Shogun

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss your favorite and least favorite aspects of Shogun. Which plot points were least and most believable? Which scenes elicited the strongest emotional responses?

2. If you’ve read them, compare and contrast Shogun to the other titles in Clavell’s Asian Saga. How does Shogun relate to the preceding two titles, King Rat and Tai-Pan? How does the novel set up conflicts for the subsequent titles Noble House, Whirlwind, and Gai-Jin?

3. Explore parallels between Shogun and parallel works. For instance, how does Clavell’s representation of Asian culture compare and contrast with that of titles like Helen DeWitt’s The Last Samurai and Pamela S. Turner’s Samurai Rising?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. How did you respond to John Blackthorne’s capture and survival? How did John’s fate compare to your expectations of his fate? 

2. The novel explores notions of obedience and honor. How do John’s and Yoshi Toranaga’s customs relate to your own cultural, familial, and national customs?