I want to quote some sections from chapter 13 and explain or comment on them. I think that particulary the beginning is very important for the whole story.
page 79/80:
"Days went by, and weeks. Jonas learned, through the memories, the names of colors; and now he began to see them all, in his ordinary life (though he knew it was ordinary no longer, and would never be again)."
--> This is an information which you can interpret in two ways. On the one hand it explains the changing in Jonas' life. He begins to see colors and gets to know that his life will never be the same again. On the other hand it is maybe a kind of sadness in this phrase. He starts to receive memories and there is no way back.
"The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. "But I want them!" Jonas said angrily. "It isn't fair that nothing has color!""
--> This phrase shows the first protest of Jonas. He has the power, now, to see colors. I think he really likes to see the world or the community in a brighter way. He enjoys the colorful things. But as well he thinks that it's unfair for all the other community members. Everything is black and grey for them and they will never discover the beauty or the reality.
""Not fair?" The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. "Explain what you mean." "Well ..." Jonas had to stop and think it through. "If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one?" ... "But it's all the same, always.""
--> This shows that Jonas gets stronger and more self-confident. He questions things and isn't conservative to say his own opinion any more. He says what he feels and calls the decisions of "their people" into question.
""I know it's not important, what you wear. It doesn't matter. But-" "It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?" The Giver asked him. Jonas nodded. "My little brother-" he began, and then corrected himself. "No, that's inaccurate. He's not my brother, not really. But this newchild that my family takes care of - his name's Gabriel?" "Yes, I know about Gabriel.""
--> This phrase shows how connected Jonas and the Giver are. Jonas has no secrets towards him. Normally a newchild doesn't have a name befor it's sharing a family unit. Jonas father could get a punishment for that but Jonas didn't hesitate to tell this. Jonas feels responsible for Gabriel and wants that he could choose. Instead of the Sameness.
""He might make wrong choices." "Oh." Jonas was silent for a minute. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a newchild's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own." "Not safe?" The Giver suggested. "Definitely not safe," Jonas said with certanty. "What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong? Or what if," he went on, almost laughing at the absurdity, "they chose their own jobs?""
--> At this point Jonas suddenly noticed the danger in the choices. There is a change in his behaviour. (Maybe not the best changing. Now he's again for the Sameness.) But this phrase shows too, how accustomed he is to the rules of the community. It's "absurd" to think that people could make their own chices. Jonas isn't able to imagine a life with decisions. The community made a good work...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Rhetorical/Stylistic Devices (chapter 12)
This shouldn't be a long task or something but I want to pay special attention on the stylistic devices which I noticed at the beginning of chapter 12.
Some examples:
page 73; line 1: "... slept soundly, ..." "... morning meal."
line 13: "Again and again, as ..."
---> ALLITERATIONS
page 73; lines 3-4: "... not ready to lie, not willing to tell the truth."
---> OXYMORON (connection between two contradictory terms)
page 73; lines 19-20: "That it was welcoming. That it was significant."
---> ANAPHORA
page 73; lines 14-15: "... it seemed as if there were a destination:
a something - he could not grasp what -
that lay beyond the place..."
---> INTERCALATION (in german: Einschiebung)
page 73; lines 24-26: "The classes were the same: language and
communications; commerce and industry;
science and technology; civil procedures and
government."
---> ENUMERATION (in german: Aufzählung)
page 74; lines 2-5: "How could you describe a sled without
describing a hill and snow; and
how could you describe a hill and
snow to someone who had never felt
height or wind or that feathery,
magical cold?"
---> RHETORICAL QUESTION
---> ANAPHORA
---> REPETITION
page 74; lines 7-8: "... what words could you use which would give
another the experience of sunshine?"
---> RHETORICAL QUESTION
---> the reader is directly accosted
Some examples:
page 73; line 1: "... slept soundly, ..." "... morning meal."
line 13: "Again and again, as ..."
---> ALLITERATIONS
page 73; lines 3-4: "... not ready to lie, not willing to tell the truth."
---> OXYMORON (connection between two contradictory terms)
page 73; lines 19-20: "That it was welcoming. That it was significant."
---> ANAPHORA
page 73; lines 14-15: "... it seemed as if there were a destination:
a something - he could not grasp what -
that lay beyond the place..."
---> INTERCALATION (in german: Einschiebung)
page 73; lines 24-26: "The classes were the same: language and
communications; commerce and industry;
science and technology; civil procedures and
government."
---> ENUMERATION (in german: Aufzählung)
page 74; lines 2-5: "How could you describe a sled without
describing a hill and snow; and
how could you describe a hill and
snow to someone who had never felt
height or wind or that feathery,
magical cold?"
