Discovering 'The Giver'

Discovering 'The Giver'

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the themes and motifs in 'The Giver' and analyze its significance in literature.

Introduce the learning objective to the class and explain the importance of understanding 'The Giver' as a literary work.

What do you already know about 'The Giver'?

Author and Background

'The Giver' is a novel written by Lois Lowry and was published in 1993. It is a dystopian fiction set in a future society where emotions and memories are suppressed. The novel won the Newbery Medal in 1994.

Discuss the author and the background of 'The Giver'. Ask the class if they are familiar with dystopian fiction.

Characters

The protagonist of the novel is Jonas, a 12-year-old boy who is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory. Other important characters include The Giver, who is the previous Receiver of Memory, and Jonas's family and friends.

Explain the characters in 'The Giver' and their roles in the story. Encourage the class to ask questions about the characters.

Themes and Motifs

Some of the themes in 'The Giver' include conformity, individuality, and the importance of memory. Motifs include color, music, and the recurring memory of a sled.

Discuss the themes and motifs in 'The Giver'. Ask the class if they can think of any other themes or motifs.

Symbolism

Symbols in 'The Giver' include the sled, which represents freedom and individuality, and the apple, which represents knowledge.

Explain the symbolism in 'The Giver'. Ask the class if they can think of any other symbols.

Plot Summary

The novel follows Jonas as he becomes the Receiver of Memory and learns about the past society. He becomes disillusioned with his current society and decides to leave with baby Gabriel.

Provide a brief summary of the plot of 'The Giver'. Ask the class if they have any questions about the plot.

Significance in Literature

'The Giver' is significant in literature because it deals with important themes and motifs that are relevant to our society today. The novel also challenges the idea of a utopian society and encourages readers to think about the importance of individuality and memory.

Discuss the significance of 'The Giver' in literature and its relevance to our society. Ask the class to share their thoughts on the novel.

Discussion

Discuss the novel as a class and encourage students to share their thoughts and opinions. Ask questions such as: What did you think of the novel? What themes or motifs stood out to you? Why do you think 'The Giver' is significant in literature?

Lead a class discussion about 'The Giver' and encourage students to share their thoughts and opinions about the novel.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.