Perelandra

Perelandra can be read as an allegory. How does Lewis’ version compare to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve?

What can Lewis’ critique of excess tell us about the world we live in now?

The Un-Man uses the logical fallacy of equivocation to “educate” the Queen while Ransom struggles to fight back because he must tell the truth. Where do we see the truth winning out over lies in the book and how does it affect the Queen?

Find examples of Ransom falling asleep. What is happening right before and after? Why does Lewis have Ransom sleep in these moments?

Ransom is only able to defeat the Un-Man when he overcomes the idea that all hate is bad and is able to feel pure hatred for the Un-Man. What can we learn from this? What does it mean to have “righteous hatred” in this context?

While it only takes up only a small portion of the novel, what is to be made of the friendship between Lewis and Ransom? What are the major differences between the two? How does that contrast highlight the ideas in the book? Why choose Lewis for the narrator?

Lewis argues that there is freedom in obedience. How does he make this point? Where do we see examples of obedience leading to freedom?

To help Ransom understand their message, the King tells him, “You will think of this best if you think of it in the likeness of certain things from your world” (168). Early on, Ransom mentions the Cyclops of Malacandra and the comparison he sees between human mythology and what he sees on Perelandra. Where do we see examples of these myths on Perelandra? What can we learn by connecting these myths to Lewis’s use of them?