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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who causes the author the most confusion?

2. What disease took both of the author's parents?

3. In his grief, where did the author want to revisit?

4. If death is real, what does the author conclude about it?

5. Who is the main character in the book?

Short Essay Questions

1. H.'s absence is most evident to Lewis in his body. How does Lewis experience his own body in his grief?

2. Why does Lewis think that grief is like fear? Describe the ways in which Lewis experiences fear.

3. What does Lewis experience when he finally goes to a place where he and H. had been happy?

4. Describe some people whom Lewis thinks are having negative reactions to Lewis and his grief?

5. Lewis decided to record his reflections to get all his feelings and thoughts out. What does Lewis reflect might be a downside to his journal?

6. Lewis begins to ask a question that becomes central to his reflections. What "disquieting symptom" introduces itself to Lewis in Chapter One?

7. Before H. died, In what ways is Lewis aware of the distinction between himself and H.?

8. In what ways does Lewis describe H.'s "noble hunger"? Describe the ways that H.'s "noble hunger" displayed itself in H.'s approach.

9. Does Lewis believe in the idea of families reuniting on the other side? Upon what does Lewis base his conclusion?

10. What is one aspect of the supposed consolation that H. continues that troubles Lewis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lewis begins to ponder H. and the possibility of her continuing existence. In the beginning of his reflections, Lewis discovers that H. has become inaccessible in different ways. Needless to say, this causes him great disturbance. Discuss what sets off Lewis's thoughts about H. and where or if she "is." What does Lewis discover is different in her case than was true for all others whom he had known who had died? What related issue does Lewis's trouble regarding H. introduce? This topic is one that runs through the book and is more central than Lewis's difficulties about H. What does Lewis finally determine is the distinction between the others who had died and H.?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the book, Lewis cries out to have H. come back to him. He wants what they had together and is torn by his wanting. In Chapter Three, Lewis records an unexpected surprise that happened one morning. What was the surprise? Describe the details of the experience. What was the result of the surprise?

Essay Topic 3

Images play important roles and relate to central ideas in Lewis's reflections. What is important about images for Lewis? In the last chapter, Lewis writes about images and reality. How does Lewis regard images? What is Lewis's example of a reality that has powerful images (icons) associated with it? What does Lewis determine is the nature of reality as it relates to images? What does all that mean for the one who grieves and wants his beloved back?

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