1
Q
Comment on the sentence structure in the very start of the book
A
- Not varied
- Repetition of weak words such as “and” “but” and “so” which could demonstrate the thought process as a stream of conscious rather than well-thought-out, structured paragraphs
- Uses “they” but at this point we don’t know who “they” are which supports the idea of the stream of consciousness idea as she talks about her life as if we are already a part of it
- Unlike other books, we are not gradually introduced as the story unfolds, but instead thrown into the middle of her life and therefore have to assume what she’s talking about
2
Q
Analyse the quote:
“My donors have always tended to do much better than expected.”
A
- Makes Kathy seem self appreciative
- “donor” seems acceptable to use as it helps society justify it’s claims
- “donor” usually associated with personal generosity which is ironic seeing as they have no choice
- “tended” implies maybe they haven’t all done well, this is an enigmatic hook for the reader as they’d like to know who has and hasn’t
- “my” is a possessive pronoun, which implies she takes great pride over her donors, maybe as she didn’t have anything of her own while she was young
3
Q
What does freedom mean to the clones?
A
In the eyes of the clones, they are already free. They don’t mention the word freedom as it hasn’t been taught to them for a reason. They are expected to simply accept the lives that have been laid out for them.
4
Q
What was Ishiguro’s aim when writing the book?
A
- To show Kathy H’s childhood
- To accentuate childhood naivety
- Link to animal rights and testing
- To show our societies desensitisation and passivity
- Illustrate how we justify out actions
- Present how we manipulate our own language to hide the harsh realities that we live in
5
Q
What style is Never Let Me Go written in?
A
- Dystopian genre
- Diary/journalistic feel
- First person
6
Q
What is the public disgusted at?
A
The way that the clones are treated.
Not the fact that they are there in the first place
7
Q
How effective are the settings of Hailsham?
A
- Hailsham is similar to a school - a place where everyone has experience of, which makes it easier for the reader to understand and interpret the story
8
Q
Analyse the quote:
“My name is Kathy H, i’m 39 years old and i’ve been a carer now for 11 years.”
A
- No surname which indicates no familial identity
- Present tense, indicates diary style on past life
- Talks about herself, indicates first person narrative
- “Carer” is a passionate term and usually illustrates the feel of looking after the vulnerable, but in this case is ironic as Kathy is really the most vulnerable as she has no choice in her short life
9
Q
How is the euphemism “possible” used, and what effect does it give?
A
- “Possible”, a term used to describe a human that looks like an “original” used to make one of the clones. Implies that they are based around different people with personalities, the clones think they can learn things about themselves from finding their “possible”.
10
Q
How is the euphemism “guardian” used and what effect does it give?
A
- “Guardian”, a term used to describe the teachers at Hailsham. Implies that these humans protect the clones, which is ironic as really they are just contributing to their suffering.
11
Q
How is the euphemism “carer” used, and what effect does it give?
A
- “Carer”, a term used to describe a clone who’s job it is to nurse and look after fellow ill clones. Implies that only clones should look after ill clones, and not humans.
12
Q
How is the euphemism “completion” used, and what effect does it give?
A
- “Completing”, meaning dying. Implies that the the students feel they have come to the end of their lives naturally, as if they have completed all they are capable of
13
Q
Name three advantages to being a carer.
A
1) Donations are pushed back
2) You are able to live a slightly more normal life
3) There is much more freedom
14
Q
Name three disadvantages to being a carer.
A
1) Have to watch your friends suffer
2) Have almost no time to yourself
3) Must watch what you’re going to go through in the future
15
Q
Name three advantages to being a donor.
A
1) You’re taken care of
2) Made to feel special
3) To complete early could be better as your quality of life would disintegrate
16
Q
Name three disadvantages to being a donor.
A
1) They know that they will soon “complete”
2) Their death will be slow and painful
3) They will never live a normal life
17
Q
What was the “tokens controversy”?
A
The establishment that the students should be proud that their items are take, and shouldn’t mind that they aren’t paid in return.
18
Q
What is the point of the sales?
A
Societies rejected toys are given to the children, maybe this is the public’s way of making them selves feel less guilty about what’s happening to the students.
19
Q
Comment on the way in which Kathy H addresses the reader.
A
Kathy addresses the reader as if we are having a private conversation with her, she assumes that we are like her and not ‘outsiders’.
20
Q
Analyse the effect of this quote:
“All I can tell you today is that it’s for a good reason. A very important reason. But if I tried to explain it to you now, I don’t think you’d understand. One day, I hope, it will be explained to you.”
(Miss Lucy)
A
- Possibly feeling guilty as she genuinely cares about them
- Knows better than to tell them the truth
- Puts the idea of it in their heads without telling them herself
21
Q
How far does Kathy portray herself as a caring and kind person? How far can we trust the narrator?
A
- Kathy writes the book as a diary which indicates that she may never have thought someone would be reading it, resulting in an honest account of her life
- Or, maybe she did realise someone would read it, and wrote around the fact that she needed to portray herself as a kind figure
- Kathy almost makes us believe that she is a better person than Ruth when it comes to relationships, she seems to think that she could always do better than Ruth
- Kathy includes Ruth’s weaknesses as if to make herself feel better about her own insecurities (pencil case incident, punch in the arm incident, the horse games, Tommy)
22
Q
Why does Kathy prefer to listen to the tape in private?
A
- Means she can forget her problems/ escape life
- Chance for her to reflect
- Her music preference is unique, maybe her friends wouldn’t feel the same way about it
23
Q
Do the students get many opportunities to be alone?
A
- Boarding-school set up is maybe intentional as privacy is limited
- Privacy leads to deeper thought and therefore evaluation of their lives
- This could be problematic as it could lead to a rebellion
24
Q
What significance is there to Kathy’s interpretation of the lyrics “never let me go”?
A
Although Kathy never knew the actual meaning to the lyrics, she misiterpreted them, and assumed it was about a mother who never wanted to give up her baby. The song was a symbol of Kathy’s unattianble desire to have a baby of her own. Clones were not allowed to have babies, it was physically impossible. Kathy’s desire to have a baby of her own could possibly be the reason she was a carer for so long.
25
Quote about Kathy and the tape (page 71)
“What I was doing was swaying about slowly in time to the song, holding an imaginary baby to my breast. In fact, to make it all the more embarassing, it was one of those times I’d grabbed a pillow to stand in for the baby, and I was doing this slow dance, my eyes closed, singing along softly each time those lines came around again, oh baby, baby, never let me go”
26
Explore the connotations of the title "Never Let Me Go."
- Whole book is about Kathy reminiscing her childhood
- Friendship, love, life, hope
- Urge to belong somewhere or be with someone
- Not letting go of the past
- Hailsham, guardians, people in control?
- Naivety from Kathy as the title is "Never Let Me Go", instead of "Never Let Us Go" which could imply she feels as though she is alone
27
What is the effect of Miss Lucy's speech about how the children are deprived of knowledge on pages 78-80?
- Reveals the student's lives as it is the first time they realise their destiny
- Miss Lucy's personal opinion is expressed truly for the first time as she opens up about how angry the system makes her feel
28
Analyse the quote:
"You don't mean any harm."
(Miss Lucy's speech)
- Implies they are subconsciously hurting themselves when in reality it's the system hurting them
- Puts the blame on the students
29
Analyse the quote:
"It's been allowed to go on, and it's not right."
(Miss Lucy's speech)
- "it's" she avoids the direct subject indicating that this is a hard task for her
- She talks about their dreams as if they are planning crimes
- Uses passive voice to distance responsibility
30
Analyse the quote:
"You've been told, but none of you really understand..."
(Miss Lucy's speech)
- She doesn't directly tell them what she's done wrong
| - Uses key word "understand": something the students are often deprived of
31
Analyse the quote:
"Some people are quite happy to leave it that way"
(Miss Lucy's speech)
- Avoiding the blame
- Suggests they aren't fully happy
- "some people" who? (Nebulous)
- Suggests that not everyone understands what goes on in Hailsham
32
Analyse the quote:
"That's what each of you were created to do. You're not like the actors you see on videos, you're not even like me. You were brought into this world for a purpose, and your futures, all of them, have been decided."
