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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. How did Van end his letters in "The Way of Grief?"

2. Who was Joy Davidman?

3. How does Van feel about the emptiness of the second death?

4. When did Van and C.S. Lewis say the dead will depart in "Epilogue: The Second Death?"

5. How does Van decide to honor Davy's memory?

Short Essay Questions

1. What vision of Davy did Van have in "Epilogue: The Second Death?"

2. In "The Severe Mercy," what did Van realize would happen if Davy had not died?

3. How did Van break "the barrier" in "The Barrier Breached?"

4. What did Van realize about Davy's barter with God in "The Deathly Snows?"

5. Why did Van write letters to several friends in "The Way of Grief?"

6. Why did Van become jealous of Davy's religious practices in "The Barrier Breached?"

7. How did Van reflect on time in "The Severe Mercy?"

8. What did Lewis warn Van about in terms of eternity?

9. Why was Davy's death described as a "severe mercy?"

10. What happened to Joy's health?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of intellectual communities in this book? How are they formed? What do they do? How do these communities affect the individuals and their story?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast two disagreements Van has with Lewis in this novel. Consider the topic of the argument, the opinions shared, and the result.

Essay Topic 3

Reflect on three examples of Lewis' writing in the book. Why was each piece written? What is the effect of each piece? How successful is each example of writing?

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