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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 is Kelvin's prior relationship with Gibarian?

2. What strange formation does Berton first see in Solaris' ocean?

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

4. What does Kelvin arm himself with?

5. What does Kelvin see on Rheya's arm?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who do the records say took The Little Apocrypha out of the library?

3. Describe the view of Solaris that Kelvin first sees from his room.

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

5. Is Kelvin on time for his meeting with Snow?

6. Describe the person Kelvin is shocked to see go into Gibarian's room.

7. Describe Snow.

8. What do the scientists see when the cover falls off Sartorius' video phone?

9. What reason does Kelvin give for his suggestion about the physical composition of the visitors?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Solaris, Kelvin is faced with his most deeply held guilt and desire. Similarly, the other characters are faced with repressed desires and obsessions, ones that horrify them when they're brought into reality.

1) What does the novel say about mankind's knowledge of himself and his own desires?

2) Are people's deepest desires always confounded with guilt, shame, or other negative emotions?

2) Why can't the scientists, as Kelvin suggests at one point, learn to live openly with their visitors and adjust to the situation over time?

Essay Topic 2

One of the main dreams of Solarists is contact with the ocean, and so one of the major thematic elements in Solaris is communication.

1) What are the obstacles to communication in Solaris, both between the ocean and the scientists and between the human characters? What is the effect of a lack of communication?

2) Does the ocean attempt to communicate with the scientists?

3) Is communication possible with the ocean?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Kelvin's character and what Kelvin learns from his experiences on Solaris.

1) Does Kelvin grow and change throughout the story? How does his relationship with Rheya change?

2) Does Kelvin gain a deeper understanding of himself, the ocean, or mankind? If so, what understanding does he gain, and how does he gain it?

3) Why does Kelvin decide to stay on Solaris at the end of the novel? What does he hope to find or achieve on Solaris?

(see the answer keys)

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