(Miss Lucy's speech)
- Dehumanisation
- Distances herself from them
- As if life is a gift to them and she is doing them a favour
33
How far do you agree with the the school's policy to be vague when discussing the clones' fate?
(Topic sentences)
- Important that children don't believe their futures are capped
- Lessons they have are deliberately ambiguous and based on imagination and creativity
- Unfair that children do not know their fate and aren't taught the language they need to be able to discuss openly at a young age
- If children don't know the truth, they'll create myths in order to try and understand
- Had to keep discipline to prevent mobility and possible suicides
34
To what extent do you feel the students at Hailsham engage in sex and relationships for (a) love, or (b) because they can?
- The students feel as though the guardians want them to
- They know they will not get pregnant so they may as well
- Humanises them
- They use it as a way to express their love for each other
- However they also do it just to see what it feels like, there is no emotional attachment involved
- Makes them feel mature
35
What tensions exist between Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth?
- They all struggle to find acceptance and understanding outside of Hailsham
- Kathy becomes a carer even though Ruth wants to be one
- Kathy is jealous of Ruth and Tommy's relationship
- Ruth is jealous of Kathy and Tommy's relationship
- Pencil case incident
- Norfolk trip
- Ruth gets angry at Kathy when she is trying to find her possible (trash)
- Kathy gets jealous that Ruth is so close to Chrissie and Rodney
- Boat trip
36
Give an example of tension between Kathy and Tommy
"We're going to be leaving here soon. It's not a game anymore. We've got to think carefully."
(Kathy to Tommy about his relationship with Ruth)
37
Give a brief description of Kathy
The protagonist and narrator of the novel. A clone raised to be a "Donor", who are harvested for organs through a series of "donations". During her childhood, Kathy is free-spirited, kind, loving, and stands up for what is right. At the end of the novel, Kathy is a young woman who doesn't show much emotion when looking back on her past. As an adult, she criticises people less and is accepting of the lives of her and her friends.
38
Give a brief description of Tommy
A male "Donor" and friend of Kathy. First introduced as an uncreative and isolated young boy at Hailsham with a bad temper, gets tricks played on him by the other children because they want to get a reaction out of him. Initially, he reacts by having bad temper tantrums, until Miss Lucy, a Hailsham Guardian, tells him something that, for the short term, positively changes his life: it is okay if he’s not creative. He feels great relief. Then one day, Miss Lucy tells him that she shouldn't have said what she did, and Tommy goes through another transformation. Once again upset by his lack of artistic skills, he becomes a quiet and sad teenager. As he matures, Tommy becomes a young man who is generally calm and thoughtful.
39
Give a brief description of Ruth
A female "Donor" from Hailsham, described by Kathy as bossy. At the start of the novel, she is an extrovert with strong opinions and appears to be the center of social activity in her cohort; however, she is not as confident as the narrator initially perceived. She had hope for her future, but her hopes are crushed as she realises that she was born to be a Donor and has no other future. At The Cottages, Ruth undergoes a transformation to become a more aware, thoughtful person who thinks about things in depth. She is constantly trying to fit in and be mature, repudiating things from her past if she perceives it will negatively affect her image. She threw away her entire collection of art by fellow students, once her prized possession, because she sensed that the older kids at The Cottages looked down on it. She becomes an adult who is deeply unhappy and regretful. Ruth eventually gives up on all of her hopes and dreams, and tries to help Kathy and Tommy have a better life.
40
Give a brief description of Madame
A woman who visits Hailsham to pick up the children's artwork. Described as a mystery by the students at Hailsham. She acts professional and stern, but a young Kathy describes her as distant and forbidding. When the children decide to play a prank on her and swarm around her to see what she will do, they are shocked to discover that she seems disgusted by them.
41
Give a brief description of Miss Emily
Headmistress of Hailsham, can be very sharp according to Kathy. The children thought she had an extra sense in that allowed her to know where a child was if he or she was hiding.
