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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 say happens when we experience any kind of pain?

2. What quality best characterizes the author's reflections?

3. Whom does Lewis' sons remind him of?

4. According to the author, what never repeats itself?

5. The day after the author's rant in Chapter Two, what does he ask himself about God?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lewis mean by the term "live" as it relates to H.'s memory?

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

3. Lewis turns to C. with questions about God. How does C. respond to Lewis's thoughts?

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

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

6. 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?

7. What does Lewis realize is the problem with deciding to think less about himself and more about H.?

8. Does Lewis have trouble believing that God exists? Explain.

9. How does Lewis try to convince himself that he does not mind H.'s death? Provide examples of the things that Lewis tells himself.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Before H. died, what were her nearly last words to Lewis? How do those words compare with words of consolation that Lewis hears after H.'s death? Who does Lewis believe and why? If H.'s words were true, what does it mean for her continuing in God's hands? Describe Lewis's feelings about a God in whose hands Lewis sadly finds his departed wife.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter Four, Lewis describes two enormous gains that relate to God and to H. Describe those gains. Why does Lewis not call them "lasting" gains? For all that he gained, what does Lewis chide himself for as far as his earlier desires were concerned? How does recognition of these gains come to Lewis? Use Lewis's poetic description of how they do, and do not, come into view.

Essay Topic 3

Lewis must deal with his children as they all struggle through their loss. As Lewis tries to open up to his sons, he is confronted with their great disturbance.

1) How does Lewis attempt to communicate with his children? What topics of conversation does he introduce?

2) How do the children respond to Lewis's advances to build a bridge that connects them? Specify how Lewis interprets the children's responses. Give at least three examples of Lewis's impressions.

3) With what experience does Lewis relate his sons' emotions about their mother's death?

(see the answer keys)

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