Poem on SAMENESS

We are all different
and yet we are all the same
Although we are together
some difficulties remain

I decided to look for poems on the themes of the novel. I chose the theme 'Sameness'. The above poem is written by Adam Smith. Well, I searched for many poems, and even though this poem is very short, but it is the most suitable poem I found. I really think that it is related to the idea of Sameness in The Giver.

We are all different. What I think about this sentence is that, everyone in Jonas's society looks different in terms of their own looks.

And yet we are all the same. This line means that, however, the poeple are the same. This is because the poeple have the same clothing, and the same new things as they grow a year older.

Although we are together. In my understanding, this line means that, although the Commitee of Elders tried to eliminate all differences in the community.

Some difficulties remain. This line continues from the 3rd line. Therefore, this line means that there were still some difficulties that the Committee of Elders cannot overcome. For example, Jonas's and Gabriel's pale blue eyes, Fiona's red hair and such.

Overall, this poem is in a way, about the theme of Sameness in Jonas's society. It explains what Sameness is and what are some 'failures' of it.

Another Class discussion!!

A few days ago, the class discussed about the characteristics of Jonas and other characters. We found many evidence from Chapter 1 to 5. I think this worksheet helped me to understand more about Jonas and the other characters :)

I want to discuss about Jonas's characters - some characteristics of him that I liked.
Jonas is a reflective person. The textual evidence given was: Jonas thought about the time the airplane flew over the community, how Asher mixed up "distract" and "distraught", and how he has accidentally used the word "released" before thinking whether it was appropriate. I really liked this point about him. Being reflective is good, because you will be able to leanr from your mistakes and not repeat them. Not everyone will reflect on the mistakes they make, especially when it is just a wrong usage of words.

Jonas is also obeservant. This can be seen from the fact that he noticed Gabriel's "pale eyes" and that "the apple had changed". He is aware of his surroundings. I totally agree with this characteristics of him. If it was another person of his society, I do not think that he will notice the change in the apple's colour as it was just for an instant.

Jonas is inquisitive as well. He brought the apple back to his dwelling to see what was so special about it. He went to have volunteer hours at different places, in order to experience different things. This 'second evidence' was quite new to me. I had never thought that he went to do volunteer work at different places to experience different things. In my opinions, being inquisitive allows a person to learn more and have new experiences :)

There is one point that I want to make about Jonas's mother. She is prejudiced against Birthmothers. When Lily said that she wanted to be a Birthmither when she was Twelve, Mother said that "There's little honour in that Assignment." I do not really like this charcteristics of Jonas's mother. Without Birthmothers, there will not be any more babies to be born and given to the family units. Even though the Assignment is not good, but Jonas's mother should not say that there is very little honour in that Assignment.

WALL OF PHOTOS!!

FREEDOM AND CHOICE
Everyone should have freedom and make their own decisions. However, in The Giver, the poeple do not have freedom. Their job is also chosen by The Elders.

SAMENESS

Everyone is the same.

MEMORIES

In the Giver, the people gave up their memories, to eliminate the pain and unhappiness that came with it.

Memories guide, enrich and influence one person's life. Without memories, people cannot learn from their mistakes, this is also the reason why The Giver has to hold the memories for everyone in the community.

FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS

To me, he looks real. But he is just a statue. He does not have any feelings or emotions. This is like The Giver. In Jonas's world, the people are precise in language, and what words they use to express their feelings towards others. Therefore, they do not have strong feelings towards someone or something :(

RELEASE OF A TWIN

NEWBORN GABRIEL

This is a symbol of new hope. In The Giver, Gabriel is a newborn child. I think babies represent new hope and regeneration. Gabriel is too young to have absorbed the rules of the community, therefore he is still receptive to the powerful memories that Jonas transmits to him.

THE RED SLED

The sled is red in colour, and represents the new and vital world of feelings that Jonas would discover...

The First Discussion...

Yesterday, we had a discussion of The Giver. We went through the features of Jonas's society which could be seen in Chapters 1 and 2.

Jonas's society was rigid because every aspect of life have a guideline for the people to follow. There is a set of rules that must be adhered to in almost every setting in the novel.

Well, for me, I think that Jonas's society has too many rules. These rules control the people in every part of their life. This developed an obedience among the people in Jonas's society. Even though it is a wonderful thing that the people listen to their government's orders, but I do not think I would like to be controlled by so many rules.

0In Jonas's world, changes also take a long time to take place. For example, an appeal sent for study takes forever, yet nothing changes. Although the Elders chose the most suitable job they think the Twelves should be taking on, they should also consider once again for those who appealed. This showed a lack of freedom and choice in Jonas's society as well. A feature of his society...

