Worksheet:-"An Artist of The Floating World"
Hello readers! In these blog I'll be sharing about the novel " An Artist of The Floating World" which was writen by Japanse novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. In these blog I'll be sharing some of the interesting question and answer in the form of worksheet.
About the Novelist
Sir Kazuo Ishiguro is a Japanese, born on 8 November 1954. He is a British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer. He is one of the most critically acclaimed and praised contemporary fiction authors writing in English, having been awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. He has been nominated for the Booker Prize four times, winning the prize in 1989 for his novel 'The Remains of the Day', which was adapted into a film of the same name in 1993. Salman Rushdie praised the novel as Ishiguro's masterpiece, in which he "turned away from the Japanese settings of his first two novels and revealed that his sensibility was not rooted in any one place, but capable of travel and changeover.
About the Novel
An Artist of the Floating World which was published in 1986. It is a novel by British author Kazuo Ishiguro. It is set in post-World War II Japan and is narrated by Masuji Ono, an ageing painter, who looks back on his life and how he has lived it. He notices how his once-great reputation has faltered since the war and how attitudes towards him and his paintings have changed. The chief conflict deals with Ono's need to accept responsibility for his past actions, rendered politically suspect in the context of post-War Japan.
Worksheet-1
Note: The answers generated here are with the help of Gen AI tools like Gemini, Claude, Copilot or ChatGPT or Internet Search engines. However, it is suggested to rely on the notes taken while watching video resources on teacher’s blog - https://blog.dilipbarad.com/2021/06/artist-floating-world.html
Match the following items related to Kazuo Ishiguro with their descriptions.
1.Sir Kazuo Ishiguro - (B) British novelist of Japanese origin, born in Nagasaki, Japan.
2. Novelist known for - (A) his lyrical tales of regret fused with subtle optimism.
3. Regret fused with subtle optimism - (C) A narrative style that deals with memories and nostalgia of the past, often leading to regret for one's past deeds.
4. The Nobel Committee remarked - ( D) Uncovering the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.
Q.1. Who is V S Naipaul, and what is he known for?
V.S. Naipaul (born August 17, 1932, Trinidad—died August 11, 2018, London, England) Trinidadian writer of Indian descent known for his pessimistic novels set in developing countries.V. S. Naipaul is also the author of a number of works of non-fiction, including three books about India: An Area of Darkness in 1964, India: A Wounded Civilization in 1977, India: A Million Mutinies Now in 1990, and two books about Islamic societies, Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey in 1981 and Beyond Belief: Islamic Excursions in 1998. His masterful prose earned him numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature (2001) and the Booker Prize (1971). However, his critical views on colonialism and post-colonial societies sometimes sparked controversy.
Q.2. What is the book "Good Muslim" about? Also mention the author & country
The Good Muslim is a novel written by Tahmima Anam, an author from Bangladesh. It's a story that explores faith, family, and the lingering effects of war. The novel takes place in Bangladesh, showing a period of upheaval and the rise of religious fundamentalism. The story revolve around siblings, Maya and Sohail. Maya, a doctor, returns home after years away to find her brother transformed into a charming religious leader. Their contrasting views on the past and his faith create a central conflict.
Q.3. What is "The Lowland" about?
The Lowland is written by American author Jhumpa Lahiri, the central plot revolves around two brothers, Subhash and Udayan, who are close in age but have contrasting personalities and life paths. "The Lowland" is a captivating story that examines the complexities of family relationships, the weight of political ideology, and the enduring impact of choices on loved ones.
Q.4. Who is the author of ‘Island of Thousand Mirrors? To which country does s/he belongs to?
The author of "Island of Thousand Mirrors" is Nayomi Munaweera. She is a Sri Lankan American writer.
Q.5. Explain the significance of the title of the novel ‘An Artist of the Floating World’ in a few words.
The title "An Artist of the Floating World" has a duel meaning, i.e in the context of Genre of art and from the perspective of fluxing world. It refers to the artistic style Masuji Ono, the protagonist, practiced in his youth. "Ukiyo-e," literally translated as "Floating World," is a Japanese art form potraying momentory scenes from the pleasure districts. This could refer to both Japan's historical shifts throughout the 20th century and his own personal struggles with memory and responsibility.
Worksheet-2 | An Artist of the Floating World |
Characters | Narrative Strategy | Thematic Study
Q.1. Explain these quotes: Write context and significance on separate paper.
(A) “As far as I am concerned, I freely admit I made many mistakes. I accept that much of what I did was
ultimately harmful to our nation, that mine was part of an influence that resulted in untold suffering for
our own people. I admit this.” Speaker: ______________________ to: _______________________.
