Study Guide

The Giver Chapter 5

Chapter 5

At breakfast, Jonas and his family go through yet another ritual: telling their dreams.
Jonas usually doesn't remember his dreams, but this morning is a different story.
In Jonas' dream, he narrates to his family, he was in a bathtub—like the ones at the House of the Old. He was bare-chested.
And Fiona was there.
And he was trying to convince her to get in the tub with him.
Cue the steamy music.
Jonas talks about two feelings: wanting, and feeling that he shouldn't. (In other words...puberty!)
His family thanks him for sharing. While Jonas' Father takes Lily off to school, Mother asks Jonas to stay behind.
Jonas' Mother tells him that these feelings are called "Stirrings," that he has to report them every time they happen (awkward!), and that she has a pill that will make them all go away. (It's like, anti-Viagra.) Turns out, everyone takes these pills, every day, until they end up in the House of the Old.
(So we're thinking sex isn't happening in this community.)
And thus ends the weirdest birds and bees conversation ever.
As Jonas bikes off to school, he remembers that the "Stirrings" felt good. He wants to feel that way again.
Except he took a pill. So he forgets all about the dream.

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