Chapter 17 – Jonas’ Diary

Dear Diary,
it’s a long time ago, since I wrote the last entry. 

Today wasn’t such a nice day.
In the morning, the speaker said, that we have the day free and we all were happy about it and everyone was doing what he wanted to do.

I don’t take the pills anymore! Mum and Dad don’t know it, nobody knows it, but I can’t live in a world without feelings. The dreams came back, at first I felt a little embarrassed, but now I can handle it.

I rode my bike to look for Asher. Riding through the community, I realized that I cannot imagine a life in the community without colors. Now everything is so beautiful and is shining with deeper feelings. Finally I saw Asher, who was playing with some kids and Fiona on the playing field ‘Good guys – Bad guys’. I played it a lot when I was younger, but know with all these memories of war I have, I cannot…
When I stood there, I was having a memory, in which someone was shot. I almost cried! Certainly the others don’t understand it and so they were just leaving, except for Asher and Fiona. Asher was upset, because I ruined the game… I wanted to explain it, but he didn’t understand it. No! He CANNOT understand it.

After refusing Fiona’s suggestion to ride the bikes together and hang out, I rode home. At home Lily talked about wanting to learn riding the bike. I think I will teach her, it’s almost December. Only a month left. 

Phew! Almost one year over… one year a Receiver…

Dad talked about going earlier to bed, because of the twins, which will be born tomorrow. The lighter one will be released. Simply released! Such a shame.

Well, Lily told some stories, I agree with Mom’s suggestion that Lily should be assigned as a ‘Storyteller’. It would perfectly fit to Lily’s behavior...or rather her speeches.

Well, I’m tired, I think I will go to bed now.
Good night, Jonas.

Chapter 13 - The Fail of the Selection - Part 1

During the ceremony of twelve we got to know that the Elders failed in their last selection for the Receiver of the Memory. In chapter 13 we get to know more details about the incident.
Now I will write how it could happen.

It was the second day of the ceremonies in December. It was pretty much the same process as at Jonas’ selection: During the distribution of the assignments the Chief Elder skipped one person, a female, in the end she said, that she was selected to be the new Receiver of the Memory.

The Chief Elder mentioned that the training would include indescribable pain and in chapter 13 Jonas asked the Giver, what happened. The Giver said indirectly that the girl died, because of the pain and then all the memories, which she already received, were gone and the whole community had access to them. Finally it was a chaos, because the community got to know the indescribable pain and the knowledge.illhill

Chapter 11 – Jonas’ Feelings

Here are Jonas’ feelings during his first transmission and the following day.
I will give the section, then briefly the content and finally Jonas' feelings/thoughts.

Section 1:
p.67 l.1 – p.68 l.28

Content:
The old man transmitted the Memory of snow to Jonas.

Feelings/Thoughts:
-First: Jonas felt the cold air and the soft feather-light touch on his body and face
-he knew that one part of him was still in the Annex room, but another “in” the Memory
-he knew the feather-light touch, is caused by the snow
-he saw where he was sitting on and finally knows that it is a sled and he was on a hill and was going downhill
-he enjoyed the speed, the clear cold air, the total silence, the feeling of balance and excitement and peace overwhelmed him

Section 2:

p.68 l.29 – p.70 l.37

Content:
The old man asked Jonas how he felt and Jonas realized that he took the Memory from the old man. Jonas asked whether his parents or the generation before them have had sleds and snow, but the old man said that the climate is controlled, because snow made growing food difficult and limited the agricultural periods and hill would make the transportation more difficult.  So the “went” to Sameness.

Feelings/Thoughts:
-the Memory surprised him
-he wanted to see the Memory again, because he liked it
-he’d like to have the snow and hills and thought he could change the “rule” because he thought as a Receiver he has power
-next Memory: the air was hot and heavy and receive the name sunshine

Section 3:
p.71 l.1 – p.72 l.10

Content:
Jonas didn’t know what the Chief Elder was meaning with the training would be painful, so the old man transmitted  the Memory of a sunburn to Jonas. The first day ended with Jonas asking how to call the old man, who said him “Call me The Giver”

Feelings/Thoughts:
-was confused about the alleged pain
-got to know what is a sunburn => it hurts => pain
-liked is first dayillhill

Chapter 9 + 10

Jonas’ feelings while he’s reading his instructions. 

Instruction one:

Go immediately at the end of school hours each day to the Annex entrance behind the House of the Old and present yourself to the attendant.

