Klara and the Sun Guiding Questions

Klara and THE SUN

Kazuo Ishiguro

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Klara and THE SUN

Kazuo Ishiguro

Guiding Questions

Part 1

1. Klara is not sure whether Boy AF Rex is teasing her. “But what I sensed that day was that I had, without meaning to, made Rex bring up something uncomfortable, something most AFs in the store preferred not to talk about.”

What is Klara referring to here?

About the fact that some robots (esp. the B2, 3rd series) have solar absorption problems, which can lead to further problems, even behavioral ones.

2. What is the difference between Klara and Rosa?

Rosa doesn’t seem bothered about learning about the outside world, whereas Klara does. Klara can also imagine how others may be feeling (such as loneliness).

3. Why do Klara and Rosa probably see so few AFs when they’re in their window position?

The other robots are probably afraid that they’ll be exchanged for a newer model.

4. What does Coffee Cup Lady ‘teach’ Klara?

That people can feel pain alongside happiness.

5. Who’s Josie and what do we learn about her?

A girl who ‘has fallen for’ Klara and that she’s not always well, but she doesn’t seem to know what’s wrong with her.

6. Why is Klara reprimanded by the manager?

She doesn’t react at all when a girl expressed interest in her, saying she didn’t think she would be a good fit for the girl. The manager says the customers choose the AFs, not the other way round.

7. “The new B3s, it was said, had all sorts of improvements. But how could they be good AFs for their children if their minds could invent ideas like these?” (p.35).

This could be an example of something the author, Kazuo Ishiguro, wants his readers to contemplate. Explain what he is hinting at here.

7. “The new B3s, it was said, had all sorts of improvements. But how could they be good AFs for their children if their minds could invent ideas like these?” (p.35).

This could be an example of something the author, Kazuo Ishiguro, wants his readers to contemplate. Explain what he is hinting at here.

Klara is thinking about the new B3s; they seem to be distancing themselves from older B3s in a sly way, probably in order to improve their own chances of getting a family. K.I. probably wants us to think about the dangers of bringing smart Ais into your house. Ais are not without danger…?

8. What does Josie’s mum ask Klara to do when it’s clear Josie wants Klara and what does it show?

She asks her to copy Josie’s walk. She apparently does it well and therefore it shows that Klara has good observational qualities.

For next week:

Read Klara and the Sun part 2, pp. 47-110

+ do assignments

Guiding Questions

Part 2

1. What does Klara realise in hindsight about Melania’s conduct towards her?

She realizes that Melania’s coolness/hostility was due to Melania’s larger fears of what was happening to Josie.

2. What do we learn about Josie?

She is ill.

3. Who’s Rick and what do you know about him and Josie?

Rick is her best friend/they’re going to spend their lives together. He worries about Josie and Josie finds that difficult.

4. What do you think Klara means when she refers to Josie’s ‘oblong’?

A mobile phone maybe or tablet/Ipad?

5. What kind of meeting does Josie have to host and why?

An interaction meeting. Her mum wants her to meet peers and learn how to work together etc.

6. What becomes clear about Rick at the meeting?

That he’s somehow different and should not really be there.

7. Give an example of how Josie is affected by peer pressure.

e.g. She says that maybe she should have got a B3, which is clearly untrue/ she doesn’t stand up to the boys who want to throw Klara. So Josie doesn’t really feel capable of standing up to them and tell them how she really feels.

8. Klara thanks Rick for rescuing her from the boys; what do we learn from the conversation they have?

- Rick is not part of the ‘lifted kids’.

- Josie changes (and Rick had hoped she wouldn’t) when she’s with the other kids

9. Why is ‘the plan’ important according to Rick?

Josie still believes in it and it’s the only way she won’t become like the other children.

10. Who is Sal and what happened to her?

Sal was Josie’s sister and she died after having been sick (not same illness as Josie’s apparently). Josie doesn’t really remember her.

11. Why is the tension between Josie and her mum back in the car?

Josie’s mum thinks Josie’s ill again and is trying to hide it from her. Josie is not well enough to go and her mum is angry that she wasn’t honest about it.

12. What do we learn about Josie’s dad?

He used to work at a chemical plant that was all about clean energy. He was talented but was replaced (by a robot?). He gets on well with Josie’s mum now.

13. What happens at Morgan’s falls and what does Klara make of that?

Josie’s mum wants Klara to talk and sit like Josie; she has to impersonate her. Klara doesn’t feel at ease and probably wants to say she doesn’t want to, but doesn’t.

14. What does Josie’s mum say in the car on the way back? (two things)

- Klara isn’t allowed to mention that she imitated Josie.

- Josie has become more considerate since Klara arrived.

15. What happens when Klara comes back?

She goes up to see Josie and when she tells Josie it was marvellous and that Josie’s mum missed her, she seems to become different again (like at the party) and there is a new ‘coolness’ between them.