The Giver (2014): Complete Movie Guide

"The Giver" is a 2014 movie based on the novel of the same name by Lois Lowry. The movie is set in a seemingly utopian society where all pain, suffering, and conflict have been eradicated. The society is tightly controlled, and everyone is assigned a role at the age of 18. The movie follows Jonas, a young man who is selected to become the Receiver of Memory, a highly respected and secretive position in the community. Jonas is mentored by the Giver, an older man who holds all of the memories of the past, including the painful ones that the community has chosen to forget.

As Jonas learns about the past, he becomes disillusioned with the strict rules and lack of freedom in his society. He decides to take action and plans to escape with a baby who is scheduled to be "released," a term that he discovers means to be euthanized. As Jonas and the baby flee, the community becomes aware of their absence, and the Chief Elder sends out a search party to find them. Jonas and the baby encounter many dangers on their journey, but eventually, they make it to the edge of the community, where they find a sled waiting for them. Jonas realizes that the sled is a memory from the Giver and uses it to escape over a hill, where they see a glimpse of a more colorful and vibrant world. "The Giver" movie explores themes of individuality, conformity, memory, and the cost of a perfect society. It stars Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, Jeff Bridges as the Giver, and Meryl Streep as the Chief Elder.

This 22-question guide will help your students get the most out of this powerful movie. This product also includes a section for book vs. movie comparison (I have included a teacher key for this section as well, but obviously students will come up with different answers for this section). Lastly, this product comes complete with a teacher key and character guide. Ready to print and ready to use!

PDF

Character reference sheet

Student version

Teacher key