The Giver: Chapters 19–23

by Lois Lowry
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a regimented community that is free from pain and suffering—but also free from joy, independence, and even color. When he is appointed the community's Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to question everything he has been taught.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–23

Explore other lists of The Giver Quartet here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. receptacle
    a container that is used to put or keep things in
    He turned aside and dropped the syringe into a waste receptacle.
  2. emphatically
    in a forceful manner; with emphasis
    Jonas shook his head emphatically. “No, Giver,” he said. “I want you to keep that, to have with you, when I’m gone.”
  3. undertaking
    any piece of work that is attempted
    He visited the other communities frequently, meeting with their Elders; his responsibilities extended over all the surrounding areas. So this would not be an unusual undertaking.
  4. solace
    comfort offered to one who is disappointed or miserable
    Confronted by a situation which they had never faced before, and having no memories from which to find either solace or wisdom, they would not know what to do and would seek his advice.
  5. stealthily
    in a manner marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
    It was terribly dangerous because some of the work crews were still about, but he moved stealthily and silently, staying in the shadows, making his way past the darkened dwellings and the empty Central Plaza, toward the river.
  6. understatement
    something said in a restrained way for ironic contrast
    “Didn’t it go well?” Mother asked sympathetically.
    Father gave a rueful laugh. “That’s an understatement. It was a disaster. He cried all night, apparently. The night crew couldn’t handle it. They were really frazzled by the time I got to work.”
  7. fugitive
    someone who is sought by law officers
    Together the fugitives slept through the first dangerous day.
  8. augmented
    added to or made greater in amount or number or strength
    The journey had become automatic: the sleep by day, hidden in underbrush and trees; the finding of water; the careful division of scraps of food, augmented by what he could find in the fields.
  9. vigilant
    carefully observant or attentive
    As he pedaled through the nights, through isolated landscape now, with the communities far behind and no sign of human habitation around him or ahead, he was constantly vigilant, looking for the next nearest hiding place should the sound of engines come.
  10. relentless
    never-ceasing
    The most relentless of his new fears was that they would starve.
  11. tantalizing
    arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable
    He tried to use the flagging power of his memory to recreate meals, and managed brief, tantalizing fragments: banquets with huge roasted meats; birthday parties with thick-frosted cakes; and lush fruits picked and eaten, sun-warmed and dripping, from trees.
  12. obscure
    make unclear or less visible
    But now the rapidly deepening snow obscured the narrow road and made the ride impossible.
  13. imperceptibly
    in a manner that is difficult to discern
    His front wheel moved forward imperceptibly as he pushed on the pedals with his numb, exhausted legs.
  14. lethargy
    weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
    Warming himself ever so briefly had shaken away the lethargy and resignation and restored his will to survive.
  15. incision
    a depression scratched or carved into a surface
    The runners sliced through the snow and the wind whipped at his face as they sped in a straight line through an incision that seemed to lead to the final destination, the place that he had always felt was waiting, the Elsewhere that held their future and their past.
Created on Thu Sep 26 22:03:45 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Jun 23 16:32:52 EDT 2025)

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