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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. When does Snow say that the visitors first appeared?

2. What appears on Solaris' ocean fifteen days after the end of the experiment?

3. What do mimoids duplicate?

4. What happens to Rheya after she tries to kill herself?

5. Where does Kelvin go after the experiment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe a mimoid.

2. What book does Kelvin read in the library?

3. What does Snow say that Sartorius wants to do to the ocean?

4. Why does Snow want to give Kelvin a job to do?

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

6. Why doesn't Kelvin share his doubts about the upcoming experiment with Rheya?

7. How does Rheya describe being away from Kelvin?

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

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

10. What does Rheya want from Kelvin, after she listens to the tape recorder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the history of Solaris in the novel, Solarists have had multiple theories about the nature of Solaris' ocean. Discuss the nature of Solaris' ocean.

1) What are various theories that exist about Solaris' ocean, and why are there so many theories?

2) What is the most plausible theory of Solaris' ocean, based on the events and information in the novel?

3) Is it possible to understand the nature of Solaris' ocean?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how Solaris' ocean can be seen as a metaphor for God.

1) Solaris' ocean creates a semblance of human beings, even bringing the dead back to life, at least on one level. In what ways can Solaris' creative power be compared to a god?

2) Solaris' ocean is beyond human understanding. In what ways can Solaris' unknowability be compared to a god?

3) Is Solaris' ocean in any way fundamentally different from a god?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 660 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample