I find it hard to imagine how it would be to not have any memories or not to know simple things like colours or the feeling of sunshine/snow on your skin. In chapter 13 Jonas and the Giver talk about making choices, and the Giver justifies the fact that the people in the community aren't given the power to make a decision with the possibility that they might make the wrong choice. I think that isn't a very persuasive reason, because in my opinion people need to make mistakes in order to learn for their future and to grow from them.

The concept of sameness doesn't appeal to me, I mean it's true that the bad things, like war, are disposed of, but what would life be without the beautiful things like butterflies, rainbows, sunsets and the feeling of warm sunrays on ones skin everyone should have a right to experience this comforting feeling.

I wouldn't trade the way things are now for that colourless and monotonous life in the community.

cr: http://data.whicdn.com/images/7986588/tumblr_lhyl7oup9F1qdw3jto1_500_large.jpg?1300303422

In the chapters we had to read the main theme is memory ( In my opinion ^^ )
When I read  them I remembered a song [(You Want To) Make A Memory-Bon Jovi]
You can listen to it on youtube, these are the lyrics:


Hello again, it's you and me
Kinda always like it used to be
Sippin' wine, killin' time
Tryin' to solve life's mysteries

How's your life? It's been a while
God it's good to see you smile
I see you reachin' for your keys
Lookin' for a reason not to leave

If you don't know if you should stay
If you don't say what's on your mind
Baby just breathe
There's nowhere else tonight we should be

You wanna make a memory?

I dug up this old photograph
Look at all that hair we had
It's bittersweet to hear you laugh
Your phone is ringin' I don't wanna ask

If you go now, I'll understand
If you stay, hey, I got a plan

You wanna make a memory?
You wanna steal a piece of time?
You can sing the melody to me
And I could write a couple lines
You wanna make a memory?

If you don't know if you should stay
And you don't say what's on your mind
Baby just breathe
There's nowhere else tonight we should be
We should be

You wanna make a memory?
You wanna steal a piece of time?
You can sing the melody to me
And I can write a couple lines

You wanna make a memory?
You wanna make a memory?


Lyrics cr:
http://www.elyrics.net/read/b/bon-jovi-lyrics/%28You-want-to%29-make-a-memory-lyrics.html

I'm sorry that i haven't updated for so long, but I was sick and don't have internet at the moment.
Don't worry i will catch up on that ... at home I wrote an acrostic for chapter 11.

M ostly 

E  ither good or bad 

M asterpiece  
O f  the brain 
R eally important for defining 
Y ourself    

I used memory, because in chapter 11 Jonas experiences a memory, that is not his own and from a long time ago, for the first time in his training. I personally think that the term memory is the most important one in the chapter. :D

In chapter 7 we get a closer view on Jonas' feelings:

                                                         At first he is nervous...

but happy for his friends...

But when his name isn't called he get's confused...

He is ashamed of himself...

and just wants to disappear..

and all he can do is wait for his name to be called...

cr: I don't own any of the images (from all over google)

Everytime I read about the bicycles of the nines I have to think about one of my favourite scenes from the movie how high, so I searched on youtube and this is what I found, sorry for the bad quality, but enjoy anyways ;D

Summary chapter 6:

In this chapter the day of the ceremony of twelve has arrived and the events which take place are described.

The first Ceremony that day is the naming of the newchildren and they are given to their family units.
One parental pair recieves a male newchild named Caleb, he is a replacement child, because their first Caleb had drowned in the river, normally something like that doesn't happen because the community is very safe. After that the ceremonies of two,three,four,five,six and seven take place, it follows the last one for that day, the ceremony of eight, which means it's Lily's turn she can now do volunteer hours. The next day the nines get their bicycles ,which Lily envies, the ceremonies of ten and eleven are nothing special, the children only get a haircut and new clothes.
While eating Asher and Jonas talk about someone who left the community because he didn't like his job assignment, for Jonas this is just a story, because he can't imagine how someone could not fit in. The chapter ends with the signal for the start of the Ceremonie of twelve.

As a Homework for friday I will summarize chapter 6 and maybe add a few other things I'm not sure yet, so stay tuned :]

I will post a few pictures that fit with the story until now, you can connect them with the content yourself ^^

 

cr: http://randomoccurances.tumblr.com/post/3738535533

     http://singoneforme.tumblr.com/

     http://onherownwings.tumblr.com/  

     http://warmhoneymilk.tumblr.com/

     http://auberginedreamsincostamesa.tumblr.com/post/3738666391

      http://unfortunately-me.tumblr.com/post/3731995549

I made this video as a homework for wednesday, based on the things that I know so far 
(I let out the part with the dreams) Anyway I hope you enjoy- It was my first time making a video so bear with me ^^

cr: video => made by me

    pictures => from all over Google 
(I can't give the exact sources but I don't own any of the images)

cr: http://bikesickcool.tumblr.com/post/3622793696

I chose this picture because the little kid reminds me of the newchildren and the sign with "Strictly no elephants " reminds me of the rules the community established. 
(Lily's comfort object is an elephant too, and when she is an eight it will get taken away to be recycled for the younger children)

Homework 03/03/11:

Sectionalized-reading:  Chapter 1

At first I will give the lines and the page of the section, then I will shortly state what this section is about and 

afterwards write what I thought and felt while reading that section.

