THE FAMILY SUPPERTHE FAMILY SUPPERKAZUO ISHIGURO

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THE AUTHOR THE AUTHOR

Name: Kazuo Ishiguro Date of birth: 8th November 1954 Birthplace: Nagasaki, Japan Family: His parents moved to England in 1960 Studies: Was schooled at the University of Kent and the University of East Anglia Dream job: Being a musician Music publisher’s reaction: Found his music hideous Reasons for writing: A consolation for something that got broken Definition of International novel: A novel that contains a vision of life that is important to people

of varied backgrounds around the world First publication: A Pale View of Hills Other publications: An artist of the floating world; The remains of the day; the Unconsoled. Civil status: Married Awards: Winifred Holtby Prize; Whitbread Book of the Year; Brooker Prize.

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CULTURAL REFERENCESCULTURAL REFERENCES

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Fugu is the Japanese term for the poisonous blowfish, a peculiar fish native to the Pacific Ocean, it inflates its body and projects spikes which contain significant amount of tetrodotoxin, a powerful toxin that will shut down your CNS faster than a snake bite.

Although the mortality rate of fugu lovers is still high (nearly 100 people a year die from fugu poisoning), it’s considered a delicacy in Japan and the PhilippinesIn Japan the chefs who prepare this fish have to be licensed: preparing fugu is a tedious task that requires great skill and precision. As a result, fugu is prohibitively expensive for most people.

The dead delicacy

THE PLOT THE PLOT

In the beginning of the story there is a long explanation of fugu, then you find out that the mother of this family died from eating fugu. Then the son arrives in Japan from California. Everyone talks for a long while, and then they eat a mysterious fish, then everything is silent.

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A series of events that drives the story along

SETTINGSETTING

This story is set in Japan in modern days

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Where and when the story takes place

CHARACTERSCHARACTERS

Who are the people in the story?

Kikuko (daughter) The Son The Father Watanabe The Mother

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THEME STATEMENTSTHEME STATEMENTS

The main idea behind the story

In Japanese culture it is an honourable thing to kill yourself if you have donesomething terrible. It is also necessary to kill yourself if you have donesomething terrible, to regain your honour. If you are a real extreme believer inthis idea, then you can gain more honour by removing your family from thegene pool.

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ESSENTIAL QUESTIONSESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

 

A set of questions that deal with theme

Is it necessary to kill yourself for honour?

Is it an honourable act to kill yourself?

If you are killing yourself for honour is it necessary to kill your family too?

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The Initial Incident is the action that starts the rising action

The Initial Incident in this book is the death of the mother. Because of her, the main protagonist comes out to Japan to see the rest of the family.

INITIAL INCIDENTINITIAL INCIDENT

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The rising action is the action that slowly leads to the climax

This happens when the father cooks up a mysterious fish.

RISING ACTION RISING ACTION

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CONFLICTSCONFLICTS

There is human versus him/herself, as well as human versus human,which is the fact that the son did something in the past that the father didn’tapprove of.

In this story the turning point is when the father warms up to theson, this is unexpected because the father doesn’t seem to like theson that much in the beginning.

TURNING POINT TURNING POINT

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The height of tension in the story

 

This occurs when they eat the mysterious fish, this is the most tense moment in the story, because throughout the whole story they keep referring to this poisonous fish called fugu, as well as the fact that the father’s business partner killed his whole family when their company went bankrupt.

 

CLIMAXCLIMAX

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The part of the story where the tension is easing off

In this story this happens in the last sentence, when everyone is silent.

FALLING ACTION FALLING ACTION

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RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION

This story really has no resolution, the biggest question is never answered.

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QUOTES QUOTES

Two important quotes from the story

"Just fish”: This was said by the Father, we felt it was very mysterious because you're not sure if the characters in the story are eating fugu, or not.

“Despite our difference of years, my sister and I were always close.”: This was thought of by the Son. We chose this quote because it showed that although the Father and Son were not close, the daughter and son were.

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