Study Guide for :Klara and the Sun & Comprehension Test

Klara and the Sun
by Kazuo Ishiguro
About_
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro is a moving novel narrated by Klara, an Artificial Friend who observes the
human world with wonder and devotion. It follows her journey from a store window to the home of a sick girl
named Josie, raising questions about love, loyalty, faith, and what makes us human. This study guide helps
students read closely, think critically, and discuss the novel’s major themes. This study guide contains 65 questions
across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 9-11
Teacher Note_
This guide turns a quiet, thoughtful novel into a set of clear, ready-to-use activities that build comprehension and
invite deeper discussion about humanity and technology. The balance of factual and critical questions helps every
student take part, from careful readers to big-picture thinkers. We hope it saves you valuable preparation time and
sparks wonderful conversations in your classroom.
About the Author
Kazuo Ishiguro is a British novelist born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954, who moved to England as a child. He won the Nobel Prize
in Literature in 2017, and his novels are known for quiet, reflective narrators and emotional depth. Klara and the Sun,
published in 2021, was his first novel after receiving the Nobel Prize.
A World of Artificial Friends
The novel is set in a near-future world where advanced robots called Artificial Friends, or AFs, are bought to keep children
company. Unlike many science fiction stories, the book is told entirely through the eyes of one AF, so readers see the human
world from an unusual outside perspective. As you read, notice what Klara understands, what she misunderstands, and what
that teaches us about people.
Big Ideas to Look For
The novel explores themes such as love, loyalty, faith, loneliness, and what it means to be human. It also raises questions
about technology and fairness, and about how society treats those who are different. Keep these ideas in mind as you read
and ask yourself what Klara’s point of view reveals about our own world.