Another feature of Jonas's is that it is harsh and unforgiving. I do not like this feature of his world. In Chapter 1, it was mentioned that the Pilot-in-Training who made a navigational mistake would be released. In his world, a person who makes a second offence, would be released. Or, someone who makes one serious mistake would be released.

In our world, even if we make mistakes, we would still be given chances to repent and change over a new leaf. We will not be 'released' which is equivalent to death, just because of one mistake we make. Therefore, I think Jonas's society is quite merciless. For example, for the Pilot-in-Training, there was a possibility that he would misread the navigational instructions. So, they should give him a second chance, even though he broke the rules.

There is one feature I liked most about Jonas's society. That is their emphasis on politeness :)
Nowadays, some people would not even apologise when they accidentally hurt someone. However, in Jonas's world, everyone will say their standard apology, even if they were just late for school. In my opinion, this is hard to come by in our society today. We should all learn from Jonas and his friends. If everyone practises politeness, I believe we would all have a better world to live in...

Also, I realised that I had a misunderstanding of the people in Jonas's world, which I wrote in my 1st post. I mentioned that the people of Jonas's world do not have any feelings or emotions. But, as we discussed about the features of Jonas's society, I found out that actually I was wrong about that statement. The people of his world are not without feelings or emotions. It is just that they are more precise about their usage of words :)

I find that despite the bad and unwanted features of Jonas's society, there are still some good points about his society...

How THE GIVER relates to me??

This novel is about Jonas's 'perfect world'. Everything in his world is under control. For example, his Assignment was chosen by the Elders, the age when he could do certain things (riding the bicycle, wearing jackets with buttons) and more. He does not have the choice.

After reading the novel, I think I am really blissful. I learnt to cherish the things I have now, and the world I am living in now. I can make my own choices and decide what I want to be when I grow up. I do not have to be restricted to doing minor things because of my age, like riding a bike. I have the freedom to do what I want most of the time. This is already very much better than Jonas's world.

There are no colours in Jonas's world. Only the Giver, Jonas and Gabriel are different from the rest of the community. They can see colours, or in the scientific term, having the 'capacity to see beyond'. Imagine everything around you being colourless. Everything would be like the same, and it would be so dull. To me, colours make a person cheerful. Colours make a place beautiful. I do not understand why the Elders do not allow people to see colours...it is a wonderful thing for us to be able to see colours.

Most importantly, I think the Giver thought me to be glad that I have feelings.

In Jonas's world, everyone does not experience real feelings. When someone broke the play area rules, Lily said that she was angry. However, it was not anger that Lily had felt. It was just impatience and exasperation, as mentioned by Jonas. Being in a world without feelings is a sad thing. A person would not feel happy, sad, angry, scared, worried and other sorts of feelings. His life would be dull and everyday is just the same. He would not love someone truly or be loved truly.

I think I am really fortunate. I do not have to stay in a world without feelings and emotions. When good things happen to me, I feel happy; when bad things happen to me, I feel sad...and so much more different feelings. Reading the novel made me think that even feeling sad is better than feeling nothing.

The Giver really made me learn to cherish everything that I have now. I should not take them for granted. I realised I am very lucky, not having to stay in a world, like Jonas's one. Even though the Elders controlled the people so that they would not make wrong choices and feel pain, I would not want to be in a world with no feelings and colours...

First Impression...

When I first searched online for a summary of The Giver, I gained interest in reading the book. The summary told about how Jonas’s life was and the power of his to ‘see beyond’. This was what encouraged me to start reading the book.
The Giver is a well-written book. Even though it is a simple book, but it really catches my attention. When I read the first few chapters, I knew I would like the book. In my opinion, the plot is an interesting one. It did not come to me that there could be a world in which there are no colours and feelings.
At the start, I pictured myself living in such a world, and I found it quite peaceful, although there were many rules implemented. As I venture on, I realised that it was not as good as I thought it was. The memories of the past, which Jonas had, showed that the world ‘Elsewhere’ had love and feelings, which I think should not be taken away from any person. Also, I find that the ‘release’ of people is really cruel, especially the babies who did nothing wrong.
As the story advances on, Jonas grown to become more and more aware that he could not continue to stay in his ‘controlled’ world. He starts to realise that it is meaningless to live in such a world, with no love and feelings. He realises that even though there is pain and fear in ‘Elsewhere’, it is better to live with love and feelings. This is also Jonas’s reason for leaving. I really agree with this act of Jonas. I think it is indeed a brave one and one which can actually spread the existence of love and feelings to everyone else in the ‘controlled’ world. I think that this is an act of saving the people. This is because the people would experience love and some happy memories, even though they would feel pain and fear. I think it is worth it to feel the love, no matter how much pain we have to suffer.
Overall, I find The Giver a perfect book for reading. I would also encourage others to read this wonderful book. :)