Thoughts:
Jonas is thinking what would happen with his friendship, if he has to go immediately to the house of the Old, because he doesn’t know what will happen with the activities, which he did with his friends (playing ball, riding his bike).

Instruction two:  

Go immediately to you dwelling at the conclusion of Training Hours each day.

Thoughts:
He doesn’t know where there will be time for recreation, pretty much the same as 1.

Instruction three:

From this moment you are exempted from rules governing rudeness. You may ask any question of any citizen and you will receive answers.

Thoughts:
He’s frightened about the abolition from rudeness, but he would never take advantage of it.  Any intimate question would fall on his nerves, so he won’t do this.

Instruction four:

Do not discuss your training with any other member of the community, including parents and Elders.

Thoughts:
Didn’t say anything.

Instruction five:

From this moment you are prohibited from dream-telling.

Thoughts:
Jonas said that this would not be a problem, because he dreamed so rarely and if he dreams something he can say that he didn’t dreamed. (Last rule)

Instruction six:

Except for illness or injury unrelated to your training, do not apply for any medication.

Thoughts:
Jonas isn’t happy about this, because every time someone has, because of an injury or an accident, physical pains, he or she receives medication.  He realizes that he has to be carefully, but if the accident or injury is unrelated to the training, he could receive a pill. He remembers the time, when the Chief Elder was talking about the indescribable pain during the training, and he knows that he hasn’t any medication for that.

Instruction seven:

You are not permitted to apply for release.

Thoughts:
He never thought about being released or applying for release.

Instruction eight:

You may lie.

Thoughts:
Jonas is confused about this rule, because everyone taught the children and citizens not to lie.  He remembers back, when he said he was starving and that he had taken aside to a talk and that nobody in the community is starving or will be starving they’re only hungry and if he says he’s starving that that is a lie.
He thinks about asking other if they had all been instructed: You may lie? , but then he realizes they can lie when they answer.

Chapter 6 - The Ceremonies (Pictures)

As i promised: The different picture for the ceremonies.

The Ceremony of One:

 

The Ceremony of Three:

The Ceremony of Eight:

The Ceremony of Nine:

The Ceremony of Ten:

The Ceremony of Eleven:

The Ceremony of Twelve:

Links:

http://typesofengineeringdegrees.com/images/engineering_woman.jpg

http://www.johnstonefitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/doctor.jpg

http://www.bym.de/asset/Image/bym/images/style-beauty/mode/dessous_fruehling/bildergalerie/justfeel_calida_bh_30_panty.jpg

http://www.buyboots.com.au/webshots/8_pocket_cargo_pants_by_bisley_bpc6007_210_480.jpg

http://www.updoprincess.com/images/young-girls-haircut.jpg

http://www.firefly-power.de/Fahrrad-Symbol_01_KMJ.png

http://www.cheerleadingonline.com/img/AC244SM.jpg

http://www.king-t.de/bild/kuscheltier-stopfset-eisb-auml-r-kiru-1-60778.jpg

http://www.lushgreen.com/n2023a.jpg

http://www.tiltstudioinc.com/new/wp-content/gallery/tilt-cafe/family-eating-at-dinner-table.jpg

http://www.benitezfoto.com/baby-familie/images/014-baby-vaterarm-liegen-schwarz-weiss.jpg

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/volunteer-opportunities-for-kids-1.jpg

Diary entry of Jonas' point of view

Dear Diary,
yesterday I passed my Ceremony of Twelve, it was very strange. The Chief Elder said that I will be the next Receiver of the Memory. What is a Receiver of the Memory? I don’t know. I will tell you about my day, so you can see what happened.

It was the Ceremony of Twelve, my last and most important ceremony.  At first everything was normal, the Chief Elder made the initial speech, about the recollection of the time of childhood and the period of preparation, the coming responsibilities of adult life, the profound importance of assignment and the seriousness of the training to come.  She talked about the group and mentioned the hard work. Finally she started to call number one to stage.

I listened carefully when Asher was called to stage, who got the assignment of Assistant Director of Recreation. When he walked back to sit down, I already prepared to stand up and go to the stage, but the Chief Elder didn’t call my number. She skipped me! First I thought I heard it wrong, but I didn’t. She made a mistake. The entire community noticed it and was amazed, because the Chief Elder made no mistakes. NEVER! I couldn’t pay attention to Pierre’s assignment. I felt dizzy, I thought maybe I did something wrong, my group leader was worrying, but the Chief Elder continued.

