Lowry narrates The Giver in a simple, straightforward style that is almost journalistic — one episode directly and logically follows another episode. Her clarity of style and her many everyday details help portray ordinary daily life in Jonas' community. For example, everyone rides bicycles that are neatly stowed in bicycle ports, and families share morning and evening meals and participate in typical family activities. Lowry's descriptions, which are clear and exact, indicate that the community members seem content with their lives. Because everything seems so comfortable and perfect, we are not prepared for the horrible truth that lies hidden beneath this peaceful, utopian surface. Lowry manipulates our perceptions and emotions by slowly and deliberately revealing that Jonas' community is not what it appears to be. Her straightforward style adds to the suspense throughout the novel.
The memories that The Giver transmits to Jonas sharply contrast to Jonas' everyday environment. Lowry describes the memories using a lyrical style. The memories are lyrical — non-journalistic — because they are images that provoke thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The imagery that Lowry creates is similar to that found in poetry. Snow, cold, war, the suffering of animals, and the joy of a celebration or love felt by family members are easily visualized.
Some of the memories that Lowry describes are mystical. They are mysterious because Jonas doesn't fully comprehend them at first. The sensations he feels are unexplainable, but at the conclusion of many of the memories, Jonas feels a sense of peace. This mystical quality is evident in the memory of the family celebrating a traditional Christmas holiday that The Giver transmits to Jonas.
