The Giver Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
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The Giver has 23 chapters · 200 pages
At the age of twelve, Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of the true joys and pain of life.
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Inside the journal: 23 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
Why is Jonas feeling uneasy at the beginning of the story, and what do his feelings show us about his community?See all 23 questions ↓
About the book
At the age of twelve, Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian, futuristic world, is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of the true joys and pain of life.
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The Giver questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 23 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
Why is Jonas feeling uneasy at the beginning of the story, and what do his feelings show us about his community?
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Chapter 2
What do you learn about the Ceremony of Twelve, and why do you think it is such an important event for children in Jonas's community?
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Chapter 3
Jonas notices that Gabriel's eyes are like his own. Why might this small detail be important later in the story?
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Chapter 4
How does the House of the Old help us understand the rules and values of Jonas's community?
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Chapter 5
What does Jonas learn about dreams and feelings in this chapter, and how does his family react to his dream?
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Chapter 6
How are birthdays and growing up different in Jonas's community than they are in our world?
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Chapter 7
How does Jonas feel when his number is skipped at the Ceremony, and what would you have felt in his place?
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Chapter 8
Why is Jonas chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, and which of the required qualities do you think will be hardest for him?
Example answer: I think Jonas is chosen because he is thoughtful and can see things differently than other people. The leaders say he has qualities like intelligence, courage, wisdom, and the Capacity to See Beyond. I think courage will be the hardest for him because he has to face pain and secrets that no one else understands. It would be scary to be so different from all your friends.
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Chapter 9
How do Jonas's new rules change the way he thinks about his family, his friends, and his community?
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Chapter 10
What is surprising about the Receiver's living space, and what does it suggest about his role in the community?
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Chapter 11
What memories does Jonas receive first, and how do they change the way he understands the world?
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Chapter 12
Jonas begins to understand color, especially the color red. Why is seeing color important, and what does it show about his community?
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Chapter 13
Jonas learns more about choices. Do you think it is better for people to make their own choices even if they make mistakes? Why or why not?
Example answer: I think it is better for people to make their own choices, even when they might make mistakes. Choices help people learn who they are and what they care about. In Jonas's community, people are safe, but they do not get to pick many important things. I would rather have freedom and learn from mistakes than have every choice made for me.
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Chapter 14
How does the memory of pain change Jonas, and why does The Giver say that the community needs a Receiver?
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Chapter 15
What does Jonas experience in the memory of war, and how does this memory affect his feelings about his Assignment?
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Chapter 16
Jonas receives happy memories like family, love, and holidays. Why does the word 'love' become important to him?
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Chapter 17
How does Jonas's friendship with Asher change after Jonas stops taking his pills, and what does this show about Jonas's growth?
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Chapter 18
What happened to Rosemary, and why does her story make Jonas and The Giver worry about memories?
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Chapter 19
What does Jonas discover about release, and how does this discovery change his view of his father and the community?
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Chapter 20
What plan do Jonas and The Giver make, and why do they believe the community must receive the memories?
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Chapter 21
Why does Jonas leave earlier than planned, and what does his choice show about his character?
Example answer: Jonas leaves early because he finds out that Gabriel is going to be released. He knows that release really means death, so he has to act quickly to save him. This shows that Jonas is brave and loving because he risks his own safety for Gabriel. It also shows that he is willing to do what is right, even when it is dangerous.
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Chapter 22
As Jonas and Gabriel travel, what new dangers and beauties do they experience outside the community?
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Chapter 23
What do you think happens at the end of the story, and what clues from the chapter support your thinking?
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How to use this The Giver reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 23 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The Giver. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
Browse: All books by Lois Lowry