Siddhartha II – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Why is Siddhartha unhappy in the first chapter?
answer
He is having trouble reaching enlightenment, and he wants to join the Samanas
question
Why is Siddhartha's spirit like a "waiting vessel"?
answer
Siddhartha wants to be filled with knowledge.
question
Why is Govinda willing to follow him?
answer
Govinda is Siddhartha's best friend. Govinda will follow Siddhartha anywhere. This is because Govinda believes in Siddhartha.
question
How are the Samanas described?
answer
They are described as travelers who live in the woods. They also practice self-denial and some self-mutilation.
question
How did Siddhartha convince his father to leave?
answer
Siddhartha stayed completely motionless until his father granted him permission to leave.
question
Why, in the center of chapter one, does Siddhartha string together 20 rhetorical questions?
answer
This is the start of Siddhartha's circular pattern that develops in the story. Siddhartha questions, proves, then adopts.
question
How does he act when he is with the Samanas?
answer
Siddhartha acts as if he is better than most of his peers. He is still looking for enlightenment as well.
question
How does Siddhartha meditate when he is with the Samanas?
answer
Siddhartha meditates by having out of body experiences.
question
Who is Gotama?
answer
Gotama has the title Buddha. Gotama has reached enlightenment and has many followers.
question
What does Siddhartha do with the oldest Samana?
answer
Siddhartha hypnotizes the oldest Samana.
question
How is Gotama different from the Samanas?
answer
Gotama has reached enlightenment. Gotama also indulges the self more than the Samanas. Gotama does not practice self-mutilation.
question
Why does Govinda choose to join Gotama? Why won't Siddhartha?
answer
Govinda chooses to join Gotama because he truly believes in the Buddha's teachings. Siddhartha, on the other hand, finds a flaw in the teachings. Siddhartha says that one can only learn on their own.
question
What has the Buddha robbed from Siddhartha?
answer
Gotama has taken Govinda from Siddhartha.
question
What has Gotama given to Siddhartha?
answer
Gotama has given Siddhartha a new light on how to find his path to enlightenment.
question
What does Siddhartha decide to study after seeing Kamala?
answer
He wants to study the art of love.
question
What is Kamala's profession?
answer
She is a courtesan.
question
What dream does Siddhartha see after he leaves Gotama?
answer
He has a dream of drinking from a woman's breast.
question
What does Siddhartha think of the Ferryman and of the river?
answer
Siddhartha listens to the Ferryman but shrugs off his advice. He does become friends with the Ferryman.
question
Why doesn't Siddhartha "ascend the tree" with the woman on the road?
answer
His inward voice told him NO.
question
Hesse uses a simile to describe the woman's (Kamala's) mouth. What is it?
answer
A fresh fig.
question
How does Siddhartha prepare for Kamala?
answer
He cleans himself in the river, shaves his beard, and oils his hair.
question
What does Kamala tell Siddhartha he needs?
answer
Fine clothes, fine shoes, and money.
question
What three things can Siddhartha do?
answer
He can think, wait, and fast.
question
What do Siddhartha and Kamala trade?
answer
A kiss for a poem.
question
Who is Kamaswami?
answer
He is a merchant that Siddhartha works for.
question
Siddhartha compares himself to what in the chapter "Kamala".
answer
A falling stone through water.
question
What makes Siddhartha good at business?
answer
He does not rush sales. Siddhartha is patience and likes to be around the people.
question
How are Kamala and Siddhartha similar?
answer
At the end of the chapter they confess to each other that they cannot love.
question
Siddhartha falls into bad habits. What are they?
answer
Gambling, drinking, desires, sex, over eating, ect.
question
At the beginning of the chapter "Samsara", Siddhartha compares himself to a spinning what?
answer
Potter's wheel.
question
In the chapter "Samsara" Siddhartha has a dream about what?
answer
His dream is about Kamala's pet bird. The bird dies and Siddhartha throws it out the window.
question
In the chapter "Samsara", why does Siddhartha feel dead inside?
answer
He has lost his way and given into desires. His self is dying and he is even farther away from enlightenment.
question
What has happened to Kamala at the end of the chapter "Samsara"?
answer
She is pregnant
question
Why does Siddhartha want to kill himself?
answer
He fears that his life has come to standstill and that there is nothing left for him to do.
question
Right before Siddhartha is about to drown himself he hears what?
answer
The holy word Om.
question
After he hears a sound by the river Siddhartha does what?
answer
He falls asleep under a tree in the forest.
question
How does Siddhartha feel after he wakes up?
answer
He feels refreshed. He feels reborn.
question
Who is there when Siddhartha wakes up?
answer
Govinda.
question
What does Siddhartha ask the Ferryman for?
answer
Siddhartha wants to become the next Ferryman, and to be taught about the river.
question
What kills Kamala?
answer
A snake bite?
question
Where was Kamala going before she died?
answer
She, and her son, were on their way to see Gotama.
question
How does her son behave?
answer
The son is a brat and whines often. He frequently asks to take breaks.
question
How does little Siddhartha take advantage of his father?
answer
Siddhartha does not scold the child. Therefore the child does what he wants and has little respect for Siddhartha.
question
Why does little Siddhartha break the oar?
answer
Little Siddhartha does not want his father to come looking for him. This is representing the broken relationship.
question
What is ironic about Siddhartha's son.
answer
The roles for Siddhartha have switched. He now has become his father.
question
After his son leaves what does Siddhartha hear from the river.
answer
He hears all of the voices of the world.
question
Where does Vasudeva go?
answer
Into the woods.
question
Who comes to the Ferry at the end of the book?
answer
Govinda
question
Has Govinda reached enlightenment?
answer
No
question
What does Siddhartha tell Govinda about seeking?
answer
That when you seek you can miss things that you are not looking for.