Finally the last got his assignment.

Then she said that she knew that she skipped my number. She apologized to the community and to me and I had to go to stage. Then she said something weird: I’m not assigned. My heart sank, but I was selected? For what? She said I was selected to be the new Receiver of the Memory.  She added that the committee failed in their last selection, she was looking at a man, who I never noticed before, a bearded man with pale eyes. Further she said, sometimes the chosen assignment might not be the right one so they observe us during the training, but the Receiver-in-training can’t be observed. The Receiver is the most honored job in our community. 

Then she said that I have all the qualities that a Receiver must have: Intelligence, Integrity, Courage and Wisdom. The next thing she mentioned, was weird: The training involves physical pain? None of us here can comprehend it because it is beyond our experiences?  I don’t want to feel pain! 

But she continued. I have a one more quality: The Capacity to See Beyond. First I don’t know what she meant, but then I remembered the thing with the apple.
She left the stage and the community started to murmur my name.  Thereby I knew that they accept me as the new Receiver. My heart swelled with gratitude and pride. I was happy.

The final question is: “What will I become?” and “Which task has the Receiver?”

Jonas

Chapter 6 - The Ceremonies

Finally it’s December and the entire community attended the Ceremony each year. The parents get two days off and sat together in the Auditorium.  The children are sitting with their groups until they will go, one by one, to the stage.

Now I will write the procedure of the Ceremonies at the two days.

DAY 1

Ceremony of One: 
-babies receive their names and families

Ceremony of Two:
-Jonas didn’t mention ->boring

Ceremony of Three: 
-children have to attend the morning and evening ritual->share their dreams and feelings

Ceremony of Four: 
-didn’t mention ->boring

Break for midday meal: 
-is served outside

Ceremonies of Five, Six and Seven: 
-not mentioned

Ceremony of Eight:
-receive the identifying jacket
-attends smaller buttons and for the first time pockets
-have to do volunteer hours
-no longer comfort object
-no ribbons anylonger

DAY 2

Ceremony of Nine: 
-get their bicycles with their nametag attached

Ceremony of Ten:
-they get a neatly distinguishing haircut: females lost their braids; males too

Ceremony of Eleven: 
-new clothing: different undergarments for the females; longer trousers with a shaped pocket for the small calculator for the males

Ceremony of Twelve:
-get their assignments

Yeah that was the procedure of the Ceremonies, taking place over 2 days.
Maybe I'll add some pictures later.

Vocabulary list Chapter 1-5

Here's a short vocabulary list of chapter one to five.

Ocassionally – Gelegentlich
churn – aufwühlen
shudder – Schaudern
clenched – geballt
to  be thrilled – begeistert sein
to squeal – kreischen, quieken
delight – Entzücken, Freude
to glare – anblinzeln
droning – brummen
to be backed up by sb. – unterstützt warden von
Caretaker – Hausmeister
moist air – feuchte Luft
sb. steadied – sicher stellen
Stirring – Anzeichen

How will the story go on?

I think the story will go on like Jonas mentions: every day more differences between his and the other people from his community. Maybe he will feel little bit afraid, but I think because of the differences he will feel more self-confident.  He mentioned that his different eyes have a “Depth” and because of that he felt self-conscious (p.23 ll.25-30).

Finally when it will be December and Jonas will pass the ‘Ceremony of Twelve’, it could be that his assignment will be something special. He will be the Receiver of the Memory, because we all have read the blurb. :D

I think at first Jonas will be afraid, because he doesn’t know what he has to do as ‘The Receiver of the Memory’. But finally, I think, he will like the job, because it gives him a special place/position  in the community.

Hope you guys like my idea, how will the book go on.

Sectionalized reading - Chapter 5

First I will give you the line and page of the section and then I’ll shortly present the content and finally I will tell you my thoughts and feelings.

1.Section: p.34 ll. 1-16

Content: -they talk every moring about their dreams
Thoughts/Feelings:  I think it’s strange to talk about your dreams, because I think it’s kinda your privacy and I wouldn’t talk about something I dreamed.
-against the rules to have privacy/don’t talk about dreams?

