Out of the Silent Planet

What is the symbolic significance of the small, warm, rounded room in which Ransom awakens after being kidnapped? Connect this to the idea of a spiritual awakening or “rebirth.”

Why does Lewis make Ransom a fallible character? How might the novel’s message change if the reader did not initially see Ransom give in to his fears and make mistakes?

How does Out of the Silent Planet differ from the popular science fiction of Lewis’s time? Why might Lewis have thought it important to write a different kind of science fiction novel?

Compare Ransom’s voyage to Malacandra with his experience on the return flight. How has his perspective on life changed?

Pick two instances of the novel’s biblical imagery to explore in greater detail. What is the significance of Lewis’s inclusion of these parallels?

Through the hnau, Lewis explores several different attitudes toward death. Compare these different attitudes in detail and discuss the pros and cons of each mindset.

What parallels are there between Christianity and the Malacandrian religion? Why does Lewis not make the connection explicit?

Several of the characters in Out of the Silent Planet have names that hold significance in relation to their roles in the narrative. What is the significance of the alias “Ransom”? What irony is there in Devine’s name?