusting them to keep it to themselves.
enhance: because it occurred to me that it might enhance his nurturing if I could call him by a name. To make something better or stronger than it already is.
aptitude: it was clear to me—and my parents later confessed that it had been obvious to them, too—what my aptitude was. A natural talent for a certain kind of work, the thing a person is clearly suited to.
fortunate: I felt very fortunate. Lucky; having something good come your way.
appeal: And if there are, you know there's an appeal process. A request to have a decision looked at again and changed.
assembled: while the document was read to the assembled family units. Gathered together in one place for an event.
reassured: Though he had been reassured by the talk with his parents, he hadn't the slightest idea what Assignment the Elders would be selecting for his future, or how he might feel about it when the day came. Made to feel calmer and less worried by what someone said.

Critical thinking

Father got the work he loved most. He says, “I felt very fortunate.” Who should get the credit: Father, the Elders, or luck?
The chapter says no one ever jokes about Assignments. So why do they all laugh when Father mentions an appeal?
The Elders saw what Father loved. All year they have been taking notes on Jonas. Is it a comfort or a loss that they, not Jonas, will choose his life's work?