Reflection / Discussion Questions Feraco Myth to Science Fiction 26 May 2010

Never Let Me Go Questions  1) What have you created that represents you well – either your whole identity, or a particular aspect of yourself?  2) What could people learn about you just by looking at what you have created?  3) Why do you think Madam is afraid of the students? Why is she crying when she’s watching Kathy?  4) Why do you think the kids are at Hailsham? Why is their art is so important?

Never Let Me Go Questions  5) Should we “tell and not tell” our children about difficult concepts? Should we tell them truths at an early age? What’s the best way to share knowledge?  6) How do you feel about having such direct access to Kathy’s mind and inner thoughts? Do you feel trusted? Uncomfortable? Some other combination of emotions?  7) Explain the roles of grouping/cliques and community in Never Let Me Go.

Slaughterhouse-Five Questions  1) Has Billy really been kidnapped? Why do you think Vonnegut “displaces” him in time?  2) Why are some experiences almost impossible to share? In other words, why does context matter?  3) Think about our star points/gears. Which ones did Vonnegut value most, and why?  4) Should we react to death the way the Tralfamadorians do – with “So it goes”? Why does Vonnegut keep repeating that phrase?

Slaughterhouse-Five Questions  5) How does William Blake’s quote – “A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees” – relate to Slaughterhouse-Five? (Think carefully.)  6) How do you react when the Tralfamadorians tell Billy that humans have absolutely no bearing on the ultimate fate of the universe? Did you find yourself thinking we would matter?  7) Is Billy’s attitude towards marriage – that he knew it would be bearable all the way through, and therefore sufficed for his purposes – the one we should adopt in our romantic relationships? If we should aim higher, what should we shoot for?

Shared Questions  8) How well do you understand how other peoples’ minds work? Do you enjoy trying to decipher the meaning behind others’ words?  9) How often do you rely on unspoken words to get your point across? How much of that unspoken understanding and subtext goes into an ordinary human relationship?  10) How does your particular author (Ishiguro or Vonnegut) influence your reactions through his narrative style?