Page 279 - "What I'm saying is that all in all I was under the impression we were dealing with the fourth donation pretty well together, and that's why I was so knocked off balance by what he came out with that day we walked around the field."
Finally finished! I chose this quote because it is about the last positive event that takes place in the book. Tommy undergoes a successful fourth and they are together. I think that they truly loved each other. Unfortunately the book ends in a dark manner. Tommy dies and Kathy is distraught. She is upset that she will now die alone after she was there for both Ruth and Tommy. She doesn't know what to do and her future is not clear, but I believe that she is strong enough and she will get through the next part of her life.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Never Let Me Go - Souls
Page 260 - "Or to put it more finely, we did it to prove you had souls at all."
I knew the concept of sould would pop up again. Miss Emily even refers back to Tommy's statement about art reveals a person's soul. What's interesting about this is that Hailsham no longer exists. Miss Emily says that the art measured how well they were doing their jobs. Now that Hailsham is gone, I believe that means that the teachers could not prove the existence of the childrens' souls. The students were all clones. Since they were not legitimate human beings to society, there souls had to be proven. The gallery was for showing off the art that could prove the souls' existence.
I knew the concept of sould would pop up again. Miss Emily even refers back to Tommy's statement about art reveals a person's soul. What's interesting about this is that Hailsham no longer exists. Miss Emily says that the art measured how well they were doing their jobs. Now that Hailsham is gone, I believe that means that the teachers could not prove the existence of the childrens' souls. The students were all clones. Since they were not legitimate human beings to society, there souls had to be proven. The gallery was for showing off the art that could prove the souls' existence.
Never Let Me Go - Why Hailsham?
Page 259 - "Why Hailsham at all?"
This is one of the most important rhetorical questions in the entire book. It is most likely the most important question in the book. Why Hailsham? Why childhood at all? Kathy is surprised she is not crushed right now; she doesn't want to even look at Tommy. Deferrals don't exist. Why? What was the point of going to Hailsham and listening to the teachers? That was not the answer that Kathy and Tommy wanted to hear. They are now confused and must listen to more explanation.
This is one of the most important rhetorical questions in the entire book. It is most likely the most important question in the book. Why Hailsham? Why childhood at all? Kathy is surprised she is not crushed right now; she doesn't want to even look at Tommy. Deferrals don't exist. Why? What was the point of going to Hailsham and listening to the teachers? That was not the answer that Kathy and Tommy wanted to hear. They are now confused and must listen to more explanation.
Never Let Me Go - Miss Emily
Page 256 - "'Miss Emily,' I said, 'it's very nice to see you again.'"
Miss Emily has returned. The teacher that the friends had most adored has returned towards the end of the story. This is important because I believe Kathy will want to talk to her more than Madame. She is looking for answers. She hopes that her and Tommy can talk to her about the gallery. Tommy wants another shot at getting his art in it. Also, there is a growing emphasis on souls. For example, Tommy believes that art speaks for the soul and should be cherished.
Miss Emily has returned. The teacher that the friends had most adored has returned towards the end of the story. This is important because I believe Kathy will want to talk to her more than Madame. She is looking for answers. She hopes that her and Tommy can talk to her about the gallery. Tommy wants another shot at getting his art in it. Also, there is a growing emphasis on souls. For example, Tommy believes that art speaks for the soul and should be cherished.
Never Let Me Go - Rhetorical Questions
Page 252 - "How can you know it? You think love is so simple?"
Madame begins to question Kathy and Tommy here. They believe that they are in love. Madame's reaction surprised me. She was more than shocked. These questions are hard to answer. I don't think that I could even answer these. Questions like these are ones for people with wisdom to share advice on. Tommy and Kathy certainly cannot answer these.
Madame begins to question Kathy and Tommy here. They believe that they are in love. Madame's reaction surprised me. She was more than shocked. These questions are hard to answer. I don't think that I could even answer these. Questions like these are ones for people with wisdom to share advice on. Tommy and Kathy certainly cannot answer these.
Never Let Me Go - A New Start
Page 238 - "For a start, Tommy and I finally started having sex."
