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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 does Kelvin plan to test his own sanity?

2. What does Kelvin think of Berton's account?

3. What is the condition of the research station when Kelvin arrives?

4. Where is Gibarian?

5. Who led the first preliminary study of Solaris, one which did not land on the surface?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Snow's reaction to Kelvin's description of Rheya as a woman he once loved who killed herself?

2. What do Rheya's death and Gibarian's death have in common?

3. Why do Sartorius, Snow, and Kelvin cover the cameras on their videophones?

4. Why aren't Berton's experiences related in the Supplement that Gibarian's note directs Kelvin to?

5. What is Gibarian's reaction to the eerie sound of footsteps echoing through the station?

6. What does Kelvin do before removing his spacesuit?

7. Describe the research station as Kelvin first sees it.

8. Was Gibarian dead when Snow found him?

9. Who was the first human to die in Solaris's ocean?

10. Why is Kelvin surprised by his greeting when he approaches the research station?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss objective and subjective reality in the novel.

1) How do the characters determine what objective reality is? How do the characters know the nature of Solaris' ocean and the reality of the visitors?

2) Kelvin devises a test to make sure that he's not mad. How good is his test at determining the objective reality? Is it possible for Kelvin to be sure he's detecting an objective truth outside of the subjective experience of his mind?

3) Rheya is created from the subjective memories of Kelvin's mind, not an objective image of the original Rheya. How does this affect Rheya's personality and development?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

What does the novel say about unknowability? Discuss whether the nature of Solaris' ocean is knowable, based on external information, which is the only information available to humans. Discuss whether the nature of another human being is knowable, also based on the external information that is the only information available to others. Is it possible to truly know one's self, even though an individual is privy to his or her own private life? Use examples from the novel, and explain the author's point of view in your analysis.

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