...THE GIVER Lois Lowry ← Plot Overview → The giver is written from the point of view of Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. There is no prejudice, since everyone looks and acts basically the same, and there is very little competition. Everyone is unfailingly polite. The society has also eliminated choice: at age twelve every member of the community is assigned a job based on his or her abilities and interests. Citizens can apply for and be assigned compatible spouses, and each couple is assigned exactly two children each. The children are born to Birthmothers, who never see them, and spend their first year in a Nurturing Center with other babies, or “newchildren,” born that year. When their children are grown, family units dissolve and adults live together with Childless Adults until they are too old to function in the society. Then they spend their last years being cared for in the House of the Old until they are finally “released” from the society. In the community, release is death, but it is never described that way; most people think that after release, flawed newchildren and joyful elderly people are welcomed into the vast expanse of Elsewhere that surrounds the communities. Citizens who break rules or fail to adapt properly to the society’s codes of behavior are also released, though in their cases it is an occasion of great shame. Everything is planned and organized so that life is as convenient...
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...The Psychology of Gift Exchange Mayet, C. & Pine, K. J. University of Hertfordshire Internal Report 2010 Gift giving is a social, cultural and economic experience; a material and social communication exchange that is inherent across human societies and instrumental in maintaining social relationships and expressing feelings (Camerer, 1988, Joy 2001). Research within different disciplines to gain insight of gift giving behaviour has continued for over forty years. Gifts are bestowed in celebration of key life events, a medium for nurturing personal relationships, to encourage economic exchange and to socialise children into appropriate behaviour patterns (Belk, 1979). Obligations within a community require that individuals are required to give, receive and to reciprocate (Mauss, 1954). In his essay the French anthropologist-sociologist Marcel Mauss (1954), presented a theoretical analysis of the gift-giving process, that was based on his examination of giftgiving amongst various primitive, secluded, or ancient societies. He concluded that giftgiving is a self-perpetuating system of reciprocity and summarised three types of obligations which preserve gift-giving: 1. The obligation to give. 2. The obligation to receive. 3. The obligation to repay. The requirement to give may be ingrained in religious or moral necessities, with a strong need to recognise and maintain a status hierarchy and to establish or maintain peaceful relations, or merely the expectation of reciprocal giving...
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...behaviour in close relationships and provides an account of the difference in people’s emotional and relationship styles. It relates to how resilient children will become later in life when facing life stressors. In its earliest form, attachment theory concentrated on the dynamics and quality of relationships between children and their parents, but it has since been expanded to cover the lifespan. The clear result seems that early parent-child relationship, and the degree of successful attachment, mediates and influences the course of a person’s development. (Howe, 1995) This essay is based on theories and concepts put forward by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, the two most important people who have influenced the theory of attachment. In this essay I will look at the impact poor attachment has on a person’s development and the reason for choosing to explore this topic, is having developed a keen interest around the influence of poor attachment with my father and the impact it has had on my life in terms of loving, trusting and sexual relationships. Pearce (2009) states that attachment is a term that can be used to describe the dependency relationship a child develops between them and their primary care-givers and progresses throughout the years of their lives. We are not born with attachment but “this special relationship emerges over time and through a series of stages”. Pearce (2009:19) So attachment theory is, essentially, to do with human relationships. Psychologist...
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...In “The Giver”, we are introduced to Jonas, the eleven-year-old protagonist of the story, as he struggles to find the right word to describe his feelings as he approaches an important milestone. He rejects “frightened” as too strong a word, recalling a time when he had really been frightened: a year ago, an unidentified aircraft flew over his community; it was a strange and unprecedented event, since Pilots were not allowed to fly over the community. As Jonas remembers the community reaction to the event, we learn more about the society in which he lives. It is extremely structured, with official orders transmitted through loudspeakers planted all around the community. As a punishment, the pilot was “released” from the community, the worst fate that can befall a citizen. Jonas decides he is apprehensive, not frightened (Jonas and his society value the use of precise and accurate language), about the important thing that is going to happen in December. Jonas thinks he lives in a perfect world. He lives in a highly ordered community where there is no pain, but he learns that there is a price to pay for this kind of life and discovers humanity’s long forgotten pains and joys. He finds out that he is living in a twisted messed up imperfect “utopia”. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true...
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...influenced by Tolkien’s work. He saw a similarity between Tolkien’s stories and Rush’s “journey” as a band. Describe a similar “journey” or “quest” you’ve undertaken, something you’ve overcome that might find a parallel in Tolkien’s tales (like Bilbo running out his front door trying to chase down the dwarves... or his future). a. My “journey” is one that, even now, I am struggling to overcome. When my dad was diagnosed with a degenerative illness, the road ahead seemed “lined with peril.” Yet, with time, I began to understand that I need not make this journey alone; that my family and my faith would give me the strength to persevere; that at present, all I can control is how I react to these circumstances. As a result, I have been able to improve personal relationships, especially with my dad, and (for the most part) overcome the negative emotions that once flooded my mind. 2. The Necromancer (how Sauron is known in The Hobbit) has “magic prism eyes.” He is also seen “gazing into his prisms,” apparently watching something. What are these “prisms,” and what do they allow the Necromancer to accomplish? Also, provide at least one example of a character...
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...include at least two examples from your own experience as well as two scholarly sources to back up your claim. Gender plays a signifigant roles in our every day lives. Gender determines whether or not we will dress as a male or female. Gender determines who we will have as friends. Also which role models we choose. While visiting my family in Louisiana my daughter and her male cousin were playing with toys. My daughter had dolls, and stuffed animals. Both children played with the toys and thought nothing of it. When my cousin noticed her son was playing with a doll she quickly took it from him. My cousin said “boys don’t play with dolls”. She then left went to the store and bought a toy truck and an action figure for her son to play with. What my cousin did was teach her son that playing with dolls is feminine. What she did was reinforce masculinity toward her son. There are four approaches to gender development: biological, interpersonal, cultural, and critical. We will also discuss which theory, I believe to be the most important when determining gender. Our textbook describes gender as something defined by society and expressed by individuals as they interact with other and media in their society (23). The first theory we will examine is biological. Biological theories of gender argue that gender is determined by sex. Accordign to the author X and Y chromosones, horomonal activities, and brain specialization influence a ranage...
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...during the care giving process that the care we give to the patients become personal and start taking a toll on our physical ,psychological and spiritual health.(Bush, 20090 states that in compassion fatigue not only do the environmental factors of work negatively affect care givers but also the physical demands of the patients such as pain and discomfort and emotional needs such as fear and anxiety..Care givers should be able to recognize the signs of compassion fatigue so that help can seek medical treatment early before the symptoms start to take a severe toll on the care giver’s health. (Gilmore, 2012, p. 20) noted that the things that draw nurses to caring such as providing compassion and support to the patients are the very things that cause nurses to suffer from compassion fatigue .I personally feel that compassion fatigue is when we spend time with the patients ,getting to know them more and during the process we love the patients more to such an extent that their problems become our problems and added with the demands of our families ,the job and the organization we develop compassion fatigue . Warning signs of compassion fatigue Although signs of compassion fatigue may be present many care givers may dismiss these signs and symptoms and attribute them to being related to some of their daily routines .According to (Gilmore...
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...is an individual to be admired and emulated, and because of this he is the embodiment of the greatest virtues of the culture that created him. The ideals of every culture were shaped by the social conditions of the time and therefore different attributes became valued. To different degrees, the hero in a work is a result of not only the culture from which the hero comes, but also the culture of the author. Cultural values are reflected in both the actions of a hero and his motivations. As heroes, Achilles, Aeneas, Beowulf, and Roland reflect the values of the societies that created them. One of the oldest works of ancient literature is Homer‟s Iliad. Homer‟s works are dated to between 900 and 750 B.C. (Krieger, Jantzen and Neill 106). Although the events of the Iliad take place during the Greek Bronze Age, the culture portrayed in Homer‟s works is that of Greek Dark Age (Redfield 99). The Dark Age was a result of the struggles that took place after the fall of the Mycenaean civilization (between 1200 and 1100 B.C.). The exact cause of the sudden decline of the Mycenaean civilization is unknown....
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...To look at the flip side of the story, what if Mr. Jones is suffering from dementia? How would that diagnosis colour his statement about the abuse going on in the home? On the Dementia care central website (2013) they describe how patients with dementia will sometimes suffer from delusions that makes them believe that loved ones are hurting them, or that nurses are stealing from them. This makes it very difficult for family members, and therapists to know what is real. On the Alzheimer and dementia website (www.alz.org, 2016) they discuss the symptom of suspicion the people with Alzheimer and dementia have. They may make hurtful accusations of abuse, spousal infidelity, or theft against their own care givers. This is a possible answer to what...
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...Spiritually Dead The Apostle Paul described in Ephesians 2: 1-5 those who were dead in their sins and transgressions. These are people who have not accepted Christ as Savior, instead reject His sacrifice on the Cross. They sometimes claim to seek a God or Higher Power but there is no evidence of any relationship with God whatsoever. These people are what the authors call Spiritually Dead. In fact the author compares these people to dead men in a casket just waiting to decompose. When speaking to the “walking dead” the authors teach how to identify the common “phrase from the stage” in order to assess where a person is in their walk with God. These typical phrases are usually: * I don’t believe in God. * The bible is just a myth. * Religion is a crutch for the weak. * Christians are intolerant and homophobic. * There are many paths to God. (Oprah Winfrey & Joel Olsteen) * I don’t believe in hell. Or hell is on Earth. * My good deeds will save me from hell. * There is no right or wrong, ‘do what thou will’ Once a person is identified as spiritually dead, this should determine how to approach them with a spirit of understanding without a judgemental or condemning attitude. Spiritual Infant The second stage is called Spiritual Infant to describe believers who are like newborn babes craving milk instead of the meat of the Word. This comes from the scripture: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow…”...