I've decided to take a break from the literary terms for this blog. Some major events have just occured. Ruth has died! Ishiguro didn't even directly inform the reader of that. I interpreted it from a few things. The first was how the last chapter ended: in a dark setting. The next is that she is beginning to show feelings for Tommy. Kathy may have finally found her love. She is also caring for him now too. What will happen when Tommy dies though? Her friends will be gone.
I've decided to take a break from the literary terms for this blog. Some major events have just occured. Ruth has died! Ishiguro didn't even directly inform the reader of that. I interpreted it from a few things. The first was how the last chapter ended: in a dark setting. The next is that she is beginning to show feelings for Tommy. Kathy may have finally found her love. She is also caring for him now too. What will happen when Tommy dies though? Her friends will be gone.
Never Let Me Go - Stream of Consciousness
Page 234 - "I put the car on the road again, and my memory of it is that we didn't talk mch more on the way back to the Kingsfield."
So far, the story has been filled with Kathy's stream of consciousness. She opens the doors to her mind to allow the reader to see what she is thinking. She also allows the reader to she what her opinions are on past events. This makes it easier for the reader to understand the actions that Kathy takes. It also allows to interpret her character easier. The author allows us to charaterize her using her thoughts and reactions. In my opinion, she is caring, humble, and honest. She is very friendly and loves her best friends.
So far, the story has been filled with Kathy's stream of consciousness. She opens the doors to her mind to allow the reader to see what she is thinking. She also allows the reader to she what her opinions are on past events. This makes it easier for the reader to understand the actions that Kathy takes. It also allows to interpret her character easier. The author allows us to charaterize her using her thoughts and reactions. In my opinion, she is caring, humble, and honest. She is very friendly and loves her best friends.
Never Let Me Go - Mood
Page 219 - "That afternoon Ruth and I went to the Kingsfield, it was overcast and a bit chilly, and as we drove into the Square it was deserted except for a group of six or seven shadowy figures underneath that roof."
The authors mood shifts here to a mysterious setting. It is one that I would expect to be in a horror film. It seems to set up a dark event in the story. However, one does not immediately occur after this setup. Tommy exits the building and joins them. He is only a "stone" heavier than the last time Kathy saw him. He is not on his deathbead. He is ok and well enough to travel with them. Why would the setting be set like this then?
The authors mood shifts here to a mysterious setting. It is one that I would expect to be in a horror film. It seems to set up a dark event in the story. However, one does not immediately occur after this setup. Tommy exits the building and joins them. He is only a "stone" heavier than the last time Kathy saw him. He is not on his deathbead. He is ok and well enough to travel with them. Why would the setting be set like this then?
Never Let Me Go - Personification
Page 207 - "Then there's solitude."
At the beginning of chapter eighteen, the beginning of part three, Ishiguro uses this sentence. To me it gives off an ultimatum feeling. I know it's not meant to do that but that's my opinion. Here solitude is personified. Ishiguro goes on to describe the solitude by using a hypothetical situation to describe it. This situation is particularly similar to Kathy's life. I say this because it speaks of growing up knowing the same people. Then it goes on to speak of traveling to different hospitals. I get a sense of Kathy reminiscing a general recollection of her life.
At the beginning of chapter eighteen, the beginning of part three, Ishiguro uses this sentence. To me it gives off an ultimatum feeling. I know it's not meant to do that but that's my opinion. Here solitude is personified. Ishiguro goes on to describe the solitude by using a hypothetical situation to describe it. This situation is particularly similar to Kathy's life. I say this because it speaks of growing up knowing the same people. Then it goes on to speak of traveling to different hospitals. I get a sense of Kathy reminiscing a general recollection of her life.
Never Let Me Go - Simile
Page 188 - "He didn't say anything in response, but a kind of smirk appeared over his face, like he was enjoying a joke with himself, and I knew how happy I'd made him."
