The Great Divorce Hertz Test

Definition of Hell

"I am my own"

Definition of Heaven (Gregory of Nyssa)

"The eternal expansion of self"

Sat

Infinite reality

Chit

Infinite understanding

Ananda

Infinite joy

What does Lewis say about the earth in relation to Heaven and Hell?

Earth is part of both Heaven and Hell; Individual chooses which.

Why does Lewis attach himself to the queue? What happens in the queue and how does he react?

Lewis attaches himself because of curiosity. In the queue, the big ghost beats up another man and Lewis responds saying, "Oh, I'm forward."

What is the relationship between the bus driver and the messenger in Dante?

Bus driver and messenger are same person--Lewis took from Dante as a reference.

How is the grey town created?

Imagination--we create our Hell.

Why doesn't Napoleon stop his pacing and blaming?

He cannot.

How do the faces on the bus compare to descriptions of Holocaust victims? What do you think Lewis is attempting with this allusion?

The faces lack hope--the people on the bus are victims.

How is the place where the bus stopped different from where it picked up the passengers?

The place is solid and real.

How does Lewis describe the people who got off the bus? How are they different from people he has always known?

The people are ghosts, but they are not different from people he has always known. The difference is the place.

What did the Big Ghost ask for? What does he deserve?

He asks for his rights and he deserves nothing.

What did the Spirit ask the ghost to do to be saved?

Repent and believe.

What line relates to "Chit"?

"No atmosphere of inquiry, for I will bring you to the land not of questions but of answers, and you shall see the face of God."

What line relates to "Sat"?

"We know nothing of religion here; we think only of Christ. We know nothing of speculation. Come and see. I will bring you to Eternal Fact, the Father of all other fact hood."

How does Lewis change? What evidence is there that he is changing?

His senses receive more impressions that would normally exceed their capacity.

Why couldn't Ikey bring the Apple back to Greytown?

There is no room for the apple in Hell. The apple is too big/real and Hell is small.

How would you describe the Ghost Lewis talks to in this chapter 7?

He is a skeptic with cynicism.

Why wouldn't the Woman Ghost want to be seen? What does her Spirit try to convince her to do?

She doesn't want to be seen because she is ashamed of her vices. Her spirit tries to take her mind off of her vices.

What was the point of the unicorns?

To distract her/make her think of something other than herself.

Why didn't Anodos bring a message back from the TImeless?

Anodos couldn't fathom timeless--it's too big.

How does MacDonald explain our relation to the existence of Heaven and Hell?

The blessed will say they always lived in Heaven, and the lost will say they were always in Hell. They're both right.

How does MacDonald explain the bishop ghost's relationship to God?

The bishop ghost would rather talk about God then meet God.

What are the two kinds of people in the end?

Those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "Thy will be done."

What did the artist ghost need to do if he was to go to Heaven?

Give up art and look at the real.

Why did the wife ghost do things for her husband? What was he to her?

She did things for him to make her life better.

Why couldn't the Mom Ghost go to Heaven? What is her greatest desire?

She couldn't go to Heaven because she wanted Michael over God. Her greatest desire was her son--it must be God.

How does MacDonald explain the difference between what she thinks love is and what God thinks love is?

Mom thinks love is ownership (of her son) and God thinks love is giving her son up to Him.

Why did the ghost with the lizard have an Angel instead of a Spirit? What did the Angel keep asking him?

Ghost needed no convincing, so Angel had one purpose--to ask "May I kill it?" and perform the action once allowed.

Why did the lizard turn into a stallion?

Greatest weakness/vice turns into greatest strength/virtue.

What kind of person was Sarah Smith on Earth? How would people describe who she was?

Sarah Smith was unnoticeable, but she was also described as an empathetic and loving person to all.

Who was more real, the Dwarf Ghost or the Tragedian?

The Dwarf Ghost.

What are the two types of pity?

Loving pity and controlling pity.

Why doesn't Sarah Smith love the Tragedian?

The Tragedian is not real.

How does MacDonald explain that Jesus could enter into Hell?

Only the biggest (Jesus) can reach the furthest. Hell is so small that only Jesus can enter there.

What is the purpose of Chronos Time according to MacDonald?

The purpose is to make choices.

Why does Lewis end the book as he did?

Lewis doesn't want you to think that this story is 100% actually true.

What else do I need to know for the test?

READ THE FINAL CHAPTER.