The Giver: Ch. 5–8

Mackenzie S. (United States of America)
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a regimented community that is free from pain and suffering—but also free from joy, independence, and even color. When he is appointed the community's Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to question everything he has been taught.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–23

Explore other lists of The Giver Quartet here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. disquiet
    make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed
    Jonas said the standard phrase automatically, and tried to pay better attention while his mother told of a dream fragment, a disquieting scene where she had been chastised for a rule infraction she didn’t understand.
  2. throng
    a large gathering of people
    Jonas stowed his bicycle beside Mother’s and made his way through the throng to find his group.
  3. indulgent
    tolerant or lenient
    At every other public ceremony, the audience was silent and attentive. But once a year, they all smiled indulgently at the commotion from the little ones waiting to receive their names and families.
  4. reprieve
    a relief from harm or discomfort
    He had been given an unusual and special reprieve from the committee, and granted an additional year of nurturing before his Naming and Placement.
  5. relinquish
    release, as from one's grip
    Each family member, including Lily, had been required to sign a pledge that they would not become attached to this little temporary guest, and that they would relinquish him without protest or appeal when he was assigned to his own family unit at next year’s Ceremony.
  6. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
    The audience applause, which was enthusiastic at each Naming, rose in an exuberant swell when one parental pair, glowing with pride, took a male newchild and heard him named Caleb.
  7. infringe
    go against, as of rules and laws
    But each such error reflected negatively on his parents’ guidance and infringed on the community’s sense of order and success.
    "Infringe" (verb) and "infraction" (noun) both come from the Latin word "frangere" which means "to break." Within the verb "infringe" is the noun "fringe" which means "a marginal, peripheral or secondary part." Only The Receiver can live on the fringe of the community, is allowed to infringe on its rules, and is still highly respected.
  8. meticulous
    marked by precise accordance with details
    The community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made.
  9. scrupulously
    with careful attention and effort to do something correctly
    Like the Matching of Spouses and the Naming and Placement of newchildren, the Assignments were scrupulously thought through by the Committee of Elders.
    "Scrupulous" when it's not synonymous with "meticulous" means "having ethical or moral principles"—this fits the description of the Committee of Elders, since they take extreme care to match assignments to each individual so that everyone would lead happy and productive lives that would contribute to the greater good of the community.
  10. impose
    compel to behave in a certain way
    She would enjoy the three years of being pampered that would follow her brief training; she would give birth easily and well; and the task of Laborer that would follow would use her strength, keep her healthy, and impose self-discipline.
    "Impose" also means "inflict something unpleasant"—this definition might've been intended by the author Lowry, but the example sentence is from the perspective of Jonas, who agrees with the Committee's choice. Although Inger would start off as "Birthmother" before switching, "Laborer" is a pun that could fit both parts of her assignment (to labor is to "undergo the effects of childbirth" or "work hard").
  11. subside
    wear off or die down
    The Chief Elder waited until the uneasy applause subsided.
  12. benign
    pleasant and beneficial in nature or influence
    The community, relieved from its discomfort very slightly by her benign statement, seemed to breathe more easily.
  13. successor
    a person who inherits some title or office
    Our community has only one Receiver. It is he who trains his successor.
  14. attribute
    a characteristic that distinguishes objects or individuals
    Sometimes we worry that the one assigned might not develop, through training, every attribute necessary.
  15. indolence
    inactivity resulting from a dislike of work
    What we observe as playfulness and patience—the requirements to become Nurturer—could, with maturity, be revealed as simply foolishness and indolence.
Created on Mon Aug 26 12:09:11 EDT 2024 (updated Mon Mar 02 09:31:10 EST 2026)

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