Klara and the Sun

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Klara’s faith stands in contrast with Mr. Capaldi’s scientific rationality. Mr. Capaldi, however, argues for faith in rationality.

• Are faith and science positioned as opposites in Klara and the Sun, or are there areas where they overlap? (topic sentence)
• Give 3 examples to support your stance on whether faith and science overlap in Klara and the Sun.
• In your concluding sentences, explain why you believe Ishiguro uses faith and science in the way he does in the novel.

2. Chrissy and Helen made opposite choices regarding lifting their children, and both women feel guilty about their decision.

• Did Chrissy make the correct choice in having Josie lifted? (topic sentence)
• Use 3 examples from the novel to support your belief about Chrissy’s choice for Josie.