Never Let Me Go Chapters 6, 7 & 8

As the novel progresses, we will see Kathy make numerous excuses to explain Ruth’s reactions and behaviour. Why do you suppose she does this? What does this tell us about her character?

How does the students’ understanding of Norfolk help to illustrate their isolation and otherness from the rest of society? Why do the guardians frown upon the students smoking? Again, how does this incident help to foster a sense of otherness and isolation? ‘...for you, all of you, it’s much, much worse to smoke than it ever was for me...You’re students. You’re ... special...keeping yourselves very healthy inside, that’s much more important for each of you than it is for me.’ Chapter 6 Questions

Chapter 6 Questions To what extent can you say Miss Lucy is sympathetic towards the students? ‘...we only needed to ask and Miss Lucy would have told us all kinds of things...So why had we stayed silent that day? ... [we were] wary of that whole territory...’ (p69) Why do you think the students are wary of asking Miss Lucy questions? Re-read the passage starting with ‘So why...’ on page 69, concentrating on the language used to describe the donations and what it suggests/implies.

Why does Kathy prefer to listen to the tape in private Why does Kathy prefer to listen to the tape in private? Do the students get many opportunities to be alone? Why or why not? What significance is there to Kathy’s interpretation of the lyrics of ‘Never Let Me Go’? Why would seeing Kathy holding the pillow and signing have affected Madame the way that it did?

We learn in this chapter that the students are all sterilized. Why? How does this contribute to the ‘otherness’ of the students? Tommy thinks that Madame cried because ‘she thought it was really tragic, how you couldn’t have babies.’ (p 72). How does this comment highlight his immaturity and lack of understanding? Chapter 6 Questions

Chapter 6 Questions Ruth buys Kathy a new tape, when her special one is lost. Why? What does this tell us about the relationship between the two girls? Kathy says that ‘We didn’t do things like hug each other much at Hailsham.’ (p75). What does this tell us about life at Hailsham? What sort of an effect will this type of upbringing have on the students?

In chapter 7, a comparison is made between Hailsham and a ‘prison camp’. To what extent can this comparison be supported or denied?

‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t electrified ‘It’s just as well the fences at Hailsham aren’t electrified. You get terrible accidents sometimes’ – Miss Lucy (p77)

Do a close reading of Miss Lucy’s speech to the students, starting on page 78 with ‘No, no, I’m sorry…’ and going to page 80 with ‘you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of you.’ What does this tell us about (a) the students lives and (b) Miss Lucy’s personal opinion

Analyzing Language… ‘…you don’t mean any harm…’ ‘…it’s been allowed to go on, and it’s not right…’ ‘You’ve been told, but none of you really understand…’ ‘…some people are quite happy to leave it that way…’ ‘Your lives are set for you…’ ‘…created to do…’ ‘…for a purpose…’ ‘…you have to know who are you and what lies ahead of you.’

Humanity What makes us human? Can the students be classed as human, or are they intended to be something different?

Kathy admits that most students like to remain ignorant to the specifics of their futures. Why might they do this? Do you agree with the school policy to be vague when discussing their fate? Why is it easier to do things this way? They ‘smuggle into our heads a lot of the basic facts about our future…’ (p80)

Chapter 7 Questions How is sex dealt with at Hailsham? Consider how Miss Emily teaches the students about sex. She says that they can have sex with people ‘out there’. Why is there more stress put on not smoking than on not having sex? Kathy refers to discussions of donations as uncomfortable ‘territory’, ‘that ground’, the ‘whole area’ and ‘these things’. What do these words suggest about how she, and the others, feel about donations?

Tommy Consider the ‘elbow’ incident. What does this tell us about Tommy? It is through the teasing of Tommy that we learn more about what donating actually entails; the harvesting of body parts. What are your initial reactions to this revelation? Is it fair? Ethical? Humane? Tommy appears to have a different relationship with Miss Lucy. He feels some sympathy for her. Do you think she deserves it? Is she blameless?

Imagine you are Tommy. Write a diary entry in which you reflect on how you felt upon learning that ‘unzipping’ yourself to make donations was a cruel joke. TASK