New
New
Year 11
AQA

Comparing dystopian voices

I can compare Ishiguro's presentation of his dystopian voices.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Comparing dystopian voices

I can compare Ishiguro's presentation of his dystopian voices.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Ambiguous novel openings can be disconcerting for the reader.
  2. Kathy's narrative voice is full of contradictions, which may also be disconcerting for the reader.
  3. The disconcerting voice of 'Never Let Me Go' may add to the dystopian feel.
  4. Kathy and Klara, two of Ishiguro's narrators, are perhaps not traditional dystopian voices.
  5. Kathy and Klara both reflect dehumanised worlds.

Common misconception

Dystopian voices have to fit the archetype (e.g. rebellious, overly critical) in order to be compelling.

Ishiguro subtly crafts his voices to allow the reader to reflect on their own world.

Keywords

  • Disconcerting - unsettling, worrying

  • Euphemism - a substitution of a mild word or phrase for one that may be considered unpleasant

  • Ambiguous - having no obvious meaning; unclear

  • Dehumanise - deprive someone of human qualities e.g. dignity

  • Compelling - if something is compelling, it makes you believe it because it is so strong

You may want to spend some time discussing what it means to be human to allow pupils to recognise how the voices in the texts are dehumanised.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the opening of 'Never Let Me Go' and 'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
What does ambiguous mean?
unsettling, worrying
engaging and exciting
Correct answer: having no obvious meaning
Q2.
Which of the following scenarios might be the most disconcerting for a character?
going to the supermarket
going on a rollercoaster
Correct answer: waking up to world controlled by robots
Q3.
How can we define a dystopia?
an imagined place with fairness and peace
Correct answer: an imagined place where people live dehumanised lives
a futuristic place where humans are powerful
Q4.
What is register?
the mode of a piece of writing
the perspective a text is written from
Correct answer: the level of formality of a piece of writing
Q5.
Which of the below contains a euphemism for being ill?
throwing up
vomiting
Correct answer: feeling under the weather
Q6.
Which of the below might reflect a dehumanised world?
animals gain more rights
humans control the weather
Correct answer: humans lose the ability to feel sympathy

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following describes Kathy's narrative style in Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go'?
Kathy is transparent about all the details of her job.
Correct answer: Kathy is ambiguous about the role she plays and the world she lives in.
Kathy is overly critical of authority figures.
Q2.
What feelings does Kathy show in the opening of 'Never Let Me Go'?
Correct answer: pride
hatred
jealousy
Q3.
What makes Kathy's world in 'Never Let Me Go' dehumanised?
Kathy is a humanised robot (an 'artificial friend')
Kathy is a ruthless tyrant
Correct answer: Kathy is a clone, created to donate her organs
Q4.
What is one similarity between Klara of 'Klara and the Sun' and Kathy of 'Never Let Me Go'?
they are both superior to humans
they are both robots
Correct answer: they both have a lack of agency
Q5.
What is one difference between Klara of 'Klara and the Sun' and Kathy of 'Never Let Me Go'?
Correct answer: Klara seems naive to her world whereas Kathy seems aware.
Kathy seems prideful whereas Klara seems ashamed.
Klara rebels against her leader whereas Kathy does not.
Q6.
How are Kathy are Klara not typical dystopian narrators?
they both usurp the role of a tyrannical leader
neither voice is marginalised
Correct answer: neither of them seem to rebel against their society