Macbeth: Pg. 227 #1, 4, 5

1. To what specific incidents does Lady Macbeth refer in her sleep? Which incident has affected her the most, and why do you think it has done so? Why is it appropriate that Lady Macbeth suffers from a sleep disorder?

• First Lady Macbeth refers to the killing of King Duncan in lines 32-33, "Yet  who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" Lady Macbeth also refers to the killing of all the people in Macduff's castle, particularly Macduff's wife (Lines 36-37: "The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o'that, my lord, no more o' that; you mar all with this starting.") Lady Macbeth also refers to the killing of Banquo (Lines 52-54: "Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on 's grave.") 
• I think the killing of King Duncan bothers Lady Macbeth the most. I think this is so because it was the first murder that was committed. Lady Macbeth also helped out a lot and this is the incident that she got blood on her hands. She encouraged her husband to kill King Duncan and now she sees the course of the effects. Her conscience won't let her forget from what event stemmed all the other murders. If she hadn't encouraged Macbeth to kill King Duncan as much as she did, things could have turned out differently for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth.
• It is appropriate that Lady Macbeth suffers a sleep disorder because she is plagued by the guilty conscience she carries around with her everywhere. Even in her sleep it gets to her and will not let her relax. A guilty conscience is not gotten rid of easily. At night it probably effects her even more because it is dark and also spooky at night, Lady Macbeth is probably scared of what she cannot see; which could be apparitions of her past deeds.

4. What reaction does Macbeth display in Scene v, lines 17-28, when he learns of his wife's death? What has been ultimately responsible for his disillusionment with life? What visual imagery in this speech do you consider especially vivid?

• Macbeth's reaction to his wife's death is not really one of surprise. He sounds like he expected it to happen very soon.
• I think that the weird sister's prophesies about Macbeth becoming king caused him to have a disillusioned view of life. Before the prophesies Macbeth was just another soldier about to be honored by the king. He had no desire to be king or to kill anyone for the sake of power and title. After the prophesies however, Macbeth had a burning desire within him to be king. He believed that the weird sister's prophesies would come true, no matter what the cost. After being king, Macbeth thought that all in his life would be okay. He thought that he would live out a satisfying life as ruler and king without anything to worry about. Macbeth could also be disillusioned though because his wife ended up killing herself, no matter how many times she said that the murders would be fine and that it would not affect them after. The one who encouraged him and pushed him to make those decisions has now killed herself over her guilt. 
• I think that lines 24-28 are especially vivid, it says, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." 

5. How does the structure of Act V serve to bring together the country's outer turmoil and Macbeth's inner turmoil? Also, how does this closing speech bring the play to a satisfactory conclusion?

• The structure of Act V goes from Lady Macbeth's inner turmoil, which will affect Macbeth's inner turmoil, to the country's outer turmoil and the preparation for war, to Macbeth's inner turmoil as he is becoming worried of an attack, to more preparation for the war and the idea that the soldiers should disguise themselves as trees, to Macbeth learning about the Queen's death, to the attack of soldiers on Macbeth's castle, to Macbeth panicking about all the soldiers and then meeting Macduff where they begin this long conversation and it ultimately ends up in Macbeth dying. The structure of Act V is done just so that as the turmoil within Macbeth is growing, the turmoil within the country is going until war breaks out and Macbeth is finally killed.
• The closing is wonderfully written and it closes up the question as to what happens to the war heroes after, it also says that those who ran from the tyranny of Macbeth will be welcomed home again, and it also says that whatever else needs be done will be done at the right time and in the right place. It ends with a thanks to the audience and the announcement that the people in the play will be crowned at Scone.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 263 #1,2,3,5

1. How does Macbeth show his desperation in his encounter with the witches in Scene i? Why does Macbeth fail to recognize the duplicity in the apparitions' statements? How does he plan to "make assurance double sure" in regard to Macduff?

• He tells them that he is willing to give up his whole future for only a temporary fulfillment of his evil desires. In lines 58-61 Macbeth says, "though the treasure of nature's germens tumble all together, even till destruction sicken; answer me to what I ask you." 
• He fails to recognize the duplicity in the apparitions' statements because he is too focused on figuring out if Macduff will ever defeat him.
• He plans to "make assurance double sure" by going to Macduff's castle and surprise the Fief. In Lines 150-154 Macbeth says, "The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; this deed I'll do before the purpose cool."

2. Discuss the abrupt change in tone introduced by the word yet in Scene i, line 100. How do you account for this change? Why is Macbeth discouraged by the show of eight kings?

• Macbeth believes that he will live not be killed and that he will live out the normal span of his life until he dies of time and old age. However, when he says yet Macbeth is still worried that Banquo's heirs shall kill him and inherit the kingdom. After Macbeth says yet he seems to be worried about his future and the possibility that he will not live out his life as long as he would like to.
• Macbeth doesn't want to believe that an heir from Banquo can kill him but the weird sisters did prophesy that Banquo's heirs would take over the throne. Macbeth is worried that sometime soon the weird sister's prophesy about Banquo's heirs will come true.
• The eight kings represent Banquo's heirs and the continuing lineage of those descendants of Banquo. Macbeth is discouraged at the sight of this because the apparitions do not show a line stemming from Macbeth. Which means that one of Banquo's heirs will take over the throne and defeat Macbeth.

3. How does Macbeth's speech in lines 144-56 of Scene i reveal the further moral deterioration of Macbeth? In what way does his motivation for Macduff's murder differ from this motivation for the first two murders? 

• In lines 144-156 of Scene i, Macbeth is plotting to got to Macduff's castle and kill his whole family and anyone else there. To Macbeth this seems like a logical thing to do because it will prevent any of Macduff's heirs from taking the throne away from him. This shows the horrible moral deterioration of Macbeth, to kill someone's family and all the people in their castle is a very wrongful thing to do. 
• Macbeth's motivation in this murder differs in that he wants anyone that might destroy him, or oppose him, or know the truth about his actions dead. Macbeth does not seek out the advice of Lady Macbeth for this murder, instead he decides on his own. In the previous murders he needed the reassurance and guidance from Lady Macbeth to push him to do the evil deeds. Now Macbeth's morals are so far gone that he is able to do these things of his own decisions.

5. In Scene iii what vices does Malcolm falsely attribute to himself? What virtues does he say he lacks? According to lines 130-31 what in actuality is Malcolm's first lie? Why do you think he speaks of himself in such a derogatory manner? Do you feel that Macduff had a sufficient motive for leaving his family to go to England?

• Malcolm attributes false vices to himself about lust for power, desiring of other people's things/land, greediness, and the very evil things that he would do if he were King. In lines 61-65 Malcom says, "Your wives, your daughters, your matrons, and your maids could not fill up the cistern of my lust, and my desire all continent impediments would o'erbear that did oppose my will." In lines 78-84 he says, "A staunchless avarice that, were I king, I should cut off the nobles for their lands, desire his jewels, and this other's house, and my more-having would be as a sauce to make me hunger more, that I should forge quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, destroying them for wealth."
• Malcolm says in lines 91-97, "But I have none. The king-becoming graces, as justice, verity, temp'rance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude, I have no relish of them, but about in the division of each several crime, acting it in many ways."
• I think that Malcolm speaks of himself in such a derogatory manner because he is trying to test Macduff's loyalties. He is naming all his faults and shortcomings that would make him seem like an even worse king than Macbeth. Malcolm has a good reason to be doing this since there have now been three murders and it is hard for him to tell who is on who's side. 
• I think Macduff did have a sufficient motive for leaving his family to go to England, however I do think that he should have provided a way for his family to be protected if harm should come their way, which it did. 

Macbeth: Questions pg. 246-247 #2 and 4

2. Why do you think Macbeth sends the Third Murderer to help kill Banquo and Fleance? In what way do the murderers fail, and how significant do you think the failure is? In Scene iv, line 28, to whom does the word worm refer, and what implication does Macbeth make by using the term?

• I think Macbeth sends the Third Murderer just to make sure that nothing goes wrong (act as a back up) and that both Banquo and Fleance are killed. 
• They fail to kill Fleance. I think this is very significant because Fleance is Banquo's son. The prophesy of the three witches said that the crown would not go to Banquo himself but to his heirs. Fleance is the heir of Banquo and so failure to kill Fleance still means that the prophesy can be fulfilled.
• The word worm refers to Fleance and the implication Macbeth makes by using this term is that Fleance is still young, but he can become a huge threat to Macbeth in the future if Macbeth does not do something about Fleance now. 

4. What does Macbeth mean in Scene iv, line 121, when he says, "Blood will have blood"? Find another example of Macbeth's statement of this idea in his opening soliloquy in Act I, Scene vii. Why does Macbeth feel that he must speak to the witches again? Do you consider his assessment of his situation in Scene iv, lines 135-37, a valid motive for his continuation of evil?

• By saying "Blood will have blood," Macbeth is insinuating that one death will eventually lead up to another. It is a cycle and once one killing has taken place, there will be another. It could also relate to the idea of vengeance. That the "blood" being the person killed will have "blood" being revenge on the one who killed that person.
• Act I, Scene vii, Lines 8-10
• "We still have judgement here, that we but teach
• Bloody instructions, which being taught, return
• To plague th' inventor..."
• Macbeth feels that he needs to speak to the witches again in order to know what bad things are waiting for him in the future. 
• No I do not consider Macbeth's assessment of his situation in Scene iv to be a valid motive for his continuation of evil. Macbeth has dug himself a very large hole and he believes there is no other option but to keep digging. He believes that he should act on the impulses within his head before he can study their consequences fully. This is not a valid motive because he could make a change and stop being evil, yet he chooses to continue with his evil deeds. There is no valid motive for a continuation of evil.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 229-230 #2,4, and 5

2. In his soliloquy in Scene I, why does Macbeth call the dagger a “fatal vision”? In what way is the description ironic? What does the soliloquy reveal about Macbeth’s state of mind?

• The  dagger came to Macbeth in a vision and it is haunting him. The vision of the dagger represents his conscience and the guilt that he feels about what he is about to do, which is killing King Duncan. 
• It is ironic because Macbeth has this whole vision about the dagger and he is lamenting his decision to kill the king, yet he still goes on with the plan to kill the king. 
• The soliloquy reveals that Macbeth is at a very unstable mindset. He is pressured by his conscience to do what is right. But he is also pressured by Lady Macbeth and the three witches to fulfill his “destiny.” Macbeth does not know who to listen to and this causes him to make rash decisions under pressure.

4. How do the Macbeths’ reactions to the subject of bloody hands differ? With whose opinion do you agree? Of what do you think the blood and water are symbolic?

• Macbeth is afraid of the bloody hands, he does not want to see the blood on his hands. Seeing the blood reminds Macbeth of the evil deed that he just carried out. Lady Macbeth however is not afraid of the blood. She simply says that all they need to do is wash it from their hands and everything will be okay. 
• I agree with Macbeth’s opinion, because the memory of killing someone does not just go away with the washing of hands. It will stick with you for the rest of your life. It’s not something that you can get away from. 
• The blood and water are probably symbolic of Pontius Pilate and how he washed his hands of Jesus’ death on the cross.

5. What does Donalbain mean when he tells Malcolm in line 125 of Scene iii, “There’s daggers in men’s smiles”? What lines in Act 1 also present this theme of dissimulation? (two different specific areas)

• Donalbain means that even though a man might smile, he could have ulterior motives. A smile conceals a person’s true thoughts or ideas. 
• Lines 48-35
• Macbeth: 
• (Aside.) The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
• On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, 
• For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires,
• Let not light see my black and deep desires;
• The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
• Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.
• Lines 80-82
• Macbeth:
• I am settled, and bend up
• Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.
• Away, and mock the time with fairest show;
• False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

Macbeth: Questions pg. 118 #1 and 5

1. How do the witches effectively introduce the play? What do you think they represent? What paradoxical statement made by the witches in the first scene does Macbeth reiterate in the third scene when he first meets the witches? How do Banquo's words in lines 122-26 in Scene iii support your ideas on the witches' function?

• I think the witches effectively introduce the play by coming up with a place to meet again later where they will also meet Macbeth. This gives a little bit of foreshadowing as to what is going to happen in later scenes. 
• I think the witches represent The Fates. They were three mythical goddesses from Greek Mythology. According to Greek Mythology, The Fates are known for having the power to decide a man's destiny. 
• Witches: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" Macbeth: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen."
• Banquo says in line 123, "to win us to our harm." This made me think of how the three witches try to put ideas into Macbeth's mind in order to make him want to do something that will ultimately harm him. Banquo also says in line 124, "The instruments of darkness tell us truths." This made me think of how the three witches relate to The Fates, who when I think of them, are more on the dark side. The Fates also tell the truth of what is going to happen in the future. In lines 125-126 Banquo says, "Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's in deepest consequence." The three witches are trying to get Macbeth to believe what they are telling him and cause him to want to do something wrong which will end up causing lots of consequences.

5. What misgivings does Macbeth reveal in his soliloquy at the beginning of Scene vii? How does Lady Macbeth convince him that he should lay aside his fears and proceed with the murder, and how does he react to the plan she reveals? Do you think that her influence is greater than that of the witches?

• Macbeth is having lots of second thoughts about going through with the murder of King Duncan.
• Lady Macbeth convinces him by telling Macbeth that they will get the officers drunk and blame the murder of King Duncan on them, and none would be the wiser. Macbeth agrees to the plan but says he will need to gather up every ounce of strength to continue on with it.
• Yes, I think that Lady Macbeth's influence is greater than the witches.

Faerie Queene Animation

Love That Liveth and Reigneth in My Thought

Title

The Armor of God

Ballad

A Diver's Tale

Deep below the ocean's surface
Swam a lone diver deep,
Searching the wreck down under
For anything his hands could keep.

Pushing his limits to the very end,
Cold water all around.
The quiet of the deep sings
While searching for things to be found.

The risk a diver does take
Is his and his alone.
A man at one with his equipment,
This is what he calls his home.

Weaving through the deep wreckage
Danger present at every moment;
He must be careful now
Or end in deathly torment.

A wire hanging delicately floats,
Still in the water, unmoving.
The diver never knowing it's presence
Swims into it, and now is losing.

He is caught in the deadly fingers
Of the wreckage on that day;
With little oxygen left for him
He is slowly wasting away.

Panicked and caught off guard
His breathing starts to increase.
Nitrous oxide is building up
And soon he may be at peace.

One last chance is left for him.
One last way to escape.
If he can reach his knife
And cut the wire agape.

Slowly his oxygen is running out.
This diver has little time remaining.
Reaching for his knife, he finds a hold
The last bit of energy draining.

Cutting, cutting, cutting away
The diver begins to break free,
Yet that is not the end of his journey
For he is still under the sea.

Slowly he must work his way back,
Nitrogen narcosis must leave him.
He may not rush to the top
For his fear of "the bends" is grim.

Passing the stop points along the line
The diver is slowly reaching safety.
Though his oxygen is still low
He must not make his way hasty.

Nearing the top the diver is ecstatic
His journey is nearing an end.
Beautiful is the ocean's surface
Yet men to the grave it will send.

This is the risk a diver takes
When pitting his life against the deep.
Cold and unforgiving it may seem,
But treasures from it he will reap.

Questions of "The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkeney Who Was Called Beaumains by Sir Kay"

Who exhibits more nobility, Beaumains or Sir Kay?

• I think that Beaumains exhibits far more nobility than Sir Kay. Sir Kay is the night and is supposed to exemplify chivalry, honor, and be an ideal figure in medieval society; however, he is rude and churlish to Beaumains. The true identity of Beaumains is not known to anyone except for Lancelot at the end of this exerpt; yet Beaumains does not act haughty or present himself as if he is above anyone. Beaumains appears to be a humble type of character.

What other character in the story shares Sir Kay's opinion of Beaumains, and what characters disagree with this negative opinion. 

• Another character in the story that shares Sir Kay's negative opinion of Beaumains is the damsel, whose name is Lyonet. She says things like "fie on thee, shall I have but one that is your kitchen knave?" And also, "What dost thou here? Thou stinketh all of the kitchen; thy clothes be bawdy of the grease and tallow. What weenest thou, that I will allow thee for yonder knight that thou killed? Nay, truly, for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly. Therefore turn again, thou bawdy kitchen knave! I know thee well, for Sir Kay named thee Beaumains. What are thou but a lusk and a turner of broaches, and a ladle washer?" The characters that disagree with this negative opinion are Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot. One part said "Thereat was Sir Gawain wroth. And in especial Sir Lancelot bade Sir Kay leave his mocking, 'for I dare lay my head he shall prove a man of great worship.'" Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot also reminded Sir Kay about a good knight named Brunor that Sir Kay had called him La Cote Male Tayle, which he came to regret later.

How does the disparity of opinions help support the story's premise concerning the true nature of gentility?

• The disparity of opinions shows the prejudice that people have towards others who are not born of a high class (or in this case not known to be born of a high class). The opinions held by these characters are only opinions and not based on any facts. True gentility does not always come to those who are born of a higher class. Sir Kay was a noble yet he is less than chivalrous with his actions. While Beaumains is actually born of nobility, we do not know that in the beginning of the excerpt and as a commoner he shows far more gentility than does Sir Kay.

For the Order of the Entrepreneur

Good Entrepreneurs, who can take lead of their employees and company, in a well thought out business plan, inspiring others to do their best, and producing innovative ideas by thinking out of the box. By being a symbol of the company itself, taking to heart all the values of good leadership, and going above and beyond what is expected of a normal employer. Always on their toes, ready and prepared to attack any obstacle that comes their way, always searching for ways to improve and motivate. These people are the go-getters in this world today, the thinkers, the feelers, the ones who see the bigger picture, those who find the solution to problems not even thought of yet. Ever learning, ever open to change, but always rooted in values that never waver. Think on this, you entrepreneurs, on this occupation of great worth, and do your best, do it with the greatest spirit you can muster, from your mind, and from your might.

Riddles

1. Shield

• I think the answer is a shield. The writer says things like "wounded by steel," "sated with battle deeds," "Often I see war," "In fortress cities the forged swords strike," "Bite into me there," "For me the scars of sword wounds only sink deeper," these all brought to my mind the image of a shield.

2. Bookworm

• I found this riddle to be harder to understand than the previous one. However, I think the answer is a bookworm. The writer says things like "A moth devoured words," "That the worm devoured a certain man's song," "the thief in the darkness ate a glorious speech," "that he swallowed those words," all of these phrases have something to do with eating. A moth is mentioned in the beginning of the riddle; moths sometimes eat paper which relates the the writer's use of "words" in the first line. A bookworm can be defined as someone who really loves reading but it can also be defined as the larva of a certain type of beetle that feeds off of paper and glue in books. This description of a bookworm fits in perfectly with the riddle.

3. Tree

• This riddle was also a little hard to understand. I think the answer to this riddle is a tree. "My breast is inflated, my neck as well" could relate to the size of a tree in diameter and length. The writer mentions "eyes and ears and just one foot," old myths could have said that trees in the forest can see and hear things, "just one foot" could be referring to the stump of a tree. The part that talks about "two sides, with a pole in the middle," could be referencing a type of house. In the next line it also says "I dwell aloft over men" which also contributes to the previous sentence. "When he who stirs the forest moves me, I suffer distress" could be talking about when a human cuts down trees to make a house the trees suffer distress from being cut down. Trees "stand alone as rain-streams beat on me, sharp hail pounds, hoar-frost covers, and snow falls upon all." Through all these natural things a tree still stands high and says "nothing."

4. Iceberg

• This riddle was also kind of difficult to understand. At first I thought it was talking about a battleship with a canon, but then lines 9-12 did not make sense with that. I think that the answer to this riddle is an iceberg. An iceberg can look beautiful floating on the water, however it can also be very deadly. The edges of an iceberg are sharp and men who would travel in ships back then probably feared icebergs. Icebergs do not move fast but they are a bitter foe to anyone who faces them on the water. They can "break ship hulls in crushing destruction." Lines 9-12 I think relate to snow and how it is kind of the mother of an iceberg. Snow is "known to all nations as on earth she falls, standing beloved in everything by all lands."

Caedmon's Hymn

At this moment we will admire the one who watches over the kingdom of heaven,
God's power and the thoughts of His mind,
The Great Father's work - how the Everlasting Ruler,
The Divine Creator, who created the beginning of everything.
For those sons of men He made the sky as their roof;
Then the Everlasting Lord, He who protects and takes care of all people,
Created the earth we live on as a place for humans to live -
He, the all-powerful God, did all this for mankind.

Chapters 26-28 Questions

1. How does "prosperity knit a man to the world" (Lewis, 155)?

• I think that by "prosperity knit a man to the world," Screwtape is talking about the fact that as people get older and if they become successful with age, they feel more connected to the world. Prosperity in the world causes people to enjoy being involved with things in the world. Screwtape says that people feel that they are finding their place in the world, when in reality the world is finding it's place in them. As someone becomes successful in life over the years and they gain more influence, money, and a higher position, they begin to feel at home in the world. Like the world is the place they are most comfortable in. If someone is successful in life, they probably don't want to give up anything that has come with their success. 

2. What do you think of the following? "...death as the prime evil and survival as the greatest good..."

• I think that to the demons, they believe that death is the worst thing that could happen to their patient, while survival is the best thing. Death would be detrimental to a demon's efforts if their human had recently converted to Christianity. A demon would want their human to live so that they can tempt them as they grow old. If a demon's human died and they had converted to Christianity, that demon would have "lost" his human to the Enemy. Survival is considered the greatest good to a demon because as long as a demon's human is alive, there is always hope to bring him away from the "Enemy" and to the "Father." When a human is alive and not afraid of death (i.e., not sick, there is no war going on, etc.) the human often becomes complacent toward the idea of dying. This type of thinking causes people to think that they can do whatever they want because there will always be tomorrow, however tomorrow is not promised for everyone.

Chapters 23-25 Questions

1. "...they must experience change" (Lewis, 136). Check out page 82 (eText link) and give me your thoughts

• I think the quote "they must experience change" means that because we "live in time, and experience reality successively" we are made to adapt to all sorts of change. However, God created humans to not only want to experience change in their lives but to have a love of permanency in certain situations. Screwtape calls this balance of change and permanence Rhythm. I think that as humans we have been made to seek after change, new things, and a sense of variety in life; but at the same time we have been made to want a sense of permanence in our lives, a constant. The example Screwtape uses of the seasons said that each season is different from another but every year they are the same. It encompasses that concept of Rhythm mentioned earlier. I think that everyone has that desire for change and desire for something new and different while at the same time wanting to have a constant in their lives that will always be there. God does not want us to be fully focused on having change in our lives, nor does he want everything in our lives to be the same. Having a balance of both change and permanence is very important. We should be aware that we don't fall too far towards one side of the spectrum.

Chapters 21-22 Questions

1. "The more claims on life, therefore, that your patient can be induced to make, the more often he will feel injured..." What does this mean? What does this mean to you?

• I think this means that the more Wormwood's patient makes claims on life, such as the time example given in the letter, the more he will feel hurt or angry when those claims have been taken from him. In the time example, if we were to think of time as our own, in that we own the time we have every day and are in control of it, we would become hurt if some other obligation caused us to "lose" time that we thought we had. The expression "waste of my time" relates to this too. So the more of these claims on life that Wormwood's patient makes, the more he will feel injured and this will lead to bitterness or anger. To me this also relates to time, because I noticed as I was reading this that I do think of time as my own and most of the time I do become irritable when it is "taken" from me. Time however, is not my own, I have no control over it. Time is God's, and it is a gift he provides for me everyday.

Chapters 19-20 Questions

1. Do you think most people are "...haunted by at least two imaginary women - a terrestrial and an infernal Venus..." (women, switch genders for this statement). And does this apply to you personally?

• Screwtape refers to two types of women in this letter: the terrestrial and an infernal Venus. The terrestrial woman is described as "readily mixed with charity, readily obedient to marriage, coloured all through with that golden light of reverence and naturalness which we detest." The infernal Venus is described as "a type best used to draw him away from marriage altogether but which, even within marriage, he would tend to treat as a slave, an idol, or an accomplice." This type of woman is also said to be best as a prostitute or mistress but can be used to Wormwood's advantage as a wife. I think that most people are haunted by these two types of characters in the opposite sex. A woman who is a Christian and knows Biblical truths should be knowledgeable of what type of spouse she should be seeking in her life. However, women (even Christian women) are often tempted by good looks, a suave personality, and a "sexy" demeanor. What we see on television and watch in the movie theater greatly influences how we expect men to look and act like. Girls who are obsessed with romance movies often have a very distorted view of what their "perfect guy" should look and act like. I think this applies to me personally in some ways because I know what I should be looking for in someone that I am considering spending the rest of my life with. I want to live with someone who is a "terrestrial" and is well-grounded in Biblical principles and can be an encouragement to me. I don't think I'm haunted by an "infernal Venus" because I'm already interested in someone. That person is a really good influence on me, and he is always guiding me to live for God. So I would say that he is definitely a "terrestrial" and not an "infernal Venus." 

2. How is the World "...making the role of the eye in sexuality more and more important and at the same time making its demands more and more impossible"?

• I think the World is doing this through television, movies, and music specifically. All three of these pop culture media outlets can be easily reached by most people in the world. Many television shows today are focused on outward appearances and things other than what is really important in life. Young girls on television shows are made to look older than they are by the way the dress and the makeup they wear. Most women on television strive to be seen as the epitome of sexiness; they act, look, and dress a certain way to attract a male audience. Even commercials that we see on television every day are geared toward the idea of a "perfect looking woman." A big example would be the Victoria's Secret commercials. Those are on all the time and we see them quite often. A lot of movies always have some "hot" or "sexy" girl to go along with the lead male character. There is a lot of sex in movies too, and the way women dress and the looks they give men also exude a feeling of attractiveness. Men are also used to look really good in movies. Romance movies make the lead male character seem to be so attractive. It causes people who watch those kinds of movies to think that they will also get a "prince charming" who looks and acts just like how the movie characters do. The motto: "sex sells," is seen all over the culture of modern man. Music is another avenue through which sex plays a huge part of. Vulgar and inappropriate references to women and sex are in all kinds of music. Most people just listen to a song because it's catchy or they like the tune but sometimes they never really listen to the lyrics and what the artist is trying to convey. Music videos are a huge part of the music industry too. There are tons of music videos out there with very inappropriate things focused on both men and women. With all these avenues through which we can view what the world thinks of sexuality, some people tend to create a fantasy idea of what the "perfect" man or woman should look like. It is probably impossible to find someone who matches all the criteria of the "perfect" man or woman. 

Chapters 17-18 Questions

1. "...insatiable demand for the exact, and almost impossible, palatal pleasures which she imagines she remembers from the past." Gone are the days "...when her sense were more easily pleased and she had pleasures of other kinds which made her less dependent on those of the table." What does this mean?

• I think this means that the mother has a certain memory of food in which she finds pleasure from the past and she is constantly trying to regain that same feeling. She demands for her food to be prepared exactly how it had been years before and to give her the same pleasure she enjoyed from eating it in the past. However, the days that she is trying to remember were days when she was not so precise about her food and she had other things in her life that were giving her pleasure. Those previous things in life that gave her pleasure kept her from being so picky about her food and made her less dependent on finding joy from "the table." 

2. Why would God want "complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy" for us?

• "Complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy" are both good according to what the Bible says. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 says "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." God wants us to be in control of our bodies. If we can control our sinful desires and the lusts of our flesh then we are either in "complete abstinence or unmitigated monogamy." Complete abstinence would be to not engage in sexual activities at all. Unmitigated monogamy would mean to be in a complete relationship with one spouse. Hebrews 13:4 says "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." God would either want us to fully abstain from any sexual conduct or to be married and stay completely committed to one person. God created sex for humans to enjoy, but He created it to be used in the proper way. 

Chapters 15-16 Questions

1. What does it mean to have "...nearly all vices are rooted in the future?"

• To have "nearly all vices rooted in the future" means that all one's thoughts are placed in the future. A person can never truly live in the present if they are placing all their concentration in future things that have not yet happened. Screwtape gives examples of Creative Evolution, Scientific Humanism, and Communism that are all things humans fixated in the future spend their time thinking about. Many people today spend their whole lives thinking on the previous three examples and they are not truly living in the present. A vice is a wicked or immoral practice or habit taken up by someone. To have "nearly all vices rooted in the future" means that wicked and bad things all come from placing one's thoughts on the future things to come.

2. Describe your ideal church

• My ideal church would be one where believers from all backgrounds can come together in harmony to praise and worship God. A church with a pastor who has a good grasp on scripture and is able to interpret and share confusing passages with church members, and help them understand God's word much better than they would on their own. My ideal church would provide Sunday School for small children and teens who want to learn more about God in smaller group settings. The music would be a mix of hymns and more modern Christian music. People would wear nice clothes, not just jeans and a t-shirt to church. 

Chapters 13-14 Questions

1. Wormwood says that he will "...eradicate from my patient any strong personal taste which is not actually a sin, even if it is something quite trivial such as a fondness for country cricket or collecting stamps or drinking cocoa." What strong personal tastes do you have, even if they seem to be trivial?

• One of my strong personal tastes would be drinking coffee. I love drinking coffee and I usually drink a cup of coffee every morning. My family owns a keurig coffee maker and it's super easy to put in the k-cup and make coffee. My favorite type of coffee is kona coffee or any dark roast from Starbucks. I have to drink my coffee black, I don't think it tastes good with cream and sugar. Another strong personal taste I have is a love for my society, the Monkeys. I love everything about my society and I even bought bright orange shoes because the Monkeys' color is orange. I also have an orange planner because it is the same shade of orange as my shoes are.

2. "...to be so free from any bias in his own favour that he can rejoice in his own talents as frankly and gratefully as in his neighbor's talents." How can you see this applied in your own life? Give specific examples.

• I can see this applied to my life specifically through school work and other school-related things like college applications or SAT scores. If I can be "free from any bias in his own favour" then if someone gets a better test score than me or gets a better grade on a project than I do, I can rejoice with them and congratulate them on their good work. I don't have to be bitter because someone else did better than I did. This can also apply to society too. If we're playing society football and the Monkeys lose but another society wins I can congratulate them on a good game instead of being angry and bitter because my society didn't win. In relation to SAT scores I shouldn't brag about my score to others or get a little bitter if someone else got a higher score than I did. I should be rejoicing with someone who got a high score or be there for someone who got a low score and is feeling sad about it. When college acceptance letters come back to all the seniors I need to be rejoicing with those who got into the college of their choice even if I didn't get into the same college or I can't afford to go to that college. 

Chapters 11-12 Questions

1. What is the "safest road to Hell"? Do you agree or disagree?

• According to Screwtape, the "safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." I agree with this because if you just do the "small things" those are more likely to go unnoticed by you and those around you who are Christians. If you don't realize the "small sins" that you are doing, you will never be able to correct them. Many small sins can add up to being something very dangerous. A person could potentially go through life thinking that they will be "okay" after they die but instead they will end up in Hell. "Bigger sins" are far more noticeable and usually cause other people to tell the person what they are doing wrong. If someone keeps their sins "low-key" then they won't be noticeable things but they are still very dangerous things. "Low-key" sins keep a person from realizing what they are doing wrong and prevent them from making future corrections to their sins. 

2. What is the role of "nothing" and "small sins"? What does that mean for you?

• I would say that the role of "nothing" is the absence of doing something productive or doing something that is a complete waste of time and energy. Doing "nothing" is spending time doing things of little or no interest for the rest/majority of one's life. People who do "nothing" their entire life get to the end realizing that they have wasted years spending time doing things that are completely unappealing to them, or things that they don't even remember. People who do "nothing" lack ambition and a will to do productive things. They become lazy and apathetic to everything in life and some even get to a point where they are too lazy to change their apathetic ways. I would say that "small sins" are forgetting to do the most basic tasks in growing in a relationship with God. Putting off reading the Bible, talking or praying to God, and worshiping Him are all "small sins." However, just because they are "small sins" does not mean they do not add up. Screwtape said "...the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing." The intensity of the sin does not matter, the only thing that matters is the separation of a person from God. If you're not growing in your relationship with God then you're relationship is stagnant and weakening. For me this means that I need to be growing in my relationship with God every day. I can't put off doing devotions or praying to Him or worshiping Him every day. I also can't let my mind and body get into a state of "nothingness." This would cause me to become lazy in everything I do, especially in my walk with God. After reading this I also think that I should try to encourage others around me to get out of their state of "nothing" (if they are in one), and to start or keep up with their Bible devotions and talking to God on a daily basis. 

Chapters 9-10 Questions

1. Why do our "trough periods" make us so vulnerable? Is this applicable to you?

• I believe that our "trough periods" make us so vulnerable because we feel as if we are laid open before all the world's cruelties. During those times in life we feel broken and disconnected from everything good around us. Although that is not true for everyone, because as believers we always have a connection with God, it may seem as though you are alone in the world. That is a very despondent feeling. When someone is in a "trough period" of life he/she can be easily tempted because they are at their lowest and it is hard to keep a responsible or wise mindset during that time. This is applicable to me because when I am going through a "trough period" I do not feel very confident and it can be really hard to think straight and make wise decisions. I feel like my mind gets muddled as to what I should do and what choices I should be making. 

2. What are your thoughts regarding "parallel lives"? What does this mean to you?

• I think that many people today are living with "parallel lives." Especially people in the younger generation that go to a Christian school or go to church and act like they one person but then they go to parties and stay out at night doing bad things and they become a different person. Some people I know are like this. They can act out the part of the "good kid" to their parents, teachers, pastors, and other people; while at the same time are known to be the "party animal" when they go out with certain friends. I think that those who live with "parallel lives" will become very stressed out and worried because they have to keep up with being two different people. Those lives can't be separate forever, one day they will cross and when that day comes I don't think it would turn out too well. To me this means that no matter what group of people I hang out with I need to be the same person. I cannot act like one group and then morph into another person to hang out with another group. I have to be the same person all the time. To me this also means making friends that don't live "parallel lives." I feel like if I have a friend that lives with "parallel lives" I won't ever know who they really are, and that's a pretty important part of a friendship. 

Chapters 7-8 Questions

1. How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?

• Usually I picture the devil as some dark, evil, ugly being that is constantly trying to tempt me to make wrong choices. However, sometimes I picture the devil as a good looking being but inside his mind is twisted and evil. This chapter challenges me to always be careful of what I get involved in and who I surround myself with. I should never place worldly needs above spiritual needs. Things that I am involved in, like sports or other extra-curricular activities, should never come before prayer and spending time with God. 

2. What is the "law of Undulation" Give an example of this in your life.

• The "law of Undulation" is basically the up and down feelings of one toward his/her work, friends, family, and other aspects of life. Not all of someone's life is going to be filled with good memories and good times. There will be bad times, "troughs," that one is going to need to experience; and that is all part of life. An example of this in my life would be during Junior year there were some weeks that I was doing well in all my classes and school was challenging but it wasn't extremely stressful. However, there were some weeks where I felt like all my teachers decided to make every project worth a chunk of the final grade due during the same week. Not all weeks during school are going to be stress-free and not all weeks are going to be chaotic. There will always be ups and downs concerning school work. 

Chapters 5-6 Questions

1. What is Screwtape's idea on the best way for humans to die? Why?

• Screwtape believes that the best way for a human to die is "in costly nursing homes amid doctors who lie, nurses who lie, friends who lie, as we have trained them, promising life to the dying, encouraging the belief that sickness excuses every indulgence, and even, if our workers know their job, withholding all suggestion of a priest lest it should betray to the sick man his true condition!" I think he believes this because when humans die this way they have been constantly lied to until their death. They are also unable to meet with a priest because the priest might reveal their true state of health.

2. How does "...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary"? How does this apply to your life?

• If Wormwood is successful in pushing malice into his patient's "inner circle" and pushing benevolence to the "outer circle" then his patient will show malice to those closer to him. When benevolence is thrust out to the "remote circumference, to people he does not know" then it becomes an imaginary characteristic of his patient. I think that if Wormwood is able to push malevolence upon his patient so that he does ill toward those he speaks with or interacts every day, his patient's sense of benevolence toward those same people will eventually dissipate. Benevolence will become an imaginary concept to Wormwood's patient, one that he will no longer be familiar with. If I think negatively about people that I know, I tend to begin to think negatively about many things that they do. If I continue to think like this, eventually everything that this person does will become irritating and annoying. My benevolence towards someone like this is very small. I do not want to be kind and my patience with someone like this is very thin. Even though I should be a loving and kind person towards anyone that I come into contact with, it is a struggle when interacting with certain people. 

Chapters 3-4 Questions

1. What are your "daily prinpicks"? For myself, spiral paper eats at something deep inside me.

• One of my "daily prinpicks" would be people who walk too slow. People who walk slow, especially in hallways and other crowded walking areas irritate me. These people need to move faster because the world does not revolve around them and other people need to get places. This is probably my biggest "daily prinpick." Although I know I can't make these people move any faster than the glacial like pace the proceed at, I still become irritated when it happens.

2. What does Lewis suggest when he says "...whatever their bodies do affects their souls"?

• I think that Lewis is suggesting that whatever a person does (e.g. their actions, what they say, where they go, who they are around) affect their mind and soul. What one does will ultimately affect who that person is. We are influenced by the situations we are in, the people we are around, and the different experiences we go through. The way we think is a result of what we surround ourselves with. I think that Screwtape pointed this out to his nephew to remind him that he must surround the "patient" with things that will influence him in the wrong way. 

Chapters 1-2 Questions

1. Note the simple dedication. If you were to write a "spiritual" book, who would you dedicate it to?

• If I were to write a "spiritual" book I would probably dedicate it to my brother. I would want him to read through the book and really take it to heart. He is an important person in my life and I know that reading a "spiritual" book would be very beneficial to him.

2. What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour."

• I think that Screwtape is referring to God and how humans are often met with doubts and worry as we commit ourselves to new things. The following quote: "it marks the transition from dreaming aspiration to laborious doing," means that the "disappointment" Screwtape is talking about occurs when a human moves from just thinking about something to actually doing it. Doubts and worry may come along when one practices something new and different. God does this so that we need to put our trust in Him in order to overcome the difficulties we face.