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...Working-Class Fathers … 2.7 Fathers and the Family Friendly Workplace 2.8 Research Question Chapter Two Literature review The literature relevant to research into fatherhood is diverse and describes some dynamically interactive elements constitutive of the social construction of fatherhood. This chapter provides a summary of those topics considered to be most relevant to the research problem. It begins with a discussion of the significance of the father to the development of children followed by a brief description of the changing role of fatherhood. This is followed by an analysis of gendered parenting roles and the contradictions that exist for men between dominant patriarchal views of fatherhood and those fathering behaviours that are resistant to dominant beliefs. A comparative analysis is provided through the examination of cross-cultural experiences followed by a discussion on oppression and resistance and the relevance of this to working-class men. Finally there is a review of the current literature on the development of Family Friendly Workplace Policy 2.1 Fathers – And a Secure Base Move 1. The importance of attachment to the child leading to the importance of attachment to the father; its impact on the child Theories about the significance of attachment for the mental health of humankind raise the issue of the significance of fathers as care givers and providers of secure attachment to...
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...Text Set Introduction Jeff Utegg After reading The Giver and The Hunger Games, we were set out on the task to find a common theme. In an ideal situation, teachers would be able to embellish on these young adult books by supporting them with supplemental sources. Through the use of newspaper articles, magazines, picture books, videos, trailers and clips, and electronics our tenth grade English class will explore and discover the theme; dystopia paired with defiance. Dystopia literally means “ bad uptopia”. According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, dystopia is defined as “an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives”. Unlike utopia, where a society is perceived to be a perfect place to reside, dystopia differs in that what is “perfect” often causes an undesirable place to live. Having students be able to understand these complex themes in addition to the “on the surface” themes that exist within this young adult literature would ensure a deeper meaning/understanding of the text for them. In addition, being able to present the idea to students in a multitude of facets helps to differentiate learning for students. Also, students are able to gain a better understanding of what dystopia really means when they see it being used in multiple different contexts. This particular English 10 class is a cotaught class of twentyfive including six students with disabilities. There are two students with autism, three with multiple disorders and one student with ...
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...answered with angelic smile that life experience and her environment forces her to be an adult at an early age as 13. For example my mom had been sick at home with Osteoporosis (a joint disease) since I was 12 years of age. I had to make sure she was properly care for at night, by assisting with medication and her frequent bathroom visits. My parents had so much pride to have a living care giver. They don’t want the stigma of been sick and unable to be a nursing home picture to anyone in their social circle. I noticed at the end of her answer she got really joyfully like a child getting her first Barbie doll. In addition to that, Paige mention that she her parents thought her at early age that financial and educational success is not an option. She was helping her dad in his Law office every other weekend which earned her $20.00 “chuckle”. Moreover, Spanish and Piano classes was an after school program that I enjoyed because I get to socialized with my wealthy friends like the Jacksons. Due to the fact that my parents was and still involve in my life, my time away from home made our relationship more emotional attached. My mom would recited a Maya Angelo poem, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. This would...
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...Class issues and the rise of the superstructure in The Giver and The City of Ember Since the start of agriculture, man's evolution has gone from a hunter-gatherer to modern day capitalistic societies. Using a lot of energy in order to hunt was no longer necessary. By leveraging the division of labor, grains could be stored for human consumption. Consequently, population grew which meant that some people had to, for example, harvest the food, whereas others could be “thinkers” and create a better world in terms of science and effective infrastructures. Over time resources have been used and exploited in to order to sustain societies and the ever increasing population: It has become a scarcity. (Harris 12) Philosophers such as Karl Marx wrote about this scarcity and how it creates classes in societies, as in Das Kapital, the Critique of Political Economy: In social productions of their life, men enter into definite relations that are indispensable and independent of their will, relations of production which correspond to a definite stage of development of their material productive forces. The sum total of these relations of production constitutes the economic structure of society.... With the change of the economic foundation the entire immense superstructure is more or less rapidly transformed. In considering such transformations a distinction should always be made between the material transformation of the economic conditions of| production...(Marx 143) What is...
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...only had a bottle that provided food. The other was covered in a soft terry cloth and could only provide comfort. Harlow found that regardless of whether or not the cloth covered mother provided food or affection, the infant monkeys would cling to her for comfort. The babies assigned to wire mesh mothers were adequately fed, but their needs for psychological nurture and tactile comfort were ignored, and they consequently displayed behaviors resembling autism. The baby monkeys assigned to terry cloth mothers, in contrast, appeared to develop far more normally. But why? Their psyches had been nourished along with their bodies. Harlow’s experiments were the first real understanding about how the bond between a mother and child at an early age. As Harlow started his experiment he noticed early on that the young monkeys would spend up to 20 hours a day on this cloth monkey and only an...
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