Ans:- Masuji Ono to Saito Family
(B) "There's a certain kind of artist these days," he went on, "whose greatest talent lies in hiding away from
the real world. Unfortunately, such artists appear to be in dominance at present, and you, Ono, have
come under the sway of one of them. Don't look so angry, it's true. Your knowledge of the world is like
a child's. I doubt, for instance, if you could even tell me who Karl Marx was."
Speaker: ______________________ to: _______________________ .
Ans:-Mastuda to Masuji Ono
(C) "Was Mr Naguchi like Oji?" --- Oji, why did Mr Naguchi kill himself?". Speaker: _______ to ______.
Ans:-Ichiro to Masuji Ono
(D) “My conscience, Sensei, tells me I cannot remain forever an artist of the floating world." --- Then he
said: "As you point out yourself, Ono, these are troubled times. All the more so for a young artist,
practically unknown.” Speaker: _______________________ to _____________________________
Ans:- Ono, over here is addressing his former art teacher, his Sensei.
2. Explain this painting: [Keywords to search about it in novel – ‘Complacency’, ‘Eyes to the Horizon’.]
This painting is a work of fiction inspired by the novel "An Artist of the Floating World" by Kazuo Ishiguro. It depicts a traditional Japanese scene with figures wearing elaborate kimonos (Housedresses) and headdresses, suggesting connections to the pre-war era explored in the novel.
The central figure seems to be a proud, elderly man graced in a fancy cap and holding a ceremonial fan, likely representing the protagonist Masuji Ono, a former artist and propagandist who struggles with feelings of complacency and regret in post-war Japan.
The imagery evokes themes from the novel of looking ahead to an uncertain future ("eyes to the horizon") while grappling with the consequences of blindly following nationalistic emotion in the past. The red paint splatters could symbolize the violence and upheaval of war that Ono had to figure out later in life.
While a fictional work, this vivid painting creatively visualizes Ishiguro's exploration of an artist's moral judgemental and Japan's transition from pre-war militarism to post-war uncertainty through Ono's reminiscences and self-reflection. The contrasts of vibrant tradition and unsettling modernity parallel the novel's meditations on complacency versus maintaining ethical vision during turbulent times.
3. What is the significance of the word "you" in the novel?
The novel is narrated in the first person by Masuji Ono, an elderly artist reflecting on his life and the choices he made during and after World War II. By addressing the reader as "you," Ono directly involves them in his narrative, making them feel as though they are participating in his reflective journey. The significance of the word "you" lies in its use as a narrative technique to create intimacy and immediacy in the storytelling. Moreover, the use of "you" allows Ishiguro to fade the boundaries between the narrator and the reader, inviting readers to empathize with Ono's experiences, regrets, and moral dilemmas. Through this narrative device, Ishiguro prompts readers to reflect on their own judgments and perspectives, as they are implicated in Ono's story.
4. What do you understand by ‘Unreliable Narrator’?
The story is told through the eyes of some characters constantly in doubt and questions that till what extent we can realy on narration. Throughout the novel we can see that the narrator is telling something and suddendly changes the topic and starts telling something useless. Till the end of the novel we are not gettin the answer, of what is he trying to hide, and what is the problem with these artist and why people are kept into darkness? Throughout the novel, Ono presents his version of the past, often portraying himself in a more favorable light or downplaying his role in the war effort.
5. The Art and the Artist: How is this concept explored in the novel? [Key: How Masuji’s father, Master Takeda - a business owner, Chisu Mastuda – a nationalist friend and Seiji Muriyama - teacher consider the role of art? Mention it in a few words. Do not write lengthy answer]
The concept of art and the artist is explored through the perspectives of various characters, in the case of Masuji's father, Master Takeda, values art primarily as a means of livelihood and business, prioritizing financial stability over artistic expression. Then looking at Chisu Mastuda, a nationalist friend Views art as a powerful tool for promoting political ideology and nationalistic emotions. Seiji Muriyama the Masuji's teacher he regarded art as a form of personal expression and self-discovery, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and originality in artistic pursuits. These highlights the multifaceted nature of art and the complex roles that artists can play within society, ranging from craftsmen and propagandists to expectant of personal truth.
6. Which theme according to you is the central theme of the novel? [Just mention the theme. No need to write in detail about it]
In addition to memory, guilt, and personal responsibility, other central themes in "An Artist of the Floating World" include,
- The passage of time and its effects on individuals and society.
- The complexities of personal and national identity.
- The consequences of war and political ideologies.
- The tension between tradition and modernization in Japanese society.
- The nature of art and its role in shaping cultural and political narratives.
In these blog to fill the worksheet there are some resources used such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.
I hope these would be suficient,
Thank you.
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