1. Section:  p.9 ll. 1-5 

Content: It's described what Jonas thinks being frightened would feel like.

Thoughts/Feelings: - compassion => Jonas isn't even sure what it is that he feels

- not being able to express his own feelings with words what would that be like?

- I think being frightened is not only the feeling of knowing that something terrible is about to happen,it's also something more it can be a slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic.

 Everyone feels frightened for different reasons so it depends how you look at it, for some it might be because of thunder others are frightened of unknown things... (for example a lot of people are afraid of the dark because they don't know what could be hiding in the shadows)

2. Section: p.9 ll. 5-20

Content: Jonas sees an unidentified aircraft.

Thoughts/Feelings: - why is he so afraid? It's nothing bad.

- the community sounds like a boring place, it must be, when the children get so enthusiastic as soon as they see the plane with supplies flying over the community  

- you are able to see how much the people depend on the community, because they are confused, afraid and  

 wait for an explanation only because of an aircraft 

3. Section: p.9/10 ll. 21-5

Content: The people are ordered to go inside.

Thoughts/Feelings: - why are they so obedient if they can't even see who is ordering them?

- why are they going inside? It's not like they're in danger or something.

- It's like Jonas got nervous as soon as the community wasn't in the same state as always

4. Section: p.10 ll. 6-23

Content: The reason for the strayed aircraft and the punishment for the pilot are announced.Jonas remembers the mistake he made while playing.

Thoughts/Feelings: -If being released is so bad why is it decided because of such trivial reasons?

- It seems that the people are unable to live without the community otherwise being released wouldn't be so terrible.

- why is Jonas scolded because he used the word while he played without thinking? He is still a kid and this shouldn't be a reason  to get scolded it would have been a reason if he hit someone, but not because of that  

  right? And he didn't even mean it because it was his best friend he was talking to.

5. Section: p.10/11 ll. 24-21

Content: Jonas thinks about his bestfriend Asher, his weird way of talking and the consequences of that.

Thoughts/Feelings: - I think it's only natural to talk rubbish when you are nervous. 

- Being late to school isn't good, but isn't "inconveniencing" his "learning community" a bit harsh? I don't know.

  We would say "Sorry, my alarm clock didn't go off!" or something like that :D

- I don't think it's nice to use something someone said while being nervous as a basis for a language lesson 

6. Section: p.11 ll. 22-33

Content: Jonas arrives at home and tries to figure out what he is feeling.

Thoughts/Feelings: - what special event is coming up?

- I would go crazy if I could't define my feelings 

- what's meant with "the elevens"? Maybe some kind of class?

7. Section: p.12/13 ll. 1-22

Content: Jonas and his family talk about their feelings after dinner it's a ritual, it's lily's turn.  

Thoughts/Feelings: - talking about feelings with someone sounds like a self-help group :D

- but I think it's good to talk about ones feelings and their day with someone else, because it's nice to share experiences and advices, but who still does that nowadays which is kind of sad.

- I really liked what the father said, because it's true that  you shouldn't exclude someone just because he is

  different => maybe from his point of view you are weird too.

8. Section: p.13/14 ll. 23-27

Content: It's Jonas' father's turn to talk about his feelings.

Thoughts/Feelings: - why would you release a newchild what did it do wrong?

- and releasing the elderly... if releasingdifferent is bad, why would it be a celebration?

- are the children their own in the families?

- Is there even something like love between the people or are they just matched together in units?

- and I mean "family unit"? That is just disgusting a family shares a bond, it's definitely a strong connection,(people don't have to be related by blood to be a family) how can you call something like that a unit?

9. Section: p.14/15 ll. 28-33

Content: Jonas and his mother have to talk about their feelings now.

Thoughts/Feelings: - against the rules if you not share your feelings? That's harsh.

- What is the "Ceremony of Twelve"?

Let's find out ;]

 

Homework:

I will be doing sectionalized-reading for the first chapter and find pictures for the second chapter until friday ^^

Pre-reading:

(Brainstorming based on the bookcover)

- anonymity => no faces recognizable

- something is passed between the two people on the cover 

(*maybe knowledge from the old person to the kid)

-who are these two 

-who is `the Giver`? Is he someone with a lot of power?

- could the old person be `the Giver`?

- Good  and   Bad?

   /                    \

kid (colored)    old man (mostly in black, a bit white)

that's it for now :] stay tuned ;D