Reading Your Own Book: Second Night of Reading

Please write which pages you have read, the plot of what you have read (in as much detail as you wish), and try to go beyond plot somehow. Discussing character, setting, or imagery are examples of things you could discuss.

Your Chosen Book: first reading

Please write which pages you have read, the plot of what you have read (in as much detail as you wish), and try to go beyond plot somehow. Discussing character, setting, or imagery are examples of things you could discuss.

If you are still looking for a book that you think you will like, tell us about your continuing efforts to do so.

Thank you!

Finding a book to read

Please tell the story of finding a book that you think you would like to read, one that is on campus, and one that is fictional (a novel or short stories). Why do you think you will like it? Was the search challenging or easy?

The Wife of Bath's Tale, 252 to the end

1. Note that in lines 253 -320 the old woman defends herself from the knights' criticism that she is "low-born," that is, low-class. She argues that virtuous behavior does not depend on blood or lineage (who your ancestors were); virtue is virtue. In lines 320-350 she defends herself from the charge of being poor by saying that Jesus himself chose to be born poor and to live a poor man; that the really poor person is he or she who envies others; that poverty teaches patience. In 350 to 360 she defends herself from the charge of being old by saying he won't have to worry about her being unfaithful (since she will not be tempted and no one will try to seduce her).

What do you think of these arguments?

2. In 363-371, the old woman gives the knight a magical choice. Put it into your own words. (Once someone has done so satisfactorily, no one else should take this question.)

3. In 374-379, the knight replies. Do you think he made a good decision? Explain.

4. In 385-398, the knight finds out the result of his choice. Put it into your own words (once someone has done this satisfactorily, no one should do this question.)

5. Why do you think the Wife of Bath tells this particular story?

6. Find a line or sentence that you think worthy of comment and comment on it.

Wife of Bath's Tale 164-252

1. The ugly old woman tells the knight (it turns out) that what women most want is to have the upper hand, to rule over, their husbands or lovers (181-184), and none of the woman at court disagree (187-189). What do you think of this?

2. The ugly old woman than asks for what the knight promised (152-154) if her answer was right: to do whatever she asked. She asks him to marry her. Why does he object to being married to her?

3. Is there anything comical about the knight's situation? Is there anything tragic about the knight's situation?

4. What do you make of the ugly old woman so far? Does she seem like a good character, one we sympathize with, a bad character, neither, or both? Explain.

5. Does the knight seem like a good character, a bad character, neither, or both> Explain.

6. Find a phrase you find interesting or important and explain why.

The Wife of Bath's Tale, 69-164

1. The knight hears different answers as to what women want most. If you had to choose to be known for one of the following, what would you choose, and why?

riches
prettiness
fair fame (a good reputation)
flattery
to be free to do what they want, with the man not criticizing but instead taking their advice
be considered wise and free of sin
to be considered faithful, trustworthy, and able to keep a secret

2. The Wife pauses and tells the story of the wife who betrayed her husband’s secret—the husband being Midas, whose secret was that his ears had been turned into a donkey’s ears (he kept them covered up in a turban). What does the Wife’s stopping to tell this story say about her? What does her telling this particular story tell about her?

3. Towards the end of the year, the knight comes on a magical scene: a group of young, beautiful dancing ladies who disappear leaving in their place one old, ugly women, who promises to the give the knight the right answer. Does this part of the story seem the same, or in the same vein, as that which has come before or does it seem different? Explain.

4. Find a line, a phrase, or a sentence you find interesting or important, quote it, and explain.

Wife of Bath lines 1-68

1. Why do you suppose the queen and her ladies beg Arthur not to execute the knight who has molested the woman? What do the queen and her ladies stand to gain?

2. Come up with an adjective to describe the story-teller, the Wife of Bath, and cite a quotation from the reading to support your choice of quotation, and explain as necessary.

3. Do you think it makes sense to raise the question of "what thing it is that women most desire" (line 49)? Or does the question not make sense, because women are too different from each other to make such a generalization?

4. Why might the Wife of Bath herself be interested in the question of "what thing it is that women most desire?"

5. Why might a culture be interested in the question of "what thing it is that women most desire"? Do you think our own culture is interested in the question?

6. Choose a passage that you find interesting or important or likable and explain why.

Siddhartha 103-112

1. From the point of view of the book, what is the best way for a parent to treat his child? Do you agree?

2. Is there evidence that Siddhartha loves his son (Siddhartha Jr.) quite a lot?

3. Assuming that the answer to #2 is correct, that Siddhartha loves his son quite a lot, is it strange that Siddhartha should fall into the samsara of love for a specific human at this point, or not strange? Explain.

4. If you were Siddhartha's son, would you rather stay with Siddhartha and Vasadevu, or be sent away to a boarding school so that you could be with other young people? Why?

5. Can gentleness and patience ever be negative qualities, in your opinion? Why or why not?

Siddhartha 89-101

1. If I were to take a survey, I would guess that nine out of ten people would consider themselves a good listener. If I asked you what percentage of people you know are really good listeners, I think you would say fewer than nine out of ten.

If you agree with the above, how would you explain it? If you disagree, explain why.

2. Siddhartha finds the ferryman a good listener. What makes him a good listener?

3. Siddhartha is taught by the river that time does not exist. Can you put into words how this could possibly be true?

4. Why would the knowledge that time does not exist cause Siddhartha to feel ecstatic, "blissful"?

5. Vasadevu the ferryman says that "the voices of all creatures are in [the river's] voice. Can you put into words what he means?

6. Also, when all the voices speak at once, the voices say "om." Can you put into words what he means?

7. Find a sentence that you like or that is helpful to you in understanding the reading and explain.

Siddhartha 77-88

1. If you had to say what the four most important things about this chapter were, what would you say? Why?

2. Discuss the role of the river in this reading.

3. Siddhartha finds himself "full of cheerful love" (83). Where do you suppose this feeling of being full of cheerful love came from?

4. Find a sentence from the reading you would like to comment on, and comment on it.

Siddhartha 48-76

1. What do you think of Kamala? Does she seem like a positive character or not? Why?

2. Knowing how to think, how to wait, and how to fast are Siddhartha's three skills. Can you see how these would be enough to succeed at anything? Or do you disagree that these are the only skills a person really needs?

3. In Siddhartha's opinion, "writing is good, thinking is better" (59). What do you think of this opinion?

4. In Siddhartha's opinion, "cleverness is good, patience is better" (59). What do you think of this opinion?

5. Siddhartha learns the art of love from Kamala. How is it possible for the art of love to have any spiