chapter 12

Morning Meal Conversation:

Jonas's mother inquires about his sleep and dreams.

Jonas gives a vague response, neither lying nor revealing the truth.

Father expresses concern about Gabriel's restlessness at night.

Jonas's Dream:

Jonas dreams of sliding down a snow-covered hill.

He senses a mysterious destination beyond the snowy slope.

He wakes with a desire to reach this unknown place.

The Unspoken Truth:

 Jonas refrains from sharing his dream experiences with others.

 He acknowledges the challenge of describing concepts like sledges and snow to those who lack such experiences.

School Day Routine:

 Jonas attends classes in various subjects.

 Classes include language and communications, commerce and industry, science and technology, civil procedures and government.

Conversations at School:

 Other new Twelves excitedly share their training experiences.

 Jonas remains silent, knowing he can't discuss his own experiences.

The Limitations of Language:

 Despite precision in language, some experiences are hard to convey.

 Concepts like sunshine can't be fully understood through words alone.

Post-School Activities:

 Jonas rides with Fiona to the House of the Old.

 Fiona mentions waiting for Jonas the previous day.

Apology to Fiona:

 Jonas apologises for making Fiona wait.

 Apology and Explanation to Fiona:

 Jonas apologises for being late.

 He explains that he stayed longer than expected.

 Fiona silently expects Jonas to share details about his first day of training but doesn't ask, considering it rude.

Conversation about Volunteer Hours:

 Jonas mentions Fiona's extensive volunteer hours with the Old.

 Fiona lists various aspects of the work, including administrative tasks, dietary rules, and discipline methods.

Preference for House of the Old:

 Both Jonas and Fiona express a preference for working at the House of the Old over attending school.

Fiona's Fleeting Change:

 Jonas observes a momentary change in Fiona, which he refers to as "seeing beyond."

The change seems to be focused on her hair, lasting only for a brief instant.

Reflection on Previous Instances:

Jonas recalls earlier occurrences of "seeing beyond" - first with an apple, then with faces in the audience at the Auditorium.

Decision to Seek Guidance from The Giver:

Jonas decides to ask The Giver about these experiences, seeking clarification.

Jonas's Arrival at The Giver's Room:

Jonas arrives slightly late, but hesitates to apologize as per their agreement.

He removes his tunic and prepares to discuss his experience.

Jonas Describes "Seeing Beyond":

Jonas explains the concept of "seeing beyond" to The Giver.

He recounts the specific instances involving the apple, the audience, and Fiona.

Jonas's Frustration with Description:

Jonas struggles to articulate the exact nature of the phenomenon.

He acknowledges his difficulty in explaining what he observed.

Jonas's Confusion and Explanation:

Jonas expresses his uncertainty about the changes he's experiencing.

He explains that this is why he was one minute late.

The Giver's Question About the Memory:

The Giver asks Jonas about his reaction to the first memory, the sled ride.

Jonas explains that the snow made it difficult to see clearly.

Jonas's Recall of the Sled Ride:

1. • The Giver suggests that Jonas try to recall the sled ride memory.

   • Jonas closes his eyes and attempts to bring the memory to mind.

Instructions to Look Down at the Sled:

1. • The Giver instructs Jonas to focus on the beginning of the sled ride memory and to look down at the sled this time.

Jonas's Confusion and Clarification:

1. • Jonas is initially puzzled by the request, as he expects The Giver to provide the memory.

The Giver explains that it's now Jonas's memory, and he needs to call it back himself.

Jonas Successfully Recalls the Memory:

1. • Jonas concentrates and successfully brings the sled ride memory to his consciousness.

   • He vividly experiences sitting atop the hill in the world of snowflakes.

Jonas's Observation of the Sled:

1. • Following The Giver's instructions, Jonas looks down at the sled.

   • He sees his hands, legs, and the sled beneath him.

Revelation About the Sled:

1. • Jonas is dumbfounded as he observes that the sled possesses a mysterious quality similar to what he experienced with the apple and Fiona's hair.

   • Unlike previous instances, this perception of the sled's essence persists.

·         Jonas Begins to See Color:

·         Jonas confirms to The Giver that he saw the color red in the sled and the books.

·         The Giver explains that Jonas is starting to perceive color.

·         Explanation of Color:

·         The Giver describes that in the time of memories, everything had shape, size, and color.

·         He explains that there were many colors, and one of them was called red.

·         Fiona's Red Hair as a Clue:

·         The Giver mentions that Fiona's red hair was a clue that Jonas was beginning to see color.

·         Faces at the Ceremony:

·         Jonas asks about the faces of people he saw at the Ceremony.

·         The Giver explains that flesh isn't red, but it has red tones.

·         The Evolution of Sameness:

·         The Giver shares that in the past, flesh had many different colors.

·         He mentions that over time, the community chose Sameness, relinquishing color along with other differences.

·         Jonas's Fascination with Color:

·         Jonas expresses his fascination with the beauty of the red he saw.

·         He asks if The Giver sees colors all the time.

·         The Giver's Ability to See Colors:

·         The Giver confirms that he sees all the colors.

·         He explains that Jonas will also see colors when he receives more memories.

·         The Community's Choice for Sameness:

·         The Giver explains that relinquishing color was part of the community's choice to achieve Sameness.

·         He acknowledges that this choice had its gains and losses.

·         Jonas's Strong Reaction:

·         Jonas passionately expresses his disagreement with the community's choice to relinquish color.

·         The Giver's Compliment to Jonas:

·         The Giver remarks on Jonas's quick understanding and wisdom.

·         He suggests that Jonas might surpass him in wisdom.

·         Preparing for the Memory:

·         The Giver instructs Jonas to lie down and prepares to give him a memory of a rainbow.

·         Postponing The Giver's Own Experience:

·         Jonas asks about The Giver's own experience with becoming the Receiver.

·         The Giver promises to share it on another day, emphasizing the need to focus on their current work.