Research grief management techniques for both children and adults. How could such techniques have helped both Douglas and Lewis deal with Joy's illness and death?

Compare and contrast the character of Lewis with Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Discuss how both men handle their tendency towards indecision.

Watch the 1986 BBC version of Shadowlands that Nicholson wrote before the stage version. Compare the two versions, focusing on how the characters of Lewis and Joy evolved.

Research the social and cultural history of the University of Oxford, especially the institution's dons. Did this insular society contribute to Lewis' problematic character at the beginning of the play?