An Artist of the Floating World
by Kazuo Ishiguro
About_
An Artist of the Floating World, by Kazuo Ishiguro, follows retired painter Masuji Ono as he reflects on his career,
his family, and his uncertain legacy in postwar Japan. Through fragmented, unreliable memories, Ono revisits his
mentors, students, and choices during the war years while navigating his younger daughter’s marriage negotiations
in the present. The novel explores themes of guilt, memory, pride, and generational change as Japan rebuilds itself.
This study guide contains 91 questions across 7 chapter sections (70 Factual + 21 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12
clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12 (AP/College-level Literature)
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students track Ono’s shifting, unreliable narration while building strong
comprehension of the novel’s timeline and characters. The factual questions reinforce plot recall, while the critical
questions push students toward deeper analysis of memory, guilt, and moral responsibility. We hope this resource
saves you preparation time while sparking rich classroom discussion!