Never Let Me Go Full Deck Flashcards
Prose Revision
In what year was the novel published?
2005
In what time and place is the novel set?
‘England, late 1990s’
The novel is most obviously influenced by the conventions of which genre?
Dystopia
Which word (beginning with o) means all-powerful and could be used to describe the anonymous ‘they’ of the novel?
omnipotent
What does ‘omnipotent’ mean and who/what could be described like this?
omnipotent = all-powerful. This could be used to describe the anonymous ‘they’ authority figure of the novel.
In the opening chapters, how does Kathy refer to the faceless authority that she works for?
‘they’
Which word (beginning with e) means a mild or indirect word used instead of one that might be deemed too harsh?
euphemism
What is a euphemism?
A mild or indirect word that is used instead of one that might be deemed too harsh.
What are some examples of euphemisms used in the novel?
‘carer’, ‘donor’, ‘recover centres’, ‘completing’
Why does Ishiguro present a society full of euphemisms - e.g. ‘complete’ is used instead of die.
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.
Which word (beginning with v) means creating the appearance of reality?
verisimilitude
What does ‘verisimilitude’ mean?
The appearance of reality
What are some of the ways that Ishiguro creates verisimilitude?
Through referring to real places (e.g. Dover, Norfolk etc.) and real things (e.g. Walkmans, the novel Daniel Deronda etc.)
Why is the novel set in ‘England, late 1990s’ and not some futuristic alternate reality (as might be expected of a dystopian text)
Ishiguro wants to make the horrific events of the novel seem plausible.
How many parts are there in the novel?
3
Why is the main focus of each of the three parts in the novel?
Part 1 = Hailsham Part 2 = The Cottages Part 3 = Kathy as a carer/Ruth and Tommy as donors
What is the name for a narrative, like that used by Ishiguro, which isn’t chronological?
non-linear
Which word (beginning with n) means a longing for the past?
nostalgia
Which does nostalgic mean?
A longing for the past
Which word (beginning with n) might we use to describe Kathy’s narrative voice, and particularly her view of Hailsham?
nostalgic
‘there are times over the years when I’ve tried to leave _______ behind’ (page 4)
Hailsham
‘the view from the Art room over the fields on a ________ morning’ (page 5)
foggy
‘I might pass the corner of a ______ field’ (page 5)
misty
‘Maybe that’s it! I’ve found it! This actually is __________’ (page 6)
Hailsham
‘it reminded me of those _________ little cottages people always had in picture books’ (page 6)
sweet
‘row of windows _________ high up’ (page 6)
unnaturally
‘down the side of a _______ even a particular arrangement of poplar trees up on a hillside’ (page 6)
valley
‘One day I’ll __________/__________/__________ like that’ (page 6)
crash the car
Which phrase is repeated throughout the novel to make Kathy’s story seem directly relevant to the reader?
‘I don’t know what it was like where you were…’ (page 13, (page 67, page 94 etc.)
Where is Ruth’s recovery centre?
Dover
‘You could see lots of aerials and ________ dishes’ (page 17)
satellite
‘right over in the distance, a ___________ line that was the sea’ (page 17)
glistening
‘it’s almost like entering a ___________/____________/___________’ (page 17)
hall of mirrors
‘you can feel this pale _________________ movement’ (page 17)
shadowy
‘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)
dark
‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t ______________’ (page 77)
electrified
What is the significance of Miss Lucy describing that ‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t electrified’ (page 77)
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.
What is the significance of the ‘dark fringe of trees’ around Halsham?
It presents this setting as somewhat sinister and foreboding, contrasting Kathy’s idyllic depiction.
Why does Ishiguro describe Ruth’s recovery centre as ‘like entering a hall of mirrors’ (page 17)
The simile is used to present this as an uneasy environment where the clones’ identity becomes distorted.
When at Ruth’s recovery centre, why is the sea described as being ‘right over in the distance’ (page 17)
It shows how Ruth, and the other clones, are cut off from the beauty of the natural world, as they are viewed as unnatural and other.
What is the significance of Hailsham being described as being like ‘those sweet little cottages people always had in picture books’
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.
When first describing Hailsham, Kathy describes a ‘foggy morning’ (page 5) and a ‘misty field’ (page 5) - why?
This presents Hailsham as slightly mysterious and romantic, but also suggests that Kathy’s memories of it are hazy and somewhat unreliable.
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!’?
It conveys her excitement about Hailsham and her desire to recapture her past there.
Which character is described as having a ‘brisk style’ (page 26)
Miss Lucy
‘She said we weren’t being __________ enough’ (page 29)
taught
Which character believes that the clones ‘aren’t being taught enough’ (page 29)
Miss Lucy
‘the shudder she seemed to be suppressing, the real ________’ (page 35)
dread
Which character is described here: ‘the shudder she seemed to be suppressing, the real dread’ (35)?
Madame
‘she [Madame] was afraid of us in the same way someone might be afraid of _________________’ 35)
spiders