AP Prep Post 1: Siddhartha

1. 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?

- Well, this question isn't really an AP questions, but this shows that Siddhartha's problems that he has to overcome. He often questions himself to become better and to find enlightenment. 

2. Discuss the ways Siddhartha attempts to attain spiritual enlightenment. Which approaches are successful? Which ones are not successful, and which ones have limited effectiveness? How does Siddhartha progress from one approach to the other?

-  I can't really answer this one because I don't remember reading this book. All I know is that Siddhartha went on a journey to find his enlightenment, but on the way he meets a girl who will carry his son when he passes. 

3. Consider Siddhartha’s relationship with Govinda. How are they similar, and how are they different? What are the narrative functions of Govinda’s reappearance throughout the novel? How does their relationship impact the novel’s ending?

- This will be probably a free response question, because it's a universal and different interpretations can be made from this question. Again, harder to answer because I don't remember the book as much. 

4. Herman Hesse’s novels before Siddhartha focused on alienated young men who rejected the cultures of their upbringings. However, these other novels did not feature the spiritual elements of Siddhartha. How do the spiritual elements of Siddhartha make it different from any other story of an alienated youth?

- This question can be a great essay topic, it talks about other novels similar to the topic of Siddhartha and the elements used in the book. I would use Pride and Prejudice as an example of someone searching for a need. In Pride and Prejudice, the sisters were all looking for love. 

5. Siddhartha concerns the quest for spiritual enlightenment, and by the end of it four characters have achieved this goal: Govinda, Gotama, Vasudeva, and Siddhartha. Is the enlightenment achieved by each of these characters the same? Why or why not? What distinctions and similarities exist between the paths these characters use to reach their final goal?

- This can be made into an essay topic because it's a diverse answer. Opinions are written, and a lot can be written on the AP test because it's asking about individual enlighten. The distinctions and similarities can be written without a right answer.