---> RHETORICAL QUESTION
---> ANAPHORA
---> REPETITION
page 74; lines 7-8: "... what words could you use which would give
another the experience of sunshine?"
---> RHETORICAL QUESTION
---> the reader is directly accosted
Just to give an idea how "The Giver" could live.
(I can't give all the sources (from all over google), but I do not own any of those pictures.)
I tried to create the living area which is partial descripted in the book.
Here in more detail:
- comfortably furnished living area
- a bed for sleeping
- a table for eating
- a desk for studying
- spacious room
- fabrics on the upholstered chairs and sofa are slightly thicker and more luxurious
- table legs are slender and curved with a small carved decoration at the foot
- bed in an alcove at the far end of the room, draped with a splendid cloth embroidered
over its entire surface with intricate designs
- room's walls are completely covered by bookcases
(page 62; ll.:10-30)
Throughout the community is the furniture standard. That means: practical, sturdy, the function of each piece clearly defined.
But the reader finds out that there is a difference between the family unit's dwellings and the house of the Giver. I would say that this underlines the honored Assignment as "Receiver of Memory" and is another point which shows that the Receiver is a special and important person in the community.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Acrostic (Chapter 11)
T houghtful but filled with
H onor, not power.
E xhausting experiences.
N ew things to learn
E very single day
W ith happiness and pain.
R ecognizing that there is more.
E xciting things but
C ONTROLE everywhere to
E veryone.
I t started with snow and a sled
V ery fast.
E ndless
R ecovering.
O nce he felt the
F rigid and received this
M emory.
E verytime he will be
M ore and more
O mniscient.
R eceiving some things and losing his
Y outh.
H onor, not power.
E xhausting experiences.
N ew things to learn
E very single day
W ith happiness and pain.
R ecognizing that there is more.
E xciting things but
C ONTROLE everywhere to
E veryone.
I t started with snow and a sled
V ery fast.
E ndless
R ecovering.
O nce he felt the
F rigid and received this
M emory.
E verytime he will be
M ore and more
O mniscient.
R eceiving some things and losing his
Y outh.
Monday, March 21, 2011
As I said, some pictures.
Feeling alone, being thoughtful, don't know what to do or what will happen. Maybe feeling different and separated.
(I think that the picture with the following link fits better, but I couldn't upload it. Sorry.)
Being happy and proud. Celebrating the new and honored Assignment of the son.
Being confused and astonished. Many questions - no answers. Being strong enough to keep the pain?
Black and grey but the colour red. Feeling the aloneness right know but there is hope at the horizon. Being confident despite the situation and events. Expecting a new time. Everything will be changed.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Chapter 9 - full of feelings
This chapter takes place briefly after Jonas' selection to be the new "Receiver of Memory". He gets his folder with introductions and rules and goes out of the Auditorium. He feels separate and different. He remembers what the Chief Elder said about his training. (His training would be alone and apart.) And Jonas already feels the apartness, now. I would say that Jonas feels bad when he notices that the other citizens speak about him in a whisper. Worse they look at him. Jonas searches Asher, because he was ever a friendly and familiar part of his life. Jonas wants to ride back with him but he feels that there is a moment of hesitation in Asher's reaction. That makes him unconfident. Lily in contrast is solemn. At home, the evening meal is much quieter than before. His parents are proud of him because he's greatly honored and has a position of importance. Then they talk a little bit about the failed selection of a female before Jonas was selected. That makes Jonas very nervous and he doesn't really understand what could or must have happened there. Later he's alone in his room. He read the rules and feels stunned. There are many questions in his head. I would say that his feelings are very strong but mixed. He's frightened and surely sad. He's afraid but already looks forward to his training and work. There are many unexplained things and I think he hasn't really realized what happened to him at this day.
(Maybe I will post a few pictures, if I find some which fit into this situation.)
(Maybe I will post a few pictures, if I find some which fit into this situation.)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
News report
Heart-stopping event at the Ceremonies of Twelves!
Yesterday, at the Auditorium: The Ceremony started as always. The new twelve years old children are ready to get their Assignments thereby to become an adult. The Chief Elder arranged the different Assignments but skipped the number nineteen. The citizens thought that it was a mistake, but at the end the boy "Jonas" with the number nineteen had to go to the stage. He will be the new "Receiver of Memory". The committee was agreed that Jonas is the right person for this important job which is the most honored in the community. The reason why the community gets a new Receiver is that the current Receiver had this job for a very long time. He will teach Jonas in his special task. The Chief Elder said that Jonas had shown all of the qualities that a Receiver must have. Including "Intelligence", "Integrity", "Courage", "Wisdom" and the "Capacity to See Beyond". Jonas was surprised but said at the end that he thought it's true. He didn't understand it yet and he didn't know what it was, but sometimes he saw something. And maybe it was beyond. This are the words of the new "Receiver of Memory".
