View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Kelvin see about the formation, when he gets near it?

2. What does Kelvin want to do after he realizes Rheya is truly gone?

3. How long will it take to receive a reply from Earth?

4. When does Snow say the experiment will be ready?

5. What is the common perception of Solaris during the second period of Solarist study that Gravinsky identifies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What formation does Kelvin see as the ship travels to the polar region of Solaris?

2. What is Snow's response to Sartorius' new experiment?

3. Does Snow believe Kelvin when Kelvin says he loves Rheya?

4. How does Kelvin imagine his return to Earth?

5. How does Snow describe Rheya's final moments?

6. What does Rheya say in her suicide note?

7. What does Snow say that Sartorius wants to do to the ocean?

8. What does Rheya want from Kelvin, after she listens to the tape recorder?

9. Why doesn't Kelvin share his doubts about the upcoming experiment with Rheya?

10. What reason does Kelvin give for wanting to go off the station?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The ocean of Solaris is a life form that is inexplicable both from a physics perspective and from a human consciousness perspective.

1) Can mankind ever understand anything that's truly different from itself, and does this preclude an understanding of Solaris?

2) Do any of the explanations advanced for Solaris' ocean define it outside of the context of humanity, or are they all reflections of human experience?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the history of Solaris in the novel, Solarists have had multiple theories about the nature of Solaris' ocean. Discuss the nature of Solaris' ocean.

1) What are various theories that exist about Solaris' ocean, and why are there so many theories?

2) What is the most plausible theory of Solaris' ocean, based on the events and information in the novel?

3) Is it possible to understand the nature of Solaris' ocean?

Essay Topic 3

What does the novel say about unknowability? Discuss whether the nature of Solaris' ocean is knowable, based on external information, which is the only information available to humans. Discuss whether the nature of another human being is knowable, also based on the external information that is the only information available to others. Is it possible to truly know one's self, even though an individual is privy to his or her own private life? Use examples from the novel, and explain the author's point of view in your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 711 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample