Year 11 - English
Comparing dystopian voices
Fiction: inner musings
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore and practise emulating a range of different narrative voices. They explore narrative voice in 'Alias Grace', 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and 'Klara and the sun' before crafting their own narrative voices. At the end of the unit, they write a narrative with a compelling voice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to compare Ishiguro's presentation of his dystopian voices.
Key Notes
- Ambiguous novel openings can be disconcerting for the reader.
- Kathy's narrative voice is full of contradictions, which may also be disconcerting for the reader.
- The disconcerting voice of 'Never Let Me Go' may add to the dystopian feel.
- Kathy and Klara, two of Ishiguro's narrators, are perhaps not traditional dystopian voices.
- Kathy and Klara both reflect dehumanised worlds.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Disconcerting: unsettling, worrying
- Euphemism: a substitution of a mild word or phrase for one that may be considered unpleasant
- Ambiguous: having no obvious meaning; unclear
- Dehumanise: deprive someone of human qualities e.g. dignity
- Compelling: if something is compelling, it makes you believe it because it is so strong
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Dystopian voices have to fit the archetype (e.g. rebellious, overly critical) in order to be compelling.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Ambiguous novel openings can be disconcerting for the reader. Kathy's narrative voice is full of contradictions, which may also be disconcerting for the reader.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Disconcerting'
unsettling, worrying.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Dystopian voices have to fit the archetype (e.g. rebellious, overly critical) in order to be compelling. Correction: Ishiguro subtly crafts his voices to allow the reader to reflect on their own world.
More Lessons In This Unit
- 'Alias Grace': forming opinions on characters Study Guide
- 'The Yellow Wallpaper': analysing character Study Guide
- 'The Yellow Wallpaper': crafting voice Study Guide
- Conceptualising voice in fiction texts Study Guide
- Creating voice in our narratives Study Guide
- Emulating Atwood's use of an untrustworthy character in 'Alias Grace' Study Guide
- Emulating Ishiguro's use of an artificial voice in 'Klara and the Sun' Study Guide
- Exploring unique narrative voices Study Guide
- Exploring voice in 'Klara and the Sun' Study Guide
- Planning outstanding narratives Study Guide
- Writing a narrative with a compelling voice Study Guide
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