2.Section p.34 l.27 – p.35 l.19

Content: - Jonas tells about his dream: wanted to bathe Fiona
Thoughts/Feelings: - normal that you have such dreams in your puberty, but I wouldn’t tell about it, I think it’s awkward to talk about this with your parents

3. Section p.35 ll.20-39

Content: -Jonas has to describe his strongest feeling in his dream
Thoughts/Feelings: -if I were in Jonas’ situation, I think I tried to leave as soon as possible, and he’s really naive, normally you know in that age why you dream something like that and Jonas doesn’t

4.Section p.36 ll.1-26

Content:-mother talks again with Jonas, but privately(without Lily),
Thoughts/Feelings:- Why doesn’t he leave?
-I think he feels uncomfortable in this situation
-afraid about if he has to report it someone else, I would feel the same, it’s strange enough that you have to talk about it with your parents and I would not want that someone else know it

5. Section p.36 l.27- p.37 l.18

Content: Jonas is ready to take pills against the “stirrings”
Thoughts/Feelings:- why does everybody take pills because of this?
-To keep his sexual actions/feelings/dreams under control? => confusing

6. Section p.37 ll.18-18

Content: Jonas rides his bicycle to school and remembers the dream
Thoughts/Feelings: -the pils let you forget the dream
-Jonas liked it => Does he have to take the pills if he likes the “stirrings”?

Summary - Chapter Four

The chapter begins with Jonas, who’s searching Asher to do his volunteer hours with him. You get to know that you can choose where you spend you hours and Jonas spend his hours at different places to experience the differences.

Riding his bike through the community he passes the Rehabilitation Center, where Benjamin does his volunteer hours each day since four years. Jonas is impressed that Benjamin is skilled now as a Rehabilitation Directors, but you can’t talk about that without breaking the rule that you talk too proudly of one’s own accomplishments.  Then he passes the Childcare Center, where Lily stays after school. 

Later he finds Asher, who’s doing his volunteer hours with a girl named Fiona at the House of the Old. All of his volunteer hours will be tabulated at the Hall of Open Records. Jonas helps Asher and Fiona to bath the Old. He’s thinking about the rule that you aren’t allowed to look at another’s nakedness, except of newchildren or the Old. 

While Jonas is helping “Larissa”, he’s talking with her about the Release of Roberto and Edna this morning. Larissa talks about the process of Release and says that Roberto even was happy to be released. Finally Jonas helps her from the tub.

Summary - Chapter Three

Jonas’ father brings a “newchildren”, called Gabriel, to his home.  He’s a bit different, because he has such eyes as Jonas. Lily mentions that and says that the baby could be from the same birthmother as Jonas, because almost every citizen in the community has dark eyes, but it’s not a problem if you have lighter eyes like Jonas.  They haven’t many mirrors in the community, so Jonas isn’t interested in how his eyes look like and goes to his desk. 

Lily wants to play with the baby, but he’s almost asleep so she becomes quiet. Because of liking babies, she hopes that her assignment will be to be a Birthmother, because she also heard that they can do gentle exercises, get good food and that they play most of the time little games. Her mother explains her, that there’s no honor to be a Birthmother, because you have three births in three years and then you will be Laborers, they also don’t see the babies. She says if Lily likes babies so much she should become a Nurturer like her father. 

Jonas thinks that it would be better if Lily is a speaker and he thinks about how it would be. He reminds the day, when he plays with Asher with an apple “Throw and Catch”. He took the apple home, because he saw him changing, but when he was at home, the apple didn’t change and he had to apologize it, because you aren’t allowed to take something from the recreation time at home.

Homework for tomorrow

I will summarize chapter 3 and 4 and than i will do the sectionalized-reading thing with chapter 5, because i think it's kinda weird.

Summary - Chapter Two

In chapter two Jonas and his parents have a private talk about the “Ceremony of Twelve“. Jonas’ father tells him that he enjoyed this Ceremony, when he was in his age. His parents tell him, how the Ceremony will look like and that the elders are watching the Elevens, during the last year to decide the assignment of them. 

Jonas has no idea what his assignment will be, he also is worried about Asher, who makes a game out of everything. Jonas’ mother tells him that he doesn’t have to worry about him because the elders will find the right assignment for him and he won’t be in the same group after the Ceremony, he will be with the persons with the same assignment.

The father tells him also that this is the most important Ceremony, because this will decide the rest of your life. He also tells about that he broke a rule, because he taught his sister to ride the bicycle before she got one. Jonas already thinks, if he teach Lily or not.

In the end of this chapter Jonas goes to his own desk and is still thinking about the Ceremony and the time after.