The Giver Symbolism Analysis

Symbolism
in
The
Giver

Symbol

1.
Color

Red


2.

Gabriel


Purpose
of
Symbol
in
Story

• Shows
Jonas
as
separate
 from community
because
 he can
see
the
color

• Shows
strong
emotions
–
 love, hate

•

•

3.
Sled


•

•

4.
Light

Eyes


•

•
5.
River


•

•

•

Examples
of
Symbol
in
Story

• Apple
toss
with
Asher
–
shows
Jonas’
ability
to
see
as
a
 separation between
friends

• Fiona’s
hair
–
symbolizes
Jonas’
desire
to
feel
emotions

• The
Giver’s
books
–
shows
wisdom
denied
to
the
community

• Lights
on
the
house
in
Elsewhere
–
shows
ideas
of
 freedom/escape Represents
Jonas
accessing

• Gabriel
can’t
sleep
or
adapt
to
life
in
the
Nurturing
center
so
 emotions (particularly
 he is
brought
into
Jonas’
home;
everyone
has
to
sign
Jonas
is
unable
to
resist

Represents
purity
because
 caring for
Gabriel
despite
the
societal
expectations
 he is
untainted
by
the

• Becomes
Jonas’
Receiver
during
his
stay
at
the
house
and
the
 community’s rules
 escape • Becomes
the
reason
that
Jonas
escapes
ahead
of
the
Giver’s
 time frame

Moving
downhill
on
the

• First
memory
given
to
Jonas
by
the
Giver
 sled symbolizes
the

• Shows
Jonas
what
cold
is
so
that
he
can
use
those
memories
 transfer of
memories
from
 to protect
Gabriel
and
himself
from
the
heat‐seeking
 the Giver
to
Jonas
 airplanes during
their
escape
–
he
makes
them
both
cold.

Symbolizes
rescue
when

• Jonas
finds
the
sled
at
the
end
when
he
and
Gabriel
are
about

Jonas
needs
to
mentally
 to give
up.
They
use
the
sled
to
go
toward
the
lights
of
the
 and physically
escape
the
 house in
Elsewhere
 community’s reality

Symbolizes
the
ability
to

• Lily
points
out
that
Jonas
and
Gabriel
both
have
‘funny’
eyes
 see deeply,
which
allows
 which angers
Jonas
because
he
wants
to
be
part
of
the

Jonas
to
be
the
Receiver
 community in
the
beginning
of
the
book.

(he
has
depth
of
vision)

• Light
eyes
allow
colors
to
refract
more
easily
allowing