Outside Reading Blog #10: The Giver

Jonas decides not to wait the two weeks him and the Receiver had planned. He had also heard that everyone had voted to release the new born Gabriel, and Jonas was not going to let that happen. So he grabs a bike, some food, and puts Gabriel in the baby seat. As both of them left the community territory the landscape begins to change. It becomes rough and bumpy then Jonas trips and twists his ankle. Then it begins to snow, and the bike does not make up the hill and have to walk up it. At the top of the hill he found a sled and he guided Gabriel and him down the hill. At the bottom of the hill he finds a house where he sees and hears a family singing for the first time.

The Odyssey: Hero of the Year

Hero of the Year
The land of Ithaca finds itself pondering, pondering the choice between two great heroes. Although both candidates make such fine heroes, I endorse Telemachus, son of Odysseus.

A hero is someone who stands against all for what’s right; heroes are strong and fierce; they continue on and follow through during rough times. After careful study, I am proud to endorse Telemachus as Hero of the Year.

Telemachus is an inspiring to many people. He not only has the will and strength to find his father who has been lost for years, but he also has the courage to stand against anyone who does not believe in him or his father. For example, from the text, “’Dear god, hear me! Yesterday you came to my house, you told me to ship out on the mist sea and learn if father, gone so long, is ever coming home… Look how my countrymen-the suitors most of all, the pernicious bullies- foil each move I make.’”(II, 295-300). In this scene, Telemachus is complaining to the god Athena, that he can’t get any help from any of the people of Ithaca, so this shows that he had the will to stand up for what he believed and went of on his way.

Poseidon is also a very smart and intelligent hero. He shows hero-like qualities, but in a way he just doesn’t fit in the category of a hero. For example, in the novel, when Odysseus is stranded at sea, and his men have all been killed, it is Poseidon who answers his cry, and uses a storm to keep Odysseus away from Ithaca. I Endorse Telemachus over Poseidon because doesn’t fit as a hero, he doesn’t try to help out anyone.

Throughout the book, Telemachus stands strong, firm and his will to prove that his father is not dead is what drives him. He shows his courage, and his overall determination as a hero. He always does what is best for others, for example his parents. In my opinion he has all the qualities and more to become this year’s hero.

Outside Reading Blog #9: The Giver

Jonas is still curious about the releasing of the new born twins. The Receiver tells him that being the Receiver gives him the right to know everything that goes around the community. So he has the right to go and watch his father release one of the twins. He first weighs both of them then he takes the lowest weighted one and injects something into its head. Jonas then realizes that he is dead and is overwhelmed with horror on what release really means. He cries and does not want to go home knowing that his father had lied to him. The Receiver allows Jonas to spend the night over and then they come up with a plan. Jonas will escape the community leaving all his memories to all the community.

Outside Reading Blog #8: The Giver

It has been a few weeks that Jonas has not taken his pills and he has pleasurable dreams that make him feel a little guilty, but he refuses to give up the heightened feelings that the Stirrings and his wonderful memories have given him. Now he know that he is feeling new feelings that he had never known before existed. then an unexpected holiday comes up in the community. During the celebration, the kids begin to play a game of good guys bad guys, but Jonas does not participate when he realizes that it is a game of war and the memory of war comes back and haunts him once again. Jonas asks the Receiver on his opinion of "release." The Receiver responds by saying that he always thinks about that when he is in great pain and he can;t apply for release until Jonas has been trained by rule because a failed training about ten years ago. The Receiver had given her some bad memories in which she could not handle and that day she applied for release and never saw he again. Jonas knows that he can't apply and he asks the Receiver what would happen if he drowned himself? the Receiver responds by saying that all the memories that had been transmitted to him and would go all through the community and it would cause chaos.

Outside Reading Blog #7: The Giver

Jonas' main question returns, "why can't anyone else in the community know about these horrible memories?" The Receiver tells him that they don't want the community to be burdened with these memories because they will not know how to take in such horrible things and tells him that that's why the position of the Receiver is so honored. Then there is a new child born in the community called Gabriel. But Jonas' father worries that Gabriel will have to be released after all and that is also worries Jonas.

Outside Reading Blog #6: The Giver

One more time, Jonas is given a memory about the sled and snow. Only this time, its not as fun as the first time. The sled begins to lose control and this time Jonas experienced the pain of a broken leg. When he comes to he still has the pain if the broken leg, but the Receiver does not give him pain relievers because he is not allowed. After more days of terrible memories, Jonas finally asks the Receiver why is it that these memories need to be preserved. The Receiver responds by saying that these memories bring wisdom.

Outside Reading Blog #5: The Giver

Despite all the things Jonas had gone through with his work, he n=he had a duty to do, so he continued to go to his job. He also learned what love and hate is.He did not really like what hate was but he thought that love was one of the most amazing things he ever saw. The only problem was that he could not talk about his work to anyone, not his parents or his friends so he had to keep everything to himself.