Early Hailsham
What were the “Exchanges” at Hailsham?
Events where students traded artwork and bought items.
What does the Gallery symbolize?
Society judging whether the students have souls.
Who says that Hailsham existed to show that the students had souls?
Miss Emily
What was one major difference between Hailsham and other donor institutions?
Hailsham provided education and treated students kindly.
What theme is shown when students imitate television behavior at the Cottages?
They are searching for identity.
Why did the students feel uncomfortable around Madame when she visited?
They felt she was afraid of them.
What does the rumor about “deferrals” symbolize for the students?
Hope that their fate might be delayed.
Who is afraid of the students and pulls her skirt away when they approach her?
Madame.
Why were students at Hailsham encouraged to create art?
To show they had souls.
What theme is shown when Ruth lies to feel important?
Insecurity.
Why was Tommy often bullied as a child at Hailsham?
Because he didn’t produce artwork and had angry outbursts.
What does Norfolk symbolize to the students?
Hope that lost things can be found again.
Who does Kathy go to visit in order to ask about the rumor of deferrals?
Miss Emily and Madame.
What happens to Hailsham later in the novel?
It closes down.
Tommy’s final donation supports what major idea in the novel?
Inevitability (or fate).
What did the students believe about Norfolk?
That it was where lost things ended up.
What do Tommy’s animal drawings represent?
His belief that art could prove love and earn a deferral.
Who confesses that she kept Kathy and Tommy apart because she was jealous?
Ruth.
How does the outside world mainly view clones?
As organ donors.
At the end of the novel, does Kathy accept or reject her role in the system?
She accepts it.
Why did Ruth pretend to have insider knowledge about deferrals?
To feel important and maintain control in the group
Throughout the novel, how does memory function symbolically for Kathy?
Memory represents her way of holding onto identity and the past, even though she cannot change her future.
In the final line, “to drive off to wherever it was I was supposed to be,” what decision is Kathy making?
She is choosing to return to her life as a carer instead of trying to escape.
Did Hailsham truly change the students’ fate?
No, they still had to donate
What does the donation system suggest about society?
Society exploits people when it benefits them.