Siddhartha Chapter 5: “Kamala”
Name:
1. What is a courtesan?
2. What fascinates Siddhartha about Kamala?
3. Why does Siddhartha need to earn money?
4. Who will give Siddhartha a job?
5. List quotes that explain/address Siddhartha’s new focus in life:
6. How does Siddhartha’ life in chapter 5 differ from the previous chapters?
Ch. 6: “Amongst the People”
1. What type of job does Kamaswami have?
2. Why does Siddhartha say that he is a person that is not in need?
3. What is meant by, “…everyone takes, everyone gives. Life is like that” (64)?
4. What is meant by, “…I can think, I can wait, I can fast”(64)?
5. What phrase does Siddhartha write as a sample for Kamaswami?
6. What items did Siddhartha refuse to eat and drink once he made money?
7. Why didn’t the rules of business stir Siddhartha’s heart?
8. What did Siddhartha buy with his money?
9. While in this phase of his life, Siddhartha explains that the meaning of life for him was…
10. Why was Kamaswami advised to give Siddhartha 1/3 of the profits and an equal share of the losses?
11. How does Siddhartha differ from Kamaswami in his outlook regarding business?
12. What does Siddhartha say regarding love and “ordinary people”?
Chapter 7: “Samsara”
1. How did Siddhartha live the life of the world without belonging to it?
2. Describe Siddhartha’s wealthy possessions:
3. Was Siddhartha a favorite of the people? Explain.
Chapter 7 (Cont)
4. Who was Siddhartha’s only close friend?
5. What is the pottery wheel compared to? Explain.
6. Why did Siddhartha envy people?
7. In what kind of gambling did Siddhartha partake?
8. What items did Siddhartha lose due to gambling?
9. Why was Siddhartha unhappy with his reflection as stated on page eighty?
10. What was Kamala’s pet?
11. What does Samsara mean and what did it represent?
12. What does Siddhartha do at the end of chapter seven?
13. What does Kamala discover once Siddhartha leaves?
Chapter 8: “By the River”
1. What did the songbird symbolize within Siddhartha?
2. What does ennui mean?
3. How did Siddhartha feel when he came to the river? Explain.
4. What happened after Siddhartha heard the chanting of the Om?
5. What does Siddhartha tell Govinda about appearances?
6. What are the three noble, invincible arts?
7. Why does Siddharta say that growing old is like returning to your childhood?
8. As Siddhartha reflects on life on pages 96-97, what does he say about his experiences?
9. How does life go in spirals and circles? Explain.
10. Why has too much knowledge hindered Siddhartha?
11. How was Siddhartha’s nap by the river like a rebirth?