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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 happens to Rheya after she tries to kill herself?

2. What does Kelvin awake to hear in the middle of the night?

3. Why does Kelvin make his argument?

4. What are Kelvin's brainwaves recorded onto?

5. What appears on Solaris' ocean fifteen days after the end of the experiment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Kelvin go to the library?

2. Why does Rheya lie to Kelvin about what she did during the night?

3. How does Rheya sign her suicide note?

4. Why does Kelvin say he doesn't want Rheya to overhear his conversation?

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

6. What does Snow call Rheya?

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

8. How does Rheya describe being away from Kelvin?

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

10. Why does Rheya choose the method she uses to try to kill herself?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Andre Berton's experiences on Solaris.

1) What are the meanings and implications of what Andre Berton saw? What do they tell us about Solaris' oceans?

2) How are Andre Berton's experiences related to the experiences of the scientists on the research station? Compare and contrast those experiences.

3) Why did the panel disbelieve and suppress Berton's reports of the instance on Solaris? What does this say about the failures of science?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the significance of the setup and layout of the space station setting.

1) The space station when Kelvin arrives is in complete disarray. Discuss the reasons for and significance of the state of the research station.

2) The library is an important element of the story, and a place Kelvin goes when he needs to escape. Discuss the significance of the library and how the author utilizes it in the story.

3) Kelvin's room looks out over Solaris' ocean and is the first place that Rheya appears to Kelvin. Discuss the significance and role of Kelvin's room and its view of the ocean.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel Solaris, the ocean is depicted as a mirror that shows humanity, on some level, only a reflection of itself, perhaps without even realizing it.

1) Is it possible that Solaris has no real consciousness but is a kind of machine that throws back to the scientists images of their own minds?

2) Is humanity incapable of seeing in Solaris anything but itself, no matter what the truth of Solaris' consciousness may be?

3) Does Solaris show the scientists at any point anything beyond what's in their own minds?

(see the answer keys)

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