Toward the end of the novel, Jonas begins to realize some truths about his community. Through his Assignment as Receiver of Memory and the power inherent in it, he comes to understand the sacrifices people have made to achieve this place in which conflicts are rooted out, strong feelings are neutralized, and everyone seems to co-exist in harmony. However, underlying this supposed utopia are profound sacrifices: color and music no longer exist, love and family connection is obsolete, life is about the group not the individual...and most significant, people have no freedom of choice--about anything--and thus have relinquished their individualism. As readers, we are beginning to understand the irony that the very things they tried to eliminate to achieve utopia make this community a dystopia. As we approach the resolution of the novel, we are reaching some conclusions about the philosophical question of whether utopia is even possible. Lois Lowry teases readers in the end to make their own interpretation of Jonas' fate: does he reach Elsewhere? And where/what is it?
Students are working on a vocabulary activity using words from the novel. Later this week, upon completion of the book, we will read and analyze some poems about utopia, and then students will begin to create their own.
Homework: (vocab activity is due on Thursday)
Monday: Rd. ch. 20/21 w/charts
Tuesday: Rd. ch. 22/23 w/charts (to be turned in tomorrow)
Wednesday: Vocab activity due tomorrow
Thursday: Work on utopia poem--due Wed. 12/20
Friday: Utopia poem due next Wed.
Utopia Poem
