This GCSE English Literature quiz will test you on characters in Never Let Me Go.
Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go, revolves around the lives of three characters, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. Their stories are told through Kathy’s memories. By the end of the novel, she is the only one of the main characters left alive. Minor characters such as Miss Lucy, Miss Emily and Madame play important roles as their actions, words and decisions impact upon the lives and hopes of the three main characters. Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are former Hailsham students who grew up together and became life-long friends. This friendship becomes complicated through a love triangle and through Kathy’s decision to become a carer, first to Ruth and then to Tommy.
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We understand a character through dialogue, through action and through narratorial descriptions. In this novel, it is important to remember that we see Ruth and Tommy through Kathy’s eyes. Although she aims to recover memories as accurately as possible, our images of Ruth and Tommy are coloured by her viewpoint and the passing of time. How does this affect the reader’s perception of character? How different would the text be if Ruth or Tommy had narrated it?
Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Never Let Me Go.
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1.
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After introducing herself at the beginning of the novel, Kathy worries that she might make other carers resentful and reassures readers that she does not make "big claims" for herself. Which of her characteristics does this introduction demonstrate? |
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[ ] |
Modesty |
[ ] |
Hypocrisy |
[ ] |
Over-confidence |
[ ] |
Curiosity |
|
|
2.
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Which of the following does NOT accurately describe Ruth? |
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[ ] |
Capable of generosity |
[ ] |
Vindictive |
[ ] |
Unshakable confidence |
[ ] |
Needy |
|
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3.
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Before his chat with Miss Lucy about the importance of creativity, Tommy's frequent tantrums mar his usual _______ nature. |
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[ ] |
secretive, curious |
[ ] |
mistrustful |
[ ] |
disagreeable |
[ ] |
open, good |
|
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4.
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Kathy explains that older students appreciated Miss Lucy's "brisk style". Which of Miss Lucy's characteristics does this phrase describe? |
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[ ] |
Her blunt honesty |
[ ] |
Her energetic anger |
[ ] |
Her refusal to indulge students' curiosity |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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5.
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Much of the novel is related through Kathy's memories. What does this tell us about her character? |
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[ ] |
She is cold and unforgiving |
[ ] |
She is grieving |
[ ] |
She is political and is creating a case to use against the government for its treatment of donors |
[ ] |
She ignores the past in order to remain cheerful |
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6.
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Which of the following is NOT one of Ruth's tactics to keep Tommy and Kathy apart? |
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[ ] |
Attempting to make Kathy feel bad about herself |
[ ] |
Encouraging Kathy to laugh at Tommy's drawings |
[ ] |
Telling Tommy about the pornographic magazines |
[ ] |
Humiliating Tommy in front of Kathy |
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7.
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What is Ruth's motivation for keeping Tommy and Kathy apart? |
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[ ] |
Jealousy |
[ ] |
A fear of being left out |
[ ] |
A need to feel special |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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8.
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Which of the following best describes Madame? |
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[ ] |
She cares for her career more than she cares for the clones |
[ ] |
She cares deeply for the clones despite her involuntary revulsion when close to them |
[ ] |
She is obsessed with art and with artists |
[ ] |
She is intellectually interested in the clones, but feels no emotions for them |
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9.
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When Tommy is first introduced, which of the following is his most prominent characteristic? |
|
[ ] |
A tendency towards anger |
[ ] |
Curiosity |
[ ] |
A tendency towards depression |
[ ] |
Unfriendliness |
|
|
10.
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Which of the following is very important to Kathy? |
|
[ ] |
Always being honest with people, even if it hurts their feelings |
[ ] |
Forcing others to confront their emotions, even when they do not wish to do so |
[ ] |
Keeping her emotions under control |
[ ] |
Encouraging others to express their emotions freely |
|
|
1.
|
After introducing herself at the beginning of the novel, Kathy worries that she might make other carers resentful and reassures readers that she does not make "big claims" for herself. Which of her characteristics does this introduction demonstrate? |
|
[x] |
Modesty |
[ ] |
Hypocrisy |
[ ] |
Over-confidence |
[ ] |
Curiosity |
|
|
2.
|
Which of the following does NOT accurately describe Ruth? |
|
[ ] |
Capable of generosity |
[ ] |
Vindictive |
[x] |
Unshakable confidence |
[ ] |
Needy |
|
|
3.
|
Before his chat with Miss Lucy about the importance of creativity, Tommy's frequent tantrums mar his usual _______ nature. |
|
[ ] |
secretive, curious |
[ ] |
mistrustful |
[ ] |
disagreeable |
[x] |
open, good |
|
|
4.
|
Kathy explains that older students appreciated Miss Lucy's "brisk style". Which of Miss Lucy's characteristics does this phrase describe? |
|
[x] |
Her blunt honesty |
[ ] |
Her energetic anger |
[ ] |
Her refusal to indulge students' curiosity |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
5.
|
Much of the novel is related through Kathy's memories. What does this tell us about her character? |
|
[ ] |
She is cold and unforgiving |
[x] |
She is grieving |
[ ] |
She is political and is creating a case to use against the government for its treatment of donors |
[ ] |
She ignores the past in order to remain cheerful |
|
|
6.
|
Which of the following is NOT one of Ruth's tactics to keep Tommy and Kathy apart? |
|
[ ] |
Attempting to make Kathy feel bad about herself |
[ ] |
Encouraging Kathy to laugh at Tommy's drawings |
[x] |
Telling Tommy about the pornographic magazines |
[ ] |
Humiliating Tommy in front of Kathy |
|
|
7.
|
What is Ruth's motivation for keeping Tommy and Kathy apart? |
|
[ ] |
Jealousy |
[ ] |
A fear of being left out |
[ ] |
A need to feel special |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
8.
|
Which of the following best describes Madame? |
|
[ ] |
She cares for her career more than she cares for the clones |
[x] |
She cares deeply for the clones despite her involuntary revulsion when close to them |
[ ] |
She is obsessed with art and with artists |
[ ] |
She is intellectually interested in the clones, but feels no emotions for them |
|
|
9.
|
When Tommy is first introduced, which of the following is his most prominent characteristic? |
|
[x] |
A tendency towards anger |
[ ] |
Curiosity |
[ ] |
A tendency towards depression |
[ ] |
Unfriendliness |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following is very important to Kathy? |
|
[ ] |
Always being honest with people, even if it hurts their feelings |
[ ] |
Forcing others to confront their emotions, even when they do not wish to do so |
[x] |
Keeping her emotions under control |
[ ] |
Encouraging others to express their emotions freely |
|
|