Kathy is talking about Tommy's reaction when she compliments his animals. These animals mean a lot to Tommy. We as readers now discover he is artistic, and Kathy encourages him to keep working on it. Ishiguro uses this simile in order to describe the type of smirk Tommy had. He makes it relatable by sharing the comparison of a joke to oneself. Everyone has had a moment like that. However, Tommy was not joking. He was legitimately happy that someone enjoys something that he is doing on his own.
Kathy is talking about Tommy's reaction when she compliments his animals. These animals mean a lot to Tommy. We as readers now discover he is artistic, and Kathy encourages him to keep working on it. Ishiguro uses this simile in order to describe the type of smirk Tommy had. He makes it relatable by sharing the comparison of a joke to oneself. Everyone has had a moment like that. However, Tommy was not joking. He was legitimately happy that someone enjoys something that he is doing on his own.
Never Let Me Go - Flashback
Page 178 - "In fact, I have to admit, I was reminded of the original elephant-in-the-grass picture that had started off all Tommy's problems at Hailsham."
Wow, another flashback. This flashback is again about the gang's old days at Hailsham. As the friends' years together begin come to come to an end, they begin to discuss their old art. While doing this, Kathy recalls Tommy's imaginary animals. I don't believe Tommy was a weird child, we all had imaginary friends. Tommy however had inspiration for these creatures. For one of the first times, I am seeing Tommy's imaginations. He was not just a hot-head, he had a creative mind too.
Wow, another flashback. This flashback is again about the gang's old days at Hailsham. As the friends' years together begin come to come to an end, they begin to discuss their old art. While doing this, Kathy recalls Tommy's imaginary animals. I don't believe Tommy was a weird child, we all had imaginary friends. Tommy however had inspiration for these creatures. For one of the first times, I am seeing Tommy's imaginations. He was not just a hot-head, he had a creative mind too.
Never Let Me Go - Dialect
Page 157 - "You know, personalise them."
I have decided to point out that the author is writing with his English dialect. Instead of a "z" like we Americans would use, Ishiguro uses an "s." This just adds to the fact that the story takes place in England. This also speaks to me. It kind of draws me into the story more. I think it is because it makes me think that this is an authentic story about Britsh people and their lives. Although I am not British, it kind of gives me the sense that I am. I kind of like it; I think that I could get used to it.
I have decided to point out that the author is writing with his English dialect. Instead of a "z" like we Americans would use, Ishiguro uses an "s." This just adds to the fact that the story takes place in England. This also speaks to me. It kind of draws me into the story more. I think it is because it makes me think that this is an authentic story about Britsh people and their lives. Although I am not British, it kind of gives me the sense that I am. I kind of like it; I think that I could get used to it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Never Let Me Go - Implied Metaphor
Page 146 - "He'd regularly got cars this way in the past, but this particular time, the arrangement broke down the day before we were due to set off."
I did a double take upon reading this passage of the book. I knew I spotted some literary term, but this implied metaphor didn't jump out at me like the others terms have so far. I give props to Ishiguro for this sentence. Since they were talking about getting a car the phrase "broke down" was used instead of "fell through." As I said in the earlier blog, Hailsham would come up again, and now it has. The five accomplices are taking a trip to Norfolk to rediscover Hailsham and "find all their lost things." But I have one question: why was Ruth sour at first about Kathy going with them? I think it is because she still has sour feelings about her from earlier in their lives.
I did a double take upon reading this passage of the book. I knew I spotted some literary term, but this implied metaphor didn't jump out at me like the others terms have so far. I give props to Ishiguro for this sentence. Since they were talking about getting a car the phrase "broke down" was used instead of "fell through." As I said in the earlier blog, Hailsham would come up again, and now it has. The five accomplices are taking a trip to Norfolk to rediscover Hailsham and "find all their lost things." But I have one question: why was Ruth sour at first about Kathy going with them? I think it is because she still has sour feelings about her from earlier in their lives.
Never Let Me Go - Hyperbole
Page 128 - "Somtimes it won't be there for ages. Then it suddenly it comes on."
