Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thursday's Extra Credit Question: The Giver

As you read The Giver, think about symbolism. In class today we discussed the apple in Ch.3 and what it might symbolize. The most famous apple that comes to mind is the apple from the story of Adam and Eve. We discussed what the apple in that story represents and the class came up with some great ideas:
  • knowledge
  • change
  • sin
  • temptation
  • humiliation
  • fate
  • love
The highlighted words represent the concepts we decided were the most relevant or important. Look for further references to the apple as you continue reading, and think about what it symbolizes and how that relates to the story as a whole. Are there any other instances of symbolism in the story?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think the apple repesents of what Jonas was born to be such as when the apple changes into something else its like Jonas changing other peoples lives in a good way, or it could represent the newborn that Jonas's Father brought in so that he would be released. ~ David Sorto

estefany said...

Hi I think that the apple thing is a great idea because it's like a message that god was trying to tell us. In the story "The Giver" the apple is a message of like there is much more to know and remember!

Bridget said...

I think that the apple is the only one symbolism example right now. I state this because when Jonas saw the apple change it opened a whole bunch of oppurtunities. Also later in the story the same thing hapens with Fiona's hair and the books on the bookshelf. I think that they are a sign of something to come up soon in the story.

Prudence G. said...

I think the apple is the only symbolism right now, but I think that the apple in "The Giver" was a symbol of knowledge because when Jonas and Asher were tossing the apple to each other back and forth, Jonas saw that the apple changed, that is the first day he saw color, So that is why I think the aple is a symbol of knowledge. Also, I think that the aple is a symbol of sin because Jonas took the apple to study it at home, and he wasn't supposed to because it was against the ground rules, so that is why I also think that the apple is a symbol of sin.