The Giver Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 1

1. What is Jonas anticipating as the novel opens and why?

2. What ritual is Jonas's family participating in as the novel opens?

3. What event from a year ago does Jonas remember that brings back feelings of fear?

4. Describe Jonas's family.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 2

5. What job does Jonas's father hold in the community?

6. What happens at the Ceremony of Twelve?

7. Who observes the children in order to place them into appropriate jobs?