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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. What does the author conclude about the way that lovers feel about the other one's death?

2. What religious form would an introduction of a bad God take, according to the author?

3. Where does the author determine holds no promise of a happy afterlife?

4. What does the author conclude it is foolish to expect from the dead?

5. How long were the author and H. married?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways does Lewis reflect a mother who has lost her child can and cannot find comfort? For what does a mother mourn in that situation?

2. What was so striking and disturbing about Lewis's encounter with the man he had not seen for 10 years? What image comes to Lewis's mind about memories of H.?

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

4. What do consoling people tell Lewis about where H. is after her death? How does Lewis interpret these attempts to console him?

5. What aspects of religion is Lewis glad to discuss? What aspect of religion is Lewis not willing to accept?

6. What was the most precious gift that marriage to H. had given Lewis? What is Lewis afraid will happen to that gift?

7. How did Lewis feel years ago about a friend's life after death? Contrast that experience with the way that Lewis experiences H. after her death?

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

9. What does Lewis think that he can say about H.'s continuing? Why is it important for Lewis to work out the issue of where H. is?

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

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

For the first two chapters, Lewis is immersed in emotions, in raw agony. In the third chapter, he takes a significant turn. As Lewis points his ability to reason toward his grief, he begins another stage in the process of his grieving.

1) What questions does Lewis ask about H.'s death and what it means for the whole of life? When Lewis writes about the "problem of the universe," what does he mean?

2) Describe the difference between what Lewis believed before H. died and what he questions after she dies. What is the main difference between the two conditions of belief? What is important about the difference for the possibility of a sane and rational life of faith?

3) Regarding faith, what Lewis believed prior to H.'s death has everything to do with his faith in God and in what he had been taught. How does Lewis think about his faith after H. died?

Essay Topic 3

Lewis reflects that people other than his children are having trouble coping with Lewis's grief. He describes various instances and impressions that leave him with distinct opinions about those who grieve.

1) Whom does Lewis encounter that he believes have uncomfortable responses to his obvious agony? Provide general as well as specific examples.

2) How do the people about whom Lewis writes respond to him? Be specific, detailing who and how they respond.

3) What does Lewis conclude about people who are grieving and their place in society?

(see the answer keys)

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