Ok, now we're starting to get to the really weird parts. Here we go again, just like Brave New World. The girls begin to talk about sex, and Kathy begins to speak about her "one-nighters." She yearns for a boyfriend, someone to love. I think that she is jealous of the relationship that Ruth and Tommy have developed. She feels a little left out. In addition to my thoughts, I spotted a hyperbole. In the quote, ages doesn't really mean ages. She is still young when she is at the Cottages; it is just a figure of speech used to describe her yearning for relations.
Ok, now we're starting to get to the really weird parts. Here we go again, just like Brave New World. The girls begin to talk about sex, and Kathy begins to speak about her "one-nighters." She yearns for a boyfriend, someone to love. I think that she is jealous of the relationship that Ruth and Tommy have developed. She feels a little left out. In addition to my thoughts, I spotted a hyperbole. In the quote, ages doesn't really mean ages. She is still young when she is at the Cottages; it is just a figure of speech used to describe her yearning for relations.
Never Let Me Go - Direct Characterization
Page 100 - "But Cynthia was a perceptive person, and the fact that she wasn't part of our group just gave her remark more weight."
The author changes things up here by using dirent characterization to characterize a girl named Cynthia as perceptive. This is very relatable to the culture that I am surrounded by because I know that gossip goes on everyday. Especially this type of gossip. The type where people say things based on just what they hear, not what they know for sure. When Kathy hears this, she begins to think. What if this opinion is one that everyone believes? This is exactly how I feel if I hear a false rumor. Also, hints are beggining to pop up of possible romance between Kathy and Tommy. Kathy keeps thinking to herself that she is just too good of friends with him. Or is it that she is too good of friends with Ruth to ruin their friendship?
The author changes things up here by using dirent characterization to characterize a girl named Cynthia as perceptive. This is very relatable to the culture that I am surrounded by because I know that gossip goes on everyday. Especially this type of gossip. The type where people say things based on just what they hear, not what they know for sure. When Kathy hears this, she begins to think. What if this opinion is one that everyone believes? This is exactly how I feel if I hear a false rumor. Also, hints are beggining to pop up of possible romance between Kathy and Tommy. Kathy keeps thinking to herself that she is just too good of friends with him. Or is it that she is too good of friends with Ruth to ruin their friendship?
Never Let Me Go - Local Color
Page 79 - "We were fifteen by then, already into our last year at Hailsham."
While reading over the literary terms, I stumbled upon one I wasn't very familiar with: local color. When I read the definition, Hailsham immediately jumped into my mind. Hailsham has been by far the most important setting in this story. Also, its landscape and customs have been touched upon too. My opinion is that Hailsham is important because it is the place where Kathy befriended Ruth and Tommy. Their relationships were structured at Hailsham. It will always have a special place in their hearts. I also wouldn't be surprised to see it pop up again later in the story as well.
While reading over the literary terms, I stumbled upon one I wasn't very familiar with: local color. When I read the definition, Hailsham immediately jumped into my mind. Hailsham has been by far the most important setting in this story. Also, its landscape and customs have been touched upon too. My opinion is that Hailsham is important because it is the place where Kathy befriended Ruth and Tommy. Their relationships were structured at Hailsham. It will always have a special place in their hearts. I also wouldn't be surprised to see it pop up again later in the story as well.
Never Let Me Go - Tone
Page 51 - "'Mr. Rodger,' Ruth sighed on that occasion, shaking her head. 'Who'd have guessed he was in it too?'"
So far in the story, I would describe the author's tone as nostalgic. Like I said before the book has mostly been anecdotes from Kathy's days at Hailsham. However, I have seen a specific change in the author's tone. At first, I would describe Kathy as mature based on the ways she recounted her days of youth. Recently, though, she has described them in a more childish way. I say this because she seems more excited about the outcomes of the story. I would describe this quote as immature. The girls are being arrogant as they believe that there is a plot to kidnap their favorite instructor. The immaturity is not a bad thing though. I believe that it draws the reader in more to the flashbacks. In addition, I can relate to this because I would describe myself as a little immature (not in a bad way though!).
