The Giver Group

Question:

maidenalice
maidenalice
Student
High School - 10th Grade

Why is the the transmittal of memory of snow so exhausting to the old man and what does this reveal about the community in the book "The Giver''?

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Posted by maidenalice on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 6:56 PM and tagged with the giver.

Answers:


  1. lynn30k Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The Giver remembers things not just from his own lifetime, but from those of previous Givers and their communities. The further back in time a memory (that is, the more Givers it is remembered through), the more difficult it is to transmit due to time and accumulation of memories. One thing this reveals is that it has been a very long time since the "perfect" society of Jonas' time has experienced snow--or went to sameness.

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    Posted by lynn30k on Thursday November 20, 2008 at 7:29 PM

  2. mikkiblack
    mikkiblack Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In addition to what lynn30k has written, you should consider the complexity of this particular memory.  There is so much involved!  Think of the difference between a stick figure and a marble sculpture: the effort required to convey a complex memory is of course much more than the effort required in conveying a simple one.

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    Posted by mikkiblack on Wednesday November 26, 2008 at 4:45 PM