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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 Vane learn from Lona?

2. What does Vane find on his cheek and neck after he wakes?

3. What kind of tree is in the ruins of a church?

4. What keeps Vane from communing with the beasts?

5. In what does Vane now find joy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why isn't Raven very accommodating to Vane?

2. To where does Mr. Vane follow the figure who appears and disappears?

3. What does Raven say every human being has within?

4. Describe what happens at the Sexton's Cottage before they go through the inner door.

5. How are the sleepers described?

6. Describe Bulika.

7. What does Raven give Vane to follow and what happens to the guide?

8. What does Mr. Vane think may have happened to him and what does he do because of that?

9. What does Vane do that is an "awful duty"?

10. How does the woman act when she first stands alive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly trace and analyze the theme of "universal salvation" as it occurs in LILITH. What does this term mean in context of Christianity? How is it expressed in Lilith? Is this concept part of the fundamental precepts of most Christian sects? Why or why not?

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze the theme of greed as it occurs in LILITH. What characters are greedy? Why? Is Vane greedy when he reaches out to grasp the beautiful creature he sees (Chapter 7, p. 47). Who is able to let go of greed? How do they do so? Does anyone refuse to transform his/her greed? Who? Why?

3. Thoroughly trace and analyze the juxtaposing of beauty with evil. How are the two concepts related? What characters are beautiful? Is beauty only physical? What characters are beautiful on the outside but evil on the inside? Is the internal evil transformed to match the external beauty? With whom? How?

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 4, when Vane objects to not being treated as a free agent, Raven claims that once he chooses to be free, he will be free, and adds that Vane is just beginning to become an individual. Likewise, one can only make a fool of oneself. Such riddles become the bane of Vane's existence. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss and analyze two riddles that occurs in Lilith. What do you think each riddle means? Why do you think Raven talks in riddles (at least in Vane's opinion) at times?

2. Many spiritual teachers are known to speak in parables, or something akin to riddles, to their followers. Why do you think parables and riddles are used so often as teaching tools for esoteric ideas?

3. Offer a reader-response to the use of riddles in Lilith. Do they frustrate you or intrigue you? Or a little of both? Give examples and explain your response to them.

Essay Topic 3

Mr. Vane desires to be helpful to the Little Ones and others he meets in the other world. Sometimes what he thinks is being helpful is actually harmful. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze three situations when Mr. Vane is trying to be helpful but the results are harmful. What is he trying to do? Why does he want to help? Is his help actually needed? What is the result of his help?

2. MacDonald seems to suggest that the "modern" world of his day was abandoning philanthropy in the pursuit of knowledge and material possessions. Discuss this idea in light of the text using examples to illustrate your thoughts.

3. In your own experience, do you think at times it is difficult to distinguish between helpfulness and causing harm? Why or why not? How can one know when to help and when to leave someone to figure things out for themselves?

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