Klara and the Sun

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are polygenic traits? Why might scientists attempt to bioengineer genes? What are some of the concerns people have when considering gene editing?

Teaching Suggestion: Students will benefit from brief research to define polygenic traits, bioengineering of genes, and gene editing prior to reading the articles and watching the video suggested here or delving into other sources they discover on their own. In Klara and the Sun, one of the major conflicts addresses bioengineering in Josie, Klara’s owner, who is sick because she has been “lifted,” or bioengineered, to become more intelligent. One of the debates the novel addresses is the inequality between bioengineered people and those who are not engineered.

• This article describes some of the complications that arise in selecting polygenic traits and gives a pessimistic view of the efficacy of doing so.
• This article describes studies conducted in China to bioengineer genes to create disease-resistant babies.
• The idea of genetic selection is not new, as this 4-minute TV news segment (a brief overview of genetic selection and interview with a bioethics professor) from over a decade ago points out.
• This article explores the ethics of genetic selection with reference to Beauchamp and Childress’s 4 principles of biomedical ethics.

2. What concerns, if any, do you have regarding artificial intelligence (AI)? What are some of the major concerns with AI systems? How are concerns with AI sometimes treated in media, books, or film?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may be able to engage in discussion more deeply after reading the article below or similar resources on the potential problems or challenges AI may create in our society. It may be a good time to make the connection to the novel: The main character, Klara, is an AI robot designed to be a companion to small children. She has surpassed her original programming, however, and poses an ethical dilemma for the human characters in the novel.

• This 15-minute TED Talk video speculates about whether we can build AI without losing control over it. (Please note that the presentation includes a brief mention of LSD.)
• This article describes the potential dangers of AI as human society becomes increasingly reliant on it.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What are some complications that might arise in society because of genetic engineering? How might genetic engineering be tied to wealth? What might society look like if genetic engineering is available to everyone? Who determines what is a desirable genetic trait? What are some potential benefits of genetic engineering?

Teaching Suggestion: Genetic engineering has created a lot of problems in Klara’s world. Some of the issues that arise from genetic engineering include sickness, inequalities between wealthy and unwealthy families, workers being replaced by genetically engineered people, and civil unrest. It may be beneficial to encourage students to first list the major components that contribute to the overall success of a society (transportation, education, agriculture, government, etc.), then speculate about the consequences genetic engineering might manifest in those areas.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who require an additional challenge or who would like a research-based prompt, consider asking them to investigate the concept of bioengineering and to create a list of the social consequences bioengineering might have on society. Ask them to explain why bioengineering might be considered cruelty.