A revision guide for GCSE English Literature

1. Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro
Lesson objectives:
To explore the importance of main character Kathy to
the novel as a whole
To identify and explore the significance of the main
themes in the novel

2. How is the character of Kathy
important to the novel as a whole?
5-minute small group discussion

3. How is the character of
Kathy important to the
novel as a whole?
Ishiguro identifies Kathy with the
title of the novel and hence its
central theme – the futile desire to
cling on to a humane “old kind
world” (p267)
Through the
presentation of Kathy,
Ishiguro portrays the
theme of loss.
Ishiguro’s presentation of Kathy
gives the reader an insight into the
lifestyle of a carer in this dystopian
society.
As the first person narrator of the
novel, Ishiguro presents the story
through Kathy’s perspective.
Through the
presentation of Kathy
Ishiguro explores the
theme of friendship.
Through the presentation of
Kathy, Ishiguro illustrates the
hopelessness of the clones’ lives.

4. It is important that Ishiguro presents Kathy as a
realistic, fair-minded and perceptive character, so
that she is a credible, believable character.
How does Ishiguro establish these character
traits/qualities:
 Realistic: see opening lines of Chapter two, p13
 Fair-minded: see the bottom of p3
 Perceptive:
1. What does Kathy suspect about Ruth’s discovery
of the Judy Bridgewater tape that Tommy had
bought for her? P188
2. How does she show awareness of Ruth’s
controlling nature? p189
The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
As the first person narrator of the
novel, Ishiguro presents the story
through Kathy’s perspective.

5. Ishiguro interlaces the adult Kathy’s
memories into the story to show the gulf
between childhood innocence and the
harsh realities of the clone’s destiny.
Look at p17 in chapter two. What does the
adult Kathy now realise about the
exchanges?
How do we know that Kathy is resigned to
her fate? What is the significance of “it’s
almost like entering a hall of mirrors”
considering that Kathy is a clone?
The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
As the first person narrator of the
novel, Ishiguro presents the story
through Kathy’s perspective.

6. How does Ishiguro demonstrate the
loneliness of Kathy’s lifestyle and the
anonymity of transience of her destinations?
(P203)
What is the significance of the author’s
repeated use of the driving metaphor for the
life of a carer? (p6)
What ultimately is the destination of the
carer?
The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
Ishiguro’s presentation of Kathy
gives the reader an insight into the
lifestyle of a carer in this dystopian
society.

7. In Ishiguro’s presentation of Kathy as a carer, he also
explores the theme of conformity. Despite witnessing
first hand the brutality of a system that treats donors as
a public utility, Kathy accepts the status quo and her
own destiny within it, even taking pride in her
capabilities as a carer.
 Brutality pages 231-232
 Public utility: what euphemism is used for the death
of a donor? Page 203
 Accepts the status quo (and conforms): page 17 and
165
 Taking pride in her capabilities as a carer: pages 3-4
The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
Ishiguro’s presentation of Kathy
gives the reader an insight into the
lifestyle of a carer in this dystopian
society.

8. Kathy’s friendship with Tommy is characterised by a
joint desire to expose truths and mutual understanding
and support.
 A joint desire to expose truths: bottom of p278, p76
and p29-31
 Mutual understanding and support: p7, p179-180
and p184-186
The character
of Kathy is
important to
the novel as a
whole
because:
Through the
presentation of Kathy
Ishiguro explores the
theme of friendship.

9. In contrast, Kathy’s friendship with Ruth is characterised by
preserving/exposing fictions and the experience of cruelty and
betrayal.
 Preserving/exposing fictions:
1. Top of p279
2. The secret guard game and how and why Kathy validates it
when Moira says “It’s just another of Ruth’s made up things”
p55
3. Ruth and Kathy’s responses to the exposure of Ruth being the
recipient of a gift from Miss Geraldine p58-60
4. How Kathy continues to support Ruth’s acts, as reality becomes
a stage for her at the cottages p127-128
 The experience of cruelty and betrayal:
1. Examine Ruth’s failure to reassure Kathy about her sexual urges
p126
2. Ruth’s betrayal of Kathy‘s trust in order to change Tommy’s view
of Kathy p192-193
The character
of Kathy is
important to
the novel as a
whole
because:
Through the
presentation of Kathy
Ishiguro explores the
theme of friendship.

10. Miss Emily’s revelations in chapter 22 quash any hope
of a deferral but also Kathy’s assumption that the
clones are perceived as part of humanity. P253-258
The boat scene and the symbolism of the hopelessness
of them trying to live a fulfilling life.
The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
Through the presentation of
Kathy, Ishiguro illustrates the
hopelessness of the clones’ lives.

