AP Prep Post: Siddhartha

1.If you were the river, would you be enlightenment or would you know enlightenment? In other words, what’s up with the river? What is it’s relation to enlightenment?

2. What does enlightenment look like in Siddhartha? Is it a feeling? An attitude?

3. What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?

4. How was Siddartha able to put aside social expectations to pursue his path to enlightenment? Results?

One of the key themes in the book Siddhartha is the difficulty an individual has trying to pursue individual goals amid strong societal expectations.

Explain how Siddhartha was able to reach a point where he could put aside societal expectations. As a result, what aspects of life were made available to Siddhartha? Please cite examples from the book.

5. Siddhartha features substantial activity and narrative action. At the same time, it is about one man’s largely internal spiritual quest. What is the relationship between the internal and exterior worlds of Siddhartha? How does Siddhartha negotiate these worlds?

http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html
http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/siddhartha/study.html

All I can say is that, after reading these questions and others, holy hell do I need to go back and re-read Siddhartha. My mind is about as blank as an etch-a-sketch, the only difference being I haven't been shaken constantly.