The Great Divorce

Though Lewis covers classic theological ground in his allegory, his alternative take on both Heaven and Hell sets it apart from other texts. What impact does changing readers’ perceptions of Heaven and Hell do to shift perspectives on old theological questions?

• How does Lewis describe Heaven and Hell? How do his descriptions differ from popular descriptions?
• How do Lewis’s depictions of Heaven and Hell relate to his exploration of good and evil?
• What relationship exists between Heaven and Hell? How do the logistics of travel between each explain established theological principles, such as grace, in a novel way?
• In what way are Heaven and Hell “divorced” in Lewis’s novel?
• What separates Heaven and Hell? What prevents humans from choosing Heaven?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from written copies of the questions to refer to while discussing. Students may also benefit from previewing questions ahead of time to prepare in-depth answers and refer more directly to the text. Group or personal notetaking may increase information retention. Classes short on time might benefit from group assignments; you could divide the class in half and ask one group to identify Lewis’s descriptions of Heaven and his exploration of good, and one group to identify his descriptions of Hell and his exploration of evil.