11. The
character
of Kathy is
important
to the
novel as a
whole
because:
Through the
presentation of Kathy,
Ishiguro portrays the
theme of loss.
Explore the writer’s presentation of Kathy:
 as having natural desires to be a
mother and to play at caring for
another on p70-71. Consider why
Madame is crying about this and what
you think is the “something extra in
that look I couldn’t fathom”
 The writer’s point about the scientific
advances creating “a harsh, cruel
world” in contrast to a humane world
p266-267
 Kathy sees Tommy for the last
time on p280 and keeps his eyes
on him in the mirror as she
drives away for as long as
possible.
 Ishiguro presents Kathy’s view
of her memories as something
“no one can take away” on 281
 At the end she describes her
one “only indulgent thing” as
she allows herself to grieve for
Tommy in the field in Norfolk, as
if she is looking for something
she has lost. “The fantasy never
got beyond that – I didn’t let it –
and though the tears rolled
down my face, I wasn’t sobbing
or out of control.” Even in the
end she follows the rules and
controls her emotions on p282
Ishiguro identifies Kathy with the
title of the novel and hence its
central theme – the futile desire to
cling on to a humane “old kind
world” (p267)

12. How is the character of Kathy
important to the novel as a whole?
Plan your answer to this whole text
character question, using your notes.
Spend 40 minutes completing this in your
books, including evidence from the text and
indepth discussion about the writer’s
intentions. Try to show overview of the text
as a whole, while zooming into key events to
support your discussion points.

13. Themes & context
This dystopian novel looks at the ethics of cloning and extending life expectancy through a donor
system.
Relationships are explored in the novel – from friendship and the role of family and parents,
childhood bullying, love and the role of sex in relationships.
Hope gradually fades for each of the characters, as they face their fate as donors.
The individual’s obligation to society.
Willful ignorance is shown by how the clones ignore their fate and how society accepts the donor
system.
Conformity and Rebellion are two contrasting ideas in the novel.
Never Let Me Go – key knowledge
Quotations
“I don’t know how it was where you were, but Hailsham we had to have some form of medical almost
every week” Kathy Page 13
“Then there were rumours almost every day of pranks that had been played on him…. I thought sooner
or later someone would start saying it had gone too far, but it just kept on, and no one said anything.”
Kathy Page 15
C6”Didn’t we all dream from time to time about one guardian or other bending the rules and doing
something special for us? A spontaneous hug, a secret letter, a gift” Kathy Page 60
“If you’re to live decent lives, you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of
you.” Miss Lucy, Page 81
“We all know it. We’re modelled from trash. Junkies, prostitutes, winos, tramps, convicts, maybe, just so
long as they aren’t psychos. That’s where we come from. We all know it, so why don’t we say it?” Ruth,
Page 166
“Something in me just gave up. A voice went: ‘All right, let him think the absolute worst. Let him think it,
let him think it’. And I suppose I looked at him with resignation, with a face that said, ‘Yes it’s true, what
else did you expect?’” Kathy, Page 195
“The fact was, I suppose, there were powerful tides tugging us apart by then, and it only needed
something like that to finish the task. If we’d understood that back then – who knows? – maybe we’d have
kept a tighter hold of one another.” Kathy, Page 197
“Why did we do all of that work in the first place? Why train us, encourage us, make us produce all of
that? If we’re just going to give donations anyway, then die, why all those lessons? Why all those books
and discussions?” Kathy, Page 259
“I can see… that it might look as though you are simply pawns in a game. It can certainly be looked at like
that. But think of it. You were lucky pawns. There was a certain climate and now it’s gone. You have to
accept that sometimes that’s how things happen in this world.” Miss Emily, Page 266
Events
1-3 Kathy is a carer who reminisces about her former school
Hailsham where she met Tommy and Ruth. Tommy is bullied
and an outsider. Kathy and he are close.
4-6 Madame and the Gallery show the confusion the children feel
about their role. Ruth’s secret guard and lies about chess and
pencil case “gift”. Norfolk as the “lost corner” and the tape.
7-9 Miss Lucy hints at the truth about donations. Ruth and
Tommy are together.
10-14 They move to the cottages. They visit Norfolk to find Ruth’s
possible and discuss their origins.
15-17 Kathy and Tommy find the tape and are close. Deferrals are a
topic of conversation. Ruth finds and tape and is jealous so
forces them apart in the churchyard scene. Kathy becomes a
carer and leaves.
18-20 Present day carer Kathy. Becomes Ruth’s carer and visits a
boat with Tommy. They discuss donations and Ruth
apologises for keeping them apart.
21-23 Kathy and Tommy visit Miss Emily who explains many
mysteries of Hailsham and that deferral is untrue. Tommy has
a tantrum in the field. He asks her to stop being his carer. She
drives to Norfolk.
Characters
Kathy Empathetic, mild-mannered, passive and a conformist.
Ruth Charismatic, manipulative, dishonest and selfish.
Tommy Short-tempered, kind-hearted, enthusiastic and naïve.
Miss Lucy Rebellious
Miss Geraldine A kind guardian and art teacher
Miss Emily Head guardian
Madame Mysterious
Keffers