Dystopia, Hailsham and Tommy's Tantrum Flashcards

Prose Revision

1
Q

In what year was the novel published?

A

2005

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2
Q

In what time and place is the novel set?

A

‘England, late 1990s’

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3
Q

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

A

Dystopia

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4
Q

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

A

omnipotent

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5
Q

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

A

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

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6
Q

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

A

‘they’

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7
Q

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

A

euphemism

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8
Q

What is a euphemism?

A

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

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9
Q

What are some examples of euphemisms used in the novel?

A

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

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10
Q

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

A

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.

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11
Q

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

A

verisimilitude

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12
Q

What does ‘verisimilitude’ mean?

A

The appearance of reality

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13
Q

What are some of the ways that Ishiguro creates verisimilitude?

A

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

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14
Q

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

A

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

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15
Q

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

A

nostalgia

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16
Q

Which does nostalgic mean?

A

A longing for the past

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17
Q

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

A

nostalgic

18
Q

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

A

Hailsham

19
Q

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

A

foggy

20
Q

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

A

misty

21
Q

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

A

Hailsham

22
Q

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

A

sweet

23
Q

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

A

unnaturally

24
Q

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

A

valley

25
Q

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

A

crash the car

26
Q

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

A

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

27
Q

‘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)

A

dark

28
Q

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

A

electrified

29
Q

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

A

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.

30
Q

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

A

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

31
Q

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

A

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.

32
Q

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

A

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

33
Q

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!’?

A

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

34
Q

During his first tantrum, how is Tommy described animalistically?

A

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

35
Q

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

A

animal (p12)

36
Q

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

A

Tommy during his first tantrum.

37
Q

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

A

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

38
Q

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

A

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.

39
Q

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

A

a ‘layabout’ (p10)

40
Q

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’?

A

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