The Great Divorce Chapters 1-7 Flashcards
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Questions and Answers

What genre does C.S. Lewis say he is writing in?

  • Historical Fiction
  • Science Fiction
  • Fantasy (correct)
  • Non-fiction

    • What does Lewis say he is not doing in his book?

    Attempting to imagine what the real heaven and hell might actually be like

    Describe the attitudes of the people waiting in line.

    Fighting, cheating, complaining, and negative

    How does the narrator describe the bus and the driver?

    <p>Brightly colored, 'blazing with golden light,' he does not act 'naturally'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the tousle-headed poet, how did he come to live in the grey town?

    <p>He jumped in front of a train</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the tousle-headed poet hope to find in the 'other place'?

    <p>Appreciation and recognition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What historical figure lives in the 'empire style house' that is millions of miles away?

    <p>Napoleon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Napoleon do all day?

    <p>Paces, blaming everyone else for his death/loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Napoleon says he will never give up on his prides/beliefs.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the intelligent man, what is wrong with the grey town?

    <p>The people don't have any needs; they need 'real commodities'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the intelligent man say is wrong with houses?

    <p>They don't keep out the rain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does he say about what happens at night in the grey town?

    <p>He is afraid of a mysterious 'them'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The narrator describes the passengers' faces when the lights hit them.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When they get to the other world, what does the narrator discover about himself and the other passengers' bodies?

    <p>They are ghosts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do many of the passengers react to this new environment?

    <p>They are frightened</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long does the driver say that the passengers can stay?

    <p>As long as they liked</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are the visitors from this new world described?

    <p>Ageless and naked</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Big Man meets a guy named then that is...

    <p>A murderer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Big Man was happy to see Len.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Len encourage him to do?

    <p>That he should ask for grace (the 'bleeding charity')</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Big Man doesn't want to ask for grace; he believes he did his best.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Big Man finally decide to do and why?

    <p>Returns to the bus; he wants no 'bleeding' charity, too stubborn with pride</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the cultured Ghost and Dick know each other?

    <p>They were university friends</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Dick say his friend was sent to grey town?

    <p>He lost the true faith</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What simple instructions does Dick give to the ghost, so that he will be able to join him in heaven?

    <p>Repent and believe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If the ghost was to join his friend, what does he desire in heaven?

    <p>To have his talents be useful, for an 'atmosphere of free inquiry.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Dick mean when he tells his friend to 'become that child again, even now?'

    <p>Have faith, believe in God's truth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the final reason for not going with Dick?

    <p>He has to go back to the grey town to read a theological paper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when Ikey picks up the apple?

    <p>The 'water giant' says, 'fool, put it down.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ikey puts down the apple and stays.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What biblical allusion is Lewis making with the capitalized 'T' in Tree?

    <p>Trees from the Garden of Eden</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How would you describe the hard bitten ghost in one word?

    <p>Cynical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does he say about the offer to remain in heaven?

    <p>It's all a lie, propaganda</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Great Divorce: Chapters 1-7 Overview

    • C.S. Lewis states he is writing in the genre of fantasy, aiming to explore concepts of heaven and hell uniquely.
    • Lewis clarifies that he is not attempting to accurately portray real heaven or hell but uses imaginative fiction to convey deeper truths.
    • The attitudes of characters waiting in line are characterized by negativity, including fighting, cheating, and complaining.

    Description of Key Elements

    • The bus and its driver are described as brightly colored and "blazing with golden light," creating an otherworldly presence that feels unnatural.
    • The tousle-headed poet reveals he arrived in the grey town by jumping in front of a train, suggesting a longing for escape.
    • In the "other place," the poet hopes to find appreciation and recognition, reflecting his desire for validation.

    Historical Figures and Their Actions

    • Napoleon is noted for living in an "empire style house" that is distant from the others, showcasing his significant historical stature.
    • Napoleon spends his time pacing and blaming others for his perceived failures and loss.

    Perspectives on Existence in the Grey Town

    • The intelligent man critiques the grey town, stating that its residents lack genuine needs and are deprived of "real commodities."
    • He points out that the houses do not keep out rain, emphasizing their inadequacy in providing comfort.
    • There is a fear in the grey town, with residents anxious about a mysterious "them" that haunts the night.

    Reactions to the New Environment

    • Upon arrival in the new world, the narrator discovers he and others are akin to ghosts, lacking substantial physical forms.
    • Many passengers exhibit fear in response to the unfamiliar environment, highlighting their trepidation in the face of change.

    Passengers' Duration and Characteristics

    • Passengers are informed by the driver that they can remain in the new realm for as long as they wish, suggesting freedom of choice.
    • Visitors from this new realm are depicted as ageless and naked, symbolizing purity and a state of being devoid of earthly burdens.

    Interactions and Moral Choices

    • The Big Man encounters a character named Len, who reveals his past as a murderer, reflecting themes of guilt and redemption.
    • The Big Man's emotional response to Len is negative; he does not welcome Len's presence and struggles with his past.
    • Len urges the Big Man to ask for grace or "bleeding charity," highlighting the book's theme of seeking forgiveness.

    Friendship and Repentance

    • The cultured Ghost and Dick are former university friends, illustrating connections that transcend their current circumstances.
    • Dick explains that his friend was sent to the grey town due to his loss of true faith, introducing the idea of faith as a pathway to redemption.
    • He advises his friend to "repent and believe," offering a simple yet profound guide to spiritual awakening.

    Aspirations for Heaven

    • The ghost expresses a desire for his talents to be useful and for an "atmosphere of free inquiry" in heaven, indicating a thirst for knowledge and purpose.
    • Dick encourages his friend to have faith and reconnect with God's truth, embodying childlike belief and innocence.

    Final Choices and Consequences

    • The ghost ultimately decides against joining Dick, stating he must return to the grey town to fulfill his commitments, reflecting human tendencies to cling to old roles.

    Symbolism and Allegory

    • The "water giant" warns Ikey, saying "fool, put it down," when Ikey tries to pick up the apple, symbolizing temptation and the fall from grace.
    • Ikey does not stay, illustrating the choice to resist the offering of grace and the challenges of accepting spiritual gifts.

    Thematic Reflections

    • Lewis employs a biblical allusion with the capitalized "Tree," referencing the biblical Garden of Eden and themes of temptation and knowledge.
    • The hard-bitten ghost is best described as cynical, showcasing a stark contrast to the hopeful message of redemption.
    • Skepticism prevails for this ghost, who dismisses heaven's offerings as lies and propaganda, representing a resistance to accepting faith.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of the first seven chapters of C.S. Lewis's 'The Great Divorce' with these flashcards. Covering key concepts and attitudes depicted in the text, this quiz will help you deepen your understanding of Lewis's themes of heaven and hell.

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