Dystopia, Hailsham and Tommy's Tantrum

Question 1

In what year was the novel published?

Answer 1

2005

Question 2

In what time and place is the novel set?

Answer 2

‘England, late 1990s’

Question 3

The novel is most obviously influenced by the conventions of which genre?

Answer 3

Dystopia

Question 4

Which word (beginning with o) means all-powerful and could be used to describe the anonymous ‘they’ of the novel?

Answer 4

omnipotent

Question 5

What does ‘omnipotent’ mean and who/what could be described like this?

Answer 5

omnipotent = all-powerful. This could be used to describe the anonymous ‘they’ authority figure of the novel.

Question 6

In the opening chapters, how does Kathy refer to the faceless authority that she works for?

Answer 6

‘they’

Question 7

Which word (beginning with e) means a mild or indirect word used instead of one that might be deemed too harsh?

Answer 7

euphemism

Question 8

What is a euphemism?

Answer 8

A mild or indirect word that is used instead of one that might be deemed too harsh.

Question 9

What are some examples of euphemisms used in the novel?

Answer 9

‘carer’, ‘donor’, ‘recover centres’, ‘completing’

Question 10

Why does Ishiguro present a society full of euphemisms - e.g. ‘complete’ is used instead of die.

Answer 10

To show how society does not want to face the blunt truth of what is taking place; language has been adapted to make the cloning programme seem less horrific.

Question 11

Which word (beginning with v) means creating the appearance of reality?

Answer 11

verisimilitude

Question 12

What does ‘verisimilitude’ mean?

Answer 12

The appearance of reality

Question 13

What are some of the ways that Ishiguro creates verisimilitude?

Answer 13

Through referring to real places (e.g. Dover, Norfolk etc.) and real things (e.g. Walkmans, the novel Daniel Deronda etc.)

Question 14

Why is the novel set in ‘England, late 1990s’ and not some futuristic alternate reality (as might be expected of a dystopian text)

Answer 14

Ishiguro wants to make the horrific events of the novel seem plausible.

Question 15

Which word (beginning with n) means a longing for the past?

Answer 15

nostalgia

Question 16

Which does nostalgic mean?

Answer 16

A longing for the past

Question 17

Which word (beginning with n) might we use to describe Kathy’s narrative voice, and particularly her view of Hailsham?

Answer 17

nostalgic

Question 18

‘there are times over the years when I’ve tried to leave _______ behind’ (page 4)

Answer 18

Hailsham

Question 19

‘the view from the Art room over the fields on a ________ morning’ (page 5)

Answer 19

foggy

Question 20

‘I might pass the corner of a ______ field’ (page 5)

Answer 20

misty

Question 21

‘Maybe that’s it! I’ve found it! This actually is __________’ (page 6)

Answer 21

Hailsham

Question 22

‘it reminded me of those _________ little cottages people always had in picture books’ (page 6)

Answer 22

sweet

Question 23

‘row of windows _________ high up’ (page 6)

Answer 23

unnaturally

Question 24

‘down the side of a _______ even a particular arrangement of poplar trees up on a hillside’ (page 6)

Answer 24

valley

Question 25

‘One day I’ll __________/__________/__________ like that’ (page 6)

Answer 25

crash the car

Question 26

Which phrase is repeated throughout the novel to make Kathy’s story seem directly relevant to the reader?

Answer 26

‘I don’t know what it was like where you were…’ (page 13, (page 67, page 94 etc.)

Question 27

‘all we could see was a __________ fringe of trees, but I wasn’t the only one to feel their presence night and day’ (page 49)

Answer 27

dark

Question 28

‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t ______________’ (page 77)

Answer 28

electrified

Question 29

What is the significance of Miss Lucy describing that ‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t electrified’ (page 77)

Answer 29

This slightly unnerving observation by Miss Lucy shows how Hailsham is perhaps not as idyllic as Kathy suggests, but rather is a place of boundaries and hidden restrictions.

Question 30

What is the significance of the ‘dark fringe of trees’ around Halsham?

Answer 30

It presents this setting as somewhat sinister and foreboding, contrasting Kathy’s idyllic depiction.

Question 31

What is the significance of Hailsham being described as being like ‘those sweet little cottages people always had in picture books’

Answer 31

It presents how Kathy sees it as idyllic and a place of innocence; however, it also suggests that there is something slightly unreal and fictional about this perspective.

Question 32

When first describing Hailsham, Kathy describes a ‘foggy morning’ (page 5) and a ‘misty field’ (page 5) - why?

Answer 32

This presents Hailsham as slightly mysterious and romantic, but also suggests that Kathy’s memories of it are hazy and somewhat unreliable.

Question 33

What is the significance of the repeated exclamations used by Ishiguro when Kathy talks about Hailsham, e.g: ‘Maybe that’s it! I’ve found it! This actually is Hailsham!’?

Answer 33

It conveys her excitement about Hailsham and her desire to recapture her past there.

Question 34

During his first tantrum, how is Tommy described animalistically?

Answer 34

he’s describes as ‘like a dog doing a pee’ (p10) and called a ‘Mad animal’ (p12)

Question 35

During his first tantrum, Ruth refers to Tommy as a ‘mad….

Answer 35

animal (p12)

Question 36

Who is described as ‘flinging his limbs about, at the sky, at the wind, at the nearest fence post’?

Answer 36

Tommy during his first tantrum.

Question 37

What is the significance of Tommy being described as a ‘mad animal’ (p12) and compared to ‘a dog doing a pee’ (p10)?

Answer 37

It shows how the other children see his as ‘other’ and lesser than them, due to his lack of creativity.

Question 38

What is significant about Tommy’s tantrum being compared to ‘like he was doing Shakespeare’ (p11)

Answer 38

It shows how the other children see his tantrums as exaggerated and theatrical; however, it also conveys how they view Tommy’s upset as a form of entertainment.

Question 39

During his first tantrum what do the other children call Tommy, suggesting they see his reluctance to be creative as lazy?

Answer 39

a ‘layabout’ (p10)

Question 40

What is the technique used by Ishiguro when he describes Tommy to be ‘flinging his limbs about, at the sky, at the wind, at the nearest fence post’?

Answer 40

The listing used conveys the uncontrolled and deeply emotional nature of Tommy’s tantrum.