Discussion Topic

Essay ideas and thesis statements for The Giver by Lois Lowry

Summary:

Potential essay ideas for The Giver by Lois Lowry include exploring the theme of individuality versus conformity, the role of memory in human experience, and the ethical implications of a controlled society. Thesis statements could argue that the novel demonstrates the importance of emotional depth in life, critiques the loss of personal choice, or showcases the dangers of a homogeneous society.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What is a good thesis for The Giver by Lois Lowry?

There are many good thesis possibilities for The Giver. The book has so much to teach us about how not to live.  Let's look at a few possibilities.

One potential thesis from The Giver is that not having choices is a form of slavery.  The people in the story have few choices in life. What their careers are going to be is decided for them. Whom they will partner with to raise children with is not within their control. They are "given" children and have no choice about this.  Even who will bear the children is decided by the Elders.  This is, in effect, a community of slaves. 

Another possibility is the thesis that people are not fully human if they are prevented from experiencing emotions.  The people in The Giver have had all of their emotions repressed. They do not experience hatred, jealousy, or envy.  That doesn't sound...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

too terrible.  On the other hand, though, they do not experience sexual longings. Nor do they experience love.  There can be no true happiness without unhappiness, and the story supports this thesis very well.

Still another thesis is that sameness is a dreadful idea, taking away the wonderful variability of life.  This is true in ways large and small.  There are no hills and valleys in The Giver. There is no stormy weather.  People's clothing, housing, and furnishings are all the same.  There is no color.  There is a schedule from which there are few deviations. This kind of sameness would be terrible for anyone to live with, since while we do feel best with some routine, we also need some variability. 

Each of these theses can be fully supported from the text, and when you write your thesis statement, remember that it must include your thesis and your supporting points, too. For example, here is a thesis statement I might write for The Giver:

The Giver shows that depriving people of memory is a way of dehumanizing and endangering them. 

That gives me two points to make in my essay, one on dehumanizing people and other on endangering them.  I can support my idea now with examples of each from the story.  For your thesis statement, you can do the same, with your thesis, your main idea, and your supporting points. 

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are some good thesis statements for a paper on The Giver?

The Giver has some pretty broad themes, but the events within the story can help you build those up into a great, specific thesis statement with well-formed points of evidence backing it up. 

Let's create an example. One theme from the book is pain/suffering. The world of The Giver deals with pain by isolating it — Jonas's society is "utopian" because no one has to deal with pain (which we actually learn makes it dystopian).

We here in our unregulated world know pain is not pleasant, but we also know pain is a human experience, and is part of growing.

Throughout the course of the story, as Jonas is given memories and learns more dark truths about the society he lives in, he begins to understand people cannot live completely regulated lives free from pain. He leaves to go Elsewhere, along with Gabriel, so they might have a chance to live unregulated lives. He hopes his leaving will transfer his memories to the people of the community, causing them to gain insight into the shallow and horrible lives they lead. 

So, with all this in mind, a thesis statement relating to the theme of pain/suffering could be: 

Lowry uses memory and Jonas's experiences in The Giver to show pain is part of the human experience and is necessary for people to learn, grow, and live full lives. 

Just take any theme from the book that you'd like to write about, see what the book specifically says about that theme, and voila! You've got a thesis statement.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

A good thesis statement for any book begins with the theme.  There are many themes to choose from in The Giver.  You might choose the triumph of individuality, the importance of memory, the celebration of difference, or the tyranny of suppressing choice.  Once you have chosen your theme, write a sentence about it.  Your sentence can simply state the title and author of the work and the theme.  For example:

An important theme in The Giver by Lois Lowry is that memories make us human.

Then you go on to write your essay!

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

These are fairly strong topics upon which to write a paper.  I think you might want to streamline some of them to make them about the characters in the text.  For example, let's take the first one.  In The Giver, Utopian visions of the good are difficult to embrace because different characters voice multiple conceptions of perfection.  I have always felt that in writing thesis statements about texts, it is essential to link the development of a thesis to characters in the work.  For instance, in the last one, I would try to link characters to this idea and prove that as it will be a more coherent work.  Instead of the personalized, "you," why not, "characters in Lowry's work are challenged to find true happiness devoid of struggle and pain."  This keeps the writing more streamlined, focused on the text and the characters.  I hope some of this helps.

Approved by eNotes Editorial