For Monday, September 23

Read The Great Divorce through Chapter 7.

I have put study guide questions here for you.  Make sure you can mentally answer the questions before you come to class next Monday.  Enjoy your reading! Dig deep and ponder the Christian Journey.

Chapter Four (The Big Ghost)

1.                  Describe the approach of the Solid People.  Why does the earth shake at their coming?

2.                  Why does the Big Man not think it’s fair that the Solid Man has been sent to Heaven and he has not?  Who is Jack?

3.                  What reasons does the Big Ghost give for deserving to be sent to Heaven?  What does the Big Man say are his rights?

4.                  The Solid Man answers that, no, he will not get his right, but what instead?

5.                  The Big Ghost says he is not asking for anybody’s “bleeding charity.”  What is the Solid Man’s answer?

6.                  The Solid Man tells the Big Ghost that he has been sent to him to ask his forgiveness.  For what?

7.                  What does the Solid Man reveal about all of the men who worked under the Big Ghost?

8.                  What is the Big Ghost’s final response?  Why is this significant?

Chapter 5 (The Episcopal Ghost)

1.  The E.G. says that happiness is found in what?
2. Does the ghost believe in a literal Heaven or Hell?  Why are his views ironic in light of where he has been and where he is now?
3. What are his views on the resurrection?  On the death of Christ?
4. The ghost tells Dick that if he stays in Heaven, he wants a promise of a sphere of influence and a place that can use his talents as well as a free spirit of inquiry.  Dick tells him that he is bringing him not to the place of questions but of what?
5. When Dick inquires, “Do you believe that He exists?” what is the ghost’s answer?
6. The ghost finally tells Dick that he has to get to the grey town to do what?  What is so ironic about this statement?
7. On what topic did the Episcopal ghost “preach his famous sermon?”

Chapter 6 (Golden Apples)-Apples…again?

1. What is the via dolorosa of the man gathering apples?  Is this something he has put upon himself?
2. Why does the man have such a hard time picking up apples?
3. Of what does the voice remind the narrator?
4. What does the voice mean when it suggest that the man “stay here and learn to eat such apples?”  How would it be possible for the “very leaves” of that land to “teach” him how to eat such apples?

Chapter 7 (The Hard-Bitten Ghost (the cynical man)

1. What does the ghost in this chapter reveal early on about his desires to stay in heaven?
2. This ghost is a hedonist.  Define hedonism.  Connect this concept with the amusement parks in Hell.  Do you see any interesting parallels?
3. This ghost thinks that Heaven is, like all other advertised places, just another what?
4. Describe the narrator’s emtions after talking to this ghost.  Why does he feel this way?
5. Toward the end of this discussion, the ghost shows his resentment toward Heaven’s “management team” for what?
6. Later he asks, “Who wants to be rescued anyway?”  Explain the significance of this question generally.  Then explain it specifically in relationship to questions #5.