Worksheet- On An Artist of the Floating World

 WORKSHEET:1 ‘An Artist of the Floating World’

Match the following items related to Kazuo Ishiguro with their descriptions.

Items	Descriptions
1. Sir Kazuo Ishiguro	a. his lyrical tales of regret fused with subtle optimism.
2. Novelist known for	b. British novelist of Japanese origin, born in Nagasaki, Japan.
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. Nobel Committee remarked	d. Uncovering the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.

Here are the correct matches:

Sir Kazuo Ishiguro - b. British novelist of Japanese origin, born in Nagasaki, Japan.

Novelist known for - a. his lyrical tales of regret fused with subtle optimism.

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.

Nobel Committee remarked - d. Uncovering the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.

1. Who is V S Naipaul, and what is he known for?

V. S. Naipaul, full name Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, was a Trinidadian-born British writer of works of fiction and nonfiction in English. He was born on August 17, 1932, in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, and passed away on August 11, 2018, in London, England.

Naipaul is known for his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his bleaker novels of alienation in the wider world, and his vigilant chronicles of life and travels. His writing often explores themes of exile and postcolonial identity.

Some of his notable works include:

“A House for Mr Biswas” (1961)

“In a Free State” (1971), for which he won the Booker Prize

“A Bend in the River” (1979)

2.What is the book "Good Muslim" about? Also mention the author & country .

“The Good Muslim” is a novel by Tahmima Anam, an award-winning author from Bangladesh.

The book is a sequel to her debut novel “A Golden Age” and spans the year from 1984 to 1985, with occasional flashbacks to the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. It’s a story about faith and family shadowed by a war.

The central characters of the novel are Maya and Sohail. In 1984, Maya returns home after almost a decade of absence and finds her beloved brother Sohail completely transformed. She still has the same revolutionary zeal, but Sohail has resorted to religiosity in its puritanical form and has become a charismatic religious leader.

The ideological difference between Sohail and his sister creates a deep-seated schism in their minds. This difference is the central conflict in “The Good Muslim”. They have charted their own ways, opposite to each other’s, of moving forward in the shadow of the tortuous history.

Maya is a liberal-minded ‘village doctor’ who helps women victims of war. Sohail’s way of being a good Muslim is altogether different from his sister’s. He has embraced a version of Islam as defined by the Tablig Jamaat, which shuns the joyful life filled with music, friends and liberal values.

The book is set in Bangladesh at a time when religious fundamentalism is on the rise. It’s an epic story about faith, family, and the long shadow of war.

3. What is "The Lowland" about?

“The Lowland” is a novel by Jhumpa Lahiri that explores the lives of two brothers, Subhash and Udayan Mitra, who grow up in Calcutta in the 1960s. Their neighborhood, Tollygunge, is full of refugees displaced by the 1947 Partition of India. The brothers, who are one year apart in age, are inseparable during their childhood.

Subhash, the older and more reserved brother, often finds himself roped into trouble by his younger, more impulsive brother Udayan. As they enter their collegiate years and attend separate local universities, they begin to drift apart. Udayan becomes involved with a group of radicals associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India with ties to the Naxalite movement. Amid the violence and unrest, Udayan devotes his days and nights to CPI (ML) activities, while Subhash decides to pursue a Ph.D. in America.

In America, Subhash attends university in Rhode Island, where he is one of the only Indian students. His feelings of isolation increase when a letter from Udayan arrives saying he has gone against their parents’ wishes for an arranged marriage and chosen to marry a woman named Gauri for love. Subhash returns to Calcutta to find it completely changed by the violence of the Naxalites. Subhash realizes that his brother had never given up his radical politics and was likely killed by police.

The novel is a deeply felt exploration of family ties that entangle and fray in ways unforeseen and unrevealed. It examines in intimate detail the intersection of the political and the personal, encompassing nearly 50 years of Indian and American history through the lives of one family.

4.Who is the author of ‘Island of Thousand Mirrors? ___________ ________________    and to which country does s/he belongs to? 

The author of ‘Island of Thousand Mirrors’ is Nayomi Munaweera. She was born in Sri Lanka and grew up in Nigeria. She emigrated to the United States in her early teens and now lives in Oakland, CA. Therefore, she is a Sri Lankan American writer.

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” holds significant meaning in relation to the themes of the novel. The term “Floating World” is a reference to an ancient Japanese tradition of creating art that was impermanent and could be destroyed. This symbolizes the fragile nature of memory, as it is constantly shifting and being reinterpreted. It also refers to the idea of life as a constantly changing and ephemeral thing. The title is a metaphor for the idea that life can be both beautiful and fleeting. Furthermore, the novel’s title is based on the literal translation of Ukiyo-e, a word referring to the Japanese art of prints. The novel’s presentation of a vain and self-deluding artist whose contributions lose their importance with the passage of time gives the title its meaning. In essence, it reflects the transient and changing nature of the world, the impermanence of art, and the shifting perceptions of an individual’s life and work. 

 WORKSHEET:2 ‘An Artist of the Floating World’

Explain these quotes: 

(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:

_______________________.

This quote seems to be a confession or admission of guilt from a person who acknowledges their past mistakes and their negative impact on their nation. It could be from a political leader, a military official, or any influential figure who had a significant role in shaping the course of their nation’s history. The significance of this quote lies in its demonstration of remorse and acceptance of responsibility for past actions.

A."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." 

 This quote appears to be a critique of a certain type of artist who avoids engaging with the real world and its issues. The speaker seems to be admonishing Ono, presumably an artist, for his lack of worldly knowledge. The mention of Karl Marx suggests a discussion about political or economic theories that the artist might be ignorant of. The significance of this quote could be in its commentary on the role and responsibilities of artists in society.

C."Was Mr Naguchi like Oji?" --- Oji, why did Mr Naguchi kill himself?"

This quote seems to be a question about a person named Mr. Naguchi, who appears to have committed suicide. The speaker is asking if Mr. Naguchi was like Oji, possibly another character or person known to them. The significance of this quote could lie in its exploration of the reasons behind Mr. Naguchi’s tragic decision and its impact on the people around him.

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.” 

 This quote is from a person addressing their Sensei, indicating a student-teacher relationship. The speaker, presumably a young artist, is expressing their realization that they cannot remain detached from the realities of the world, especially in troubled times. The significance of this quote could be in its reflection of the artist’s personal growth and their decision to engage more deeply with the world around them.

Thank You !