Assignment
Chapter 1: "The Brahmin's Son"
A. Describe Siddhartha. Why is he unhappy despite his great fortune in life? How does he feel about the Brahmins' knowledge? Why does he decide to leave his Brahmin life?
B. Describe Govinda.
C. Why is Govinda so devoted to Siddhartha?
D. How does Siddhartha convince his father to let him become a Samana, and why does he choose this way of persuading his father? (Hint: "Siddhartha has always obeyed his father...Siddhartha will do what his father tells him.")
Chapter 2: "With the Samanas"
A. Describe the life of a Samana.
B. Why do they choose this kind of lifestyle?
C. Explain the goal of their lifestyle and practices.
D. What attitude toward most people does Siddhartha develop after becoming a Samana, and why?
E. What does Siddhartha mean when he says, "What I have so far learned from the Samanas, I could have learned more quickly and easily in every inn in a prostitute's quarter, amongst the carriers and dice players"?
F. Why does he decide to leave his life as a Samana?
Chapter 3: "Gotama"
A. What characteristics does Gotama have that make him remarkable? Why is his voice compared to "a star in the heavens"?
B. Why does Gotama warn Siddhartha about "the thicket of opinions and the conflict of words" and having "too much cleverness"?
C. Why does he imply that the apparent flaw in his teachings that Siddhartha has found is not important?
D. What does Siddhartha think of Gotama?
E. Why does Siddhartha decide not to join his followers?
F. What gift does he think Gotama has given him, and what does he mean by this?
Chapter 4: "Awakening"
A. What does Siddhartha decide to do after leaving Gotama and Govinda, and why? Relate this decision to the title of the chapter.
B. What feelings does he have after making this decision? In what way is his decision frightening?
C. What new philosophy does Siddhartha have about the nature of the world, and how is his experience of the world different?