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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 does Kelvin see about the formation, when he gets near it?

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

3. What does Kelvin do when Snow gives him a drink?

4. What does Kelvin say when Snow suggests Kelvin's "god" is mankind?

5. What does Kelvin try to convince Rheya of, after she tries to kill herself?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Does Snow believe Kelvin when Kelvin says he loves Rheya?

3. How does Kelvin imagine his return to Earth?

4. Why does Rheya lie to Kelvin about what she did during the night?

5. What reasons does Kelvin have not to tell Rheya what she wants to know?

6. Why doesn't Kelvin want to open a communications channel to the shuttle he launched?

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

8. Why does Kelvin go to the library?

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

10. What metaphor does Kelvin use to describe trying to understand Solaris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss desire, shame, and secrets in the novel.

1) The scientists experience great shame about their visitors. Sartorius hides his visitor in his room. Snow hides his in a locker and never gives a hint of his, her, or its nature. Gibarian kills himself to prevent the discovery of his visitor by the others. Why do the scientists experience such great shame?

2) Kelvin desires Rheya, but he is also overcome with guilt and horror by her. Do the other scientists also desire their visitors at some level? What does this say about the relationship of desire and shame?

3) Why do the characters keep secrets from each other in the novel? Why do the scientists hide their visitors, even though the others can't know the deep-seated emotional connotations connected with those visitors?

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

Evaluate Rheya's individuality and separateness from Kelvin.

1) Why can't Rheya leave Kelvin's sight when she first appears, and why does she grow more physically independent the longer she exists?

2) Does Rheya merely reflect Kelvin's deepest memories, thoughts, and beliefs, or is she separate from him?

3) Does Rheya become an individual over the course of the story, or is she trapped into being a reflection of Kelvin's thoughts and memories?

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