So far in the story, I would describe the author's tone as nostalgic. Like I said before the book has mostly been anecdotes from Kathy's days at Hailsham. However, I have seen a specific change in the author's tone. At first, I would describe Kathy as mature based on the ways she recounted her days of youth. Recently, though, she has described them in a more childish way. I say this because she seems more excited about the outcomes of the story. I would describe this quote as immature. The girls are being arrogant as they believe that there is a plot to kidnap their favorite instructor. The immaturity is not a bad thing though. I believe that it draws the reader in more to the flashbacks. In addition, I can relate to this because I would describe myself as a little immature (not in a bad way though!).
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Never Let Me Go - So Many Anecdotes!
Page 35 - "I'll never forget the strange change that came over us the next instant. Until that point, this whole thing about Madame, had been, if not a joke exactly, very much a private thing we'd wanted to settle among ourselves."
Holy anecdotes! The first part of the story has been chalked full of them. I almost forgot that the current setting is in the future. However, I believe that these are setting up a big part of the plot for later in the story. This has also helped me to a lot about the characters just from background stories. Another thing I wanted to touch on is why does the Madame fear the children? I believe that it is because the children were made to be donors in life, and that she thinks of them as less than her. A good analogy made is that the children are thought of as a spider, which is very relatable. I am alarmed to see a spider and all I want to do is stay away from it.
Holy anecdotes! The first part of the story has been chalked full of them. I almost forgot that the current setting is in the future. However, I believe that these are setting up a big part of the plot for later in the story. This has also helped me to a lot about the characters just from background stories. Another thing I wanted to touch on is why does the Madame fear the children? I believe that it is because the children were made to be donors in life, and that she thinks of them as less than her. A good analogy made is that the children are thought of as a spider, which is very relatable. I am alarmed to see a spider and all I want to do is stay away from it.
Never Let Me Go -Protagonist
Page 25 - "Maybe because I was keen to keep up this impression - though I'd no idea if anyone was actually watching - I didn't try and sit down when I eventually found him seated on a large flat rock not far from the water's edge."
Ok, after two chapters of reading I think it's a safe bet to say that Kathy is the protagonist in the story. There have been numerous clues throughout the reading. I do not know who the antagonist is or if there is one. I also find it extremely odd that the author is a man yet he is telling the story in first person. I do not know of any other books that do this. I do not know if I could do this. It seems as though I would get confused. However, Kathy reminds me a little of myself. For example, she seems sympathetic like me. She doesn't like to see other people being picked on.
Ok, after two chapters of reading I think it's a safe bet to say that Kathy is the protagonist in the story. There have been numerous clues throughout the reading. I do not know who the antagonist is or if there is one. I also find it extremely odd that the author is a man yet he is telling the story in first person. I do not know of any other books that do this. I do not know if I could do this. It seems as though I would get confused. However, Kathy reminds me a little of myself. For example, she seems sympathetic like me. She doesn't like to see other people being picked on.
Never Let Me Go - Imagery
Page 7 - "There was bright sunshine, but it must have been raining earlier that day because I can remember how the sun was glinting on the muddy surface of the grass.
Early in this book a literary term has already jumped off the page at me. The imagery that Ishiguro uses here is fantastic. Before this sentence he speaks of boys playing "football", which just excites me even more for the start of soccer season. When I read this, I can close my eyes and picture the exact setting described in this excerpt. I can put myself in this situation with my friends on a Saturday afternoon in my backyard. Ishiguro has also used other imagery already to describe Hailsham. He's described it in a way that I can relate to. When I imagine this school, I imagine a college-like environment filled with energetic youth roaming the campus.
Early in this book a literary term has already jumped off the page at me. The imagery that Ishiguro uses here is fantastic. Before this sentence he speaks of boys playing "football", which just excites me even more for the start of soccer season. When I read this, I can close my eyes and picture the exact setting described in this excerpt. I can put myself in this situation with my friends on a Saturday afternoon in my backyard. Ishiguro has also used other imagery already to describe Hailsham. He's described it in a way that I can relate to. When I imagine this school, I imagine a college-like environment filled with energetic youth roaming the campus.
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