(This is a try to create a newspaper article to chapter eight. I hope it's okay.)
Yesterday, at the Auditorium: The Ceremony started as always. The new twelve years old children are ready to get their Assignments thereby to become an adult. The Chief Elder arranged the different Assignments but skipped the number nineteen. The citizens thought that it was a mistake, but at the end the boy "Jonas" with the number nineteen had to go to the stage. He will be the new "Receiver of Memory". The committee was agreed that Jonas is the right person for this important job which is the most honored in the community. The reason why the community gets a new Receiver is that the current Receiver had this job for a very long time. He will teach Jonas in his special task. The Chief Elder said that Jonas had shown all of the qualities that a Receiver must have. Including "Intelligence", "Integrity", "Courage", "Wisdom" and the "Capacity to See Beyond". Jonas was surprised but said at the end that he thought it's true. He didn't understand it yet and he didn't know what it was, but sometimes he saw something. And maybe it was beyond. This are the words of the new "Receiver of Memory".
(This is a try to create a newspaper article to chapter eight. I hope it's okay.)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Diary entry for chapter six
Dear Diary,
today the Ceremonies for this year started. It was hectically at home this morning. I think Lily was very irritable and nervous and so we talked about the different ages. She said that I should get the Assignment as Pilot so that I could fly with her. I really liked it, because I felt like a role model for her. A person to whom she can look above. But Mum didn't find it so funny. Unfortunately.
We went with our bicycles to the Auditorium, Lily at her seat on the back of Mum's.
The newchildren were named and given to their new family units. Fiona got a little brother named Bruno. She said that he was cute but that she didn't like his name. I like Fiona. She's a good student, quiet and polite. And I have a lot fun with her when we are together like in the House of the Old. But at the Naming Ceremony was one exception. Gabriel was missing. He didn't develop in the adequate way but isn't released. He isn't Elsewhere but in the Nurturing Center again. He will have another year to develop and will join my family unit for a time as a little temporary guest. You can't believe how happy Lily was about this introduction. She's dote on him. (in German: vernarrt in jemanden sein)
Later Lily-billy became an Eight. She was really proud when she got her identifying jacket. But I have seen her looking at the row of new bicycles. I think she would be ready now but has to wait one year.
I don't know. Maybe I will show her how to ride a bike and get a little chastisement.
Tomorrow will be my Ceremony of Twelve. I have no idea what my Assignment will be, but I'm sure that the Committee of Elders will find the right one for everyone. I'm a little bit excited and I hope that Asher will be my friend as well as after our Ceremony. And I want to see Fiona, too.
But that's it for now.
I will write soon.
Jonas
today the Ceremonies for this year started. It was hectically at home this morning. I think Lily was very irritable and nervous and so we talked about the different ages. She said that I should get the Assignment as Pilot so that I could fly with her. I really liked it, because I felt like a role model for her. A person to whom she can look above. But Mum didn't find it so funny. Unfortunately.
We went with our bicycles to the Auditorium, Lily at her seat on the back of Mum's.
The newchildren were named and given to their new family units. Fiona got a little brother named Bruno. She said that he was cute but that she didn't like his name. I like Fiona. She's a good student, quiet and polite. And I have a lot fun with her when we are together like in the House of the Old. But at the Naming Ceremony was one exception. Gabriel was missing. He didn't develop in the adequate way but isn't released. He isn't Elsewhere but in the Nurturing Center again. He will have another year to develop and will join my family unit for a time as a little temporary guest. You can't believe how happy Lily was about this introduction. She's dote on him. (in German: vernarrt in jemanden sein)
Later Lily-billy became an Eight. She was really proud when she got her identifying jacket. But I have seen her looking at the row of new bicycles. I think she would be ready now but has to wait one year.
I don't know. Maybe I will show her how to ride a bike and get a little chastisement.
Tomorrow will be my Ceremony of Twelve. I have no idea what my Assignment will be, but I'm sure that the Committee of Elders will find the right one for everyone. I'm a little bit excited and I hope that Asher will be my friend as well as after our Ceremony. And I want to see Fiona, too.
But that's it for now.
I will write soon.
Jonas
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