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. When will Vane know the reasons for what the sleepers do?

2. What legend does Vane learn from his butler?

3. How does Vane try to revive the corpse?

4. What does Vane encounter after crossing a desert?

5. What is in the chamber in the garret?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Vane follow the woman?

2. What happens when Vane catches up to the woman?

3. What does Raven say about prayers to Vane?

4. How does Vane continue to try to resurrect the fresh corpse of the woman?

5. Describe Vane's encounter with a frightened woman in Bulika.

6. What does Raven call the place where Mr. Vane is and what odd things are there?

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

8. Describe Bulika.

9. What does Vane's father describe in some papers Vane finds?

10. How does Vane interact with the white Leopardess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of places where Mr. Vane expresses his loneliness and even suggests that being close to an animal would be better than nothing. It is human companionship that he seems to yearn for above all else. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze the concept of loneliness throughout Lilith. Who seems lonely? Why are they lonely? Do they recognize the situation? What do they do to remedy their loneliness?

2. Is loneliness always a negative thing? What can be learned from loneliness? When does loneliness go from being a positive learning experience to an unhealthy situation? Discuss these question with both examples from the text and in your own experience.

3. Medical and scientific studies have suggested that people who live alone with no family, few friends and no pets tend to die sooner than those with some connections. Even people who are isolated but have a pet(s) seem to live longer than the completely alone. Research the topic, write a synopsis of your research and relate it to Lilith.

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

In Chapter 8, Vane examines some old papers. One thing written there is the sentence: "I know the outspread splendour a passing show ... it may... be lifted to reveal more wonderful things." Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the implication of the above quote as to the nature of reality.

2. The reality of the world into which Vane enters through the mirror is quite different from the "real" world which is composed of only three dimensions. Compare/contrast the properties of the "real" world (that which we live in) to the properties of the world Vane visits.

3. At the end of the book, Vane, Lona and the Little Ones are walking towards a City on top of a mountain. The suggestion is that this city is "heaven." Discuss how you think the world of this city may differ from both our earth and the world in which Bulika is set.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,391 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample