Excerpt from The Giver by Lois Lowry [In this passage, Jonas lives in a future where all people are treated the same, and all objects are treated the same. The Giver is teaching Jonas about the natural world and how, in nature, people and things differ from each other.] Days went by, and weeks. Jonas learned the and now he names of colors’ began to see them all, in his ordinary life. But they didn’t last. There would be a glimpse of green the landscaped lawn around the , a bush on the – riverbank. The bright orange of pumpkins being trucked in from the agricultural fields beyond the community boundary seen in an instant, the – flash of brilliant color, but gone again, returning to their flat and hueless shade. The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. Jonas that “But I want them!” said angrily. “It isn’t fair nothing has color!” The Giver looked at Jonas “Not fair?” curiously. “Explain what you mean.” Jonas had to stop and think it the same, “Well…” through. “If everything’s I want to wake up in the morning and decide then there aren’t any choices! things! A blue tunic, or a red one?” He looked down at himself, at the colorless fabric of his clothing. “But it’s all the same, always.” Then he laughed a not important, what you wear. It little. “I know it’s But doesn’t matter. – “ it? The Giver asked him. “It’s choosing that’s important, isn’t Jonas he began, and then corrected himself. nodded. “My little brother – “ not my brother, not really. But this new child “No, that’s inaccurate. He’s that my family takes care of his – name’s Gabriel.” I “Yes, know about Gabriel.” at the age learning so much. He grabs toys “Well, he’s right where he’s when we hold them in front of him my father says learning – he’s control. And he’s really cute.” The Giver nodded.
Excerpt from The Giver by Lois Lowry [In this passage, Jonas lives in a future where all people are treated the same, and all objects are treated the same. The Giver is teaching Jonas about the natural world and how, in nature, people and things differ from each other.] Days went by, and weeks. Jonas learned the names of colors’ and now he began to see them all, in his ordinary life. But they didn’t last. There would be a glimpse of green – the landscaped lawn around the , a bush on the riverbank. The bright orange of pumpkins being trucked in from the agricultural fields beyond the community boundary – seen in an instant, the flash of brilliant color, but gone again, returning to their flat and hueless shade. The Giver told him that it would be a very long time before he had the colors to keep. “But I want them!” Jonas said angrily. “It isn’t fair that nothing has color!” “Not fair?” The Giver looked at Jonas curiously. “Explain what you mean.” “Well…” Jonas had to stop and think it through. “If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one?” He looked down at himself, at the colorless fabric of his clothing. “But it’s all the same, always.” Then he laughed a little. “I know it’s not important, what you wear. It doesn’t matter. But – “ “It’s choosing that’s important, isn’t it? The Giver asked him. Jonas nodded. “My little brother – “ he began, and then corrected himself. “No, that’s inaccurate. He’s not my brother, not really. But this new child that my family takes care of – his name’s Gabriel.” “Yes, I know about Gabriel.” “Well, he’s right at the age where he’s learning so much. He grabs toys when we hold them in front of him – my father says he’s learning control. And he’s really cute.” The Giver nodded.