The Giver

Jonas, The Giver’s central character, is trying to find the right words to describe how he feels. He will soon turn 12 years old, which comes with many changes and new responsibilities in the community he calls home. Using language precisely is important in this community. Jonas wonders if he’s experiencing fright, that “deep, sickening feeling of something terrible about to happen” (1). He recalls a time he felt frightened a year earlier. An unidentified aircraft flew over the community, and everyone was ordered to take shelter. This announcement was made over the loudspeakers that fill the community. The loudspeakers are a way for the community’s Speaker to communicate important commands and reminders. Jonas remembers seeing empty streets and abandoned bicycles. The silence terrified him, as did the uncertainty. It turned out that an inexperienced pilot had made a wrong turn. The Speaker announced that the pilot would be “released” (2)from the community. Jonas explains that this is “a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure” (2). Jonas decides that “apprehensive” (4)is the most accurate term for his current state of mind. 

At the end of dinner, Jonas’s family members share their feelings from the day.