The Giver Chapter 1 & 2 - Character and Literary Elements

The Giver Chapter 1 & 2 - Character and Literary Elements

Open Ended

What are some details about the setting in The Giver?

PLACE

TIME

PSYCHOLOGICAL SETTING

Character Traits

• Character traits are descriptions of who the character's personality and their qualities.

• Demanding

• Thoughtful
  

• Intelligent

• Domineering

• Vindictive

• Proud

Open Ended

BRAINSTORM: What are some other adjectives that we could use to describe a character's traits?

Direct Characterization

• Direct Characterization - an author tells readers what a character is like. The text tells us their character traits directly or explicitly.

• EXAMPLE: "Tim is smart. He always aces his exams."

• The author is TELLING us that Tim has the character trait of intelligence.

Indirect Characterization

• Indirect characterization is a method of indicating what a character is like by revealing their personality through descriptions of their actions, speech, appearance, and interactions with other characters.

• SHOWING vs. telling

• Readers can infer what character's are like.

Multiple Select

What are Jonas's character traits thus far in the text? Check all that apply.

• Quick Tempered

• Reflective

• Shallow

• Kind

• Conflicted

STEAL - Methods of Indirect Characterization

• S = Speech - What a character says

• T = What they think

• E = Effect on Others - how others react to them
  

• L = Looks - how they appear or present themselves

• L = Looks - How characters appear or present themselves

Multiple Choice

Asher says, “I left home at the correct time but when I was riding along near the hatchery, the crew was separating some salmon. I guess I just got distraught, watching them" (2). Based on his SPEECH, readers can infer that Asher is . . .

• Intelligent

• Frustrated

• Scatterbrained

• Untruthful

Multiple Choice

"Jonas, nearing his home now, smiled at the recollection. Thinking, still, as he wheeled his bike into its narrow port beside the door, he realized that frightened was the wrong word to describe his feeling, now that December was almost here. It was too strong an adjective." What character trait is Jonas exemplifying based on his THOUGHTS?

• Sympathy or Kindness

• Shyness or Withdrawn

• Courageous or Brave

• Contemplative or Thoughtful

Multiple Choice

"The Instructor and class waited patiently for his explanation. The students had all been grinning, because they had listened to Asher’s explanations so many times before." What character trait can we infer about Asher based on how his classmates react to him?

• Jokester or Fool

• Smart and Clever

• Intimidating and Harsh

• Helpful and Accepting

Multiple Choice

"IMMEDIATELY, the rasping voice through the speakers had said. LEAVE YOUR BICYCLES WHERE THEY ARE.

Instantly, obediently, Jonas had dropped his bike on its side on the path behind his family’s dwelling." Jonas' ACTIONS tell us that he is . . .

• Rebellious

• Obedient

• Self-Reliant

• Tough

Multiple Choice

"The Instructor and class waited patiently for his explanation. The students had all been grinning, because they had listened to Asher’s explanations so many times before." What character trait can we infer about Asher based on how his classmates react to him?

• Jokester or Fool

• Smart and Clever

• Intimidating and Harsh

• Helpful and Accepting

Looks

A character's look often symbolizes some deeper meaning.

Looks

The size of character can lead to important inferences.

Consider clothing as well. What does it say about them, about society, about expectations and (non)conformity?

Looks

• Deformities

• Coloration

• Expressions