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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 decision does Kelvin make at the end of the novel?

2. Where does Kelvin go after the experiment?

3. What do Rheya and Kelvin spend their time talking about?

4. What is the common perception of Solaris during the first period of Solarist study that Gravinsky identifies?

5. When does Snow say the experiment will be ready?

Short Essay Questions

1. What book does Kelvin read in the library?

2. What does Snow call Rheya?

3. Why does Kelvin say he doesn't want Rheya to overhear his conversation?

4. How does Rheya sign her suicide note?

5. What is Gravinsk's Compendium commonly used for?

6. What can't Kelvin find, when he wakes in the morning?

7. How does Snow describe Rheya's final moments?

8. Why does Rheya choose the method she uses to try to kill herself?

9. What reason does Kelvin give for wanting to go off the station?

10. What formation does Kelvin see as the ship travels to the polar region of Solaris?

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

Analyze the genre of the novel Solaris.

1) How does Solaris utilize the science fiction genre? Why does the author choose a space setting, and how does he utilize science and technology to communicate his themes and ideas?

2) In what ways is Solaris a mystery or psychological thriller? What elements of the mystery/thriller genre does the author use?

3) What elements of the horror/ghost story genre does Solaris use? Is the story of Solaris a horrifying one?

Essay Topic 3

The ocean of Solaris is an active force in moving the story forward, and yet that ocean is incomprehensible to humans.

1) How does the author make Solaris' ocean a character in the novel while retaining its unknowability?

2) Are the reader's expectations of consciousness reflected in the way the reader interprets the story? Does the reader "read into" the ocean, and see sentience where there may be none?

(see the answer keys)

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