42
Give a brief description of Miss Lucy
A teacher at Hailsham that the children feel comfortable with. She is one of the younger teachers at Hailsham, and tells the students very frankly that they exist only for organ donation. She feels a lot of stress while at Hailsham and is fired for what she tells the students.
43
Give a brief description of Chrissy
Another female "Donor" who is slightly older than the three main characters and was with them at the Cottages. She and her boyfriend, Rodney, were the ones who found Ruth's "possible" and took Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth to Norfolk. She "completes" before the book ends.
44
Give a brief description of Rodney
Chrissy's boyfriend, he was the one who originally saw Ruth's "possible". He and Chrissy are mentioned to have broken up before they "completed".
45
Kathy casually makes references to going to "culture briefings". What were these? What purpose did they serve?
A class where older Hailsham students role-play situations they will encounter in the outside world, such as ordering in a restaurant or talking to a police officer. Their purpose was to prepare the students for the outside world, to help mask their clone identity so that it didn't disturb the public.
46
What was the purpose of the students writing essays once they got into the cottages?
- Make them feel as though they are still in education (comforting)
- Takes their mind off of growing up and gives them something to focus on
- Helps them learn to express themselves in a controlled manner
47
What was the purpose of the cottages?
- Somewhere where the clones learned independence
- They could copy things from TV shows (social skills)
- Meet new people and mingle with 'their own kind'
- A break from the guardians, a chance to grow up
- They were too unprepared to go straight into the outside world
- Helped them take care of themselves
- Gave them something to hold onto
48
Why did Kathy look through porn magazines?
To see if she could find a "possible" which is a smart idea, but her lack of knowledge and common sense leads her to believe that she may actually find them. This humanises Kathy as she experiences curiosity and goes to lengths to try and find out more.
49
Analyse the effect of the quote:
"No one would stop us if we wondered off, provided we were back by the day and time we entered into Keffers' ledger book."
(Kathy, cottages: 116)
- The students feel no desire to run away
- They feel that this freedom is all that they really need
- As if they like having boundaries, as if it makes them feel safe and secure
- Their naivety angers the reader as we live in a society where we are taught to rebel more than the clones
50
What sort of relationship exists between Ruth and Kathy throughout the novel?
- Kathy seems to be overpowered by Ruth when the pair are young "we are still friends, aren't we?"
- At the pavilion, Kathy follows Ruth's lead but then goes to comfort Tommy when he is bullied
- Pencil case incident (Kathy begins to break free from Ruth)
- As they mature, Kathy becomes more independent and there seems to be a continual power struggle between them (Kathy confronts Ruth about leaving Tommy out at the cottages)
- Kathy chooses to become Ruth's carer, which implies that even through all of their hardship, they still care deeply about each other
51
What happens at the pavilion and how is it significant to the development of Ruth, Tommy, and Kathy's relationship?
- At the start, Kathy watched Tommy from afar while she remained with Ruth although they were all badmouthing Tommy
- Kathy begins to follow Ruth's lead, then goes to comfort Tommy
- Ruth is a dominant leader, perhaps portrayed as self indulgent and possessive over Kathy at this moment
52
What happens during the pencil case incident and how does it affect the relationship between Ruth and Kathy?
- Kathy begins to break free from Ruth and becomes independent
- She challenges Ruth for the first time
- Kathy sees Ruth's vulnerability, although this may be Ruth manipulating Kathy emotionally
- Ruth values their friendship and demonstrates this by 'rewarding' Kathy with a new tape after she loses it, in return for backing her up during the pencil case incident
- They almost gain each other's trust again through these actions
53
How significant is the imaginary horse scene to the relationship between Kathy and Ruth?
- Ruth has power and control over Kathy when she says "My best horse is thunder... I can't let you ride on him."
- Also, she tells Kathy that she's imagining them incorrectly so she has to put the horses back in the stables
- Kathy seems to gain Ruth's trust as she finally lets Kathy 'ride' her favourite horse (could be a metaphor for the way they gain each other's trust throughout the book)
54
What is the significance of Kathy choosing to be Ruth's carer?
- Kathy obviously still cares about Ruth
- Helps her remember Hailsham
- Carers have power over their donors so it could be the only chance Kathy gets to be dominant
- Gives Kathy the chance to meet Tommy again
- Presents how much Kathy values their friendship and memories together
55
What is the significance of Kathy getting annoyed at Ruth trying to emulate relationships off of the TV?
- Kathy intervenes and speaks to Tommy on Ruth's behalf so that they end up together again (Kathy illustrating herself as kind and caring)
- Kathy is jealous that Ruth and Tommy do this
-
56
Analyse the quote:
"You needed to have some strong personalities in your group to stand a chance"
(Kathy, page 7)
- Implies that she, herself, is not
- "strong" could mean good or bad
- Maybe she is talking about Ruth?
57
Comment on the quote:
"Not because we relished the prospect of seeing Tommy get humiliated yet again, but because we were curious."
(Kathy, page 7)
- Are they really innocent?
- (childhood innocence)
- Uses "we" to spread the blame
- Curiosity humanises them
58
Give examples of when Ruth tries to show Kathy and Tommy up
- "Kathy hates to be naughty, so we'd better not go and visit him."
- "Tommy's been telling me about his big theory. He says he's already told you. Ages ago. But now, very kindly, he's allowing me to share in it too"
59
Analyse the quote:
| "As long as you convince them. So long as you qualified."
- Use of conditional tense suggests uncertainty and tension as putting off donations is not typical
- Chrissie's intent is to discover if there is such a thing as a deferral, the repetition emphasises her probing for the truth
- What exactly is "qualifying"?
- Stresses ambiguity and uncertainty, creating enigma
- Leaves suspense and doesn't fully explain
- Full stop adds dramatic pause and builds suspense, allowing the characters to digest information
- Implies there is hope
60
Comment on the quote:
| "Chrissie paused and looked at each of us."
- Silence leads to dramatic effect as well as slowing the text
- Pressure/tension makes them feel uncomfortable
- Individual eye contact, searching directly for the truth
61
How does Hailsham closing affect the students?
- Guardians were like their parents
- It joined the clones together
- Gave them something to hold onto
"Maybe this is what Hailsham looks like now." -Tommy, page 220
62
Give some examples of quotes that symbolise hope for the clones.
- "The sun started to shine weakly through the greyness." (Pathetic fallacy)
- "We gazed at the beached boat."
- To another tree trunk hollow and emaciated."
- The pale sky looked vast and you could see it reflected every so often in the patches of water."
- "We began to drive through the narrow, twisting lanes."
63
How does the setting add to the narrative in boat scene?
- Pathetic fallacy reflects and symbolises hope
- "Twisted, narrow roads" symbolise their journey through life
- The fact that they all want to see an old boat symbolises that they don't want to forget about the old memories they have together, no matter how insignificant they are
64
How far is the novel, 'Never Let Me Go' similar to the way our society is run today?
We read to experience a different perspective of the world, but in the book, it seems boring to us. Although we don't have clones, the general acceptance of the way society is run is the same as in the book (animal cruelty and testing). Each of us have a level of ignorance that we seem unable to overcome except for the few rebellious ones (like Madame and Marie-Claude).
65
Analyse the quote:
"Maybe I just felt like looking at all of those flat fields of nothing and the huge grey skies."
(Kathy, page 281)
- Accentuates passivity and quiet acceptance
- Dull, empty, oppressive weather
- Nature mirrors the lack of energy and pointlessness
- Juxtaposition with previous pathetic fallacy (sun symbolises hope)
66
Analyse the quote:
| "I went past field after flat, featureless field."
- Almost an essential nothingness
| - Alliteration echoes the uniformity and lack of excitement and motivation
67
Analyse the quote:
| "There was a fence keeping me from stepping into the field with two lines of barbed wire."
- Juxtaposed with the boat scene where they go through
- Symbol of conformity
- Kathy is obedient to anything, doesn't rebel to enter the field where she sees an imaginary Tommy
- Symbolises how the whole book displays how the clones are so content with the lack of mobility and freedom they have, and even up to the very end have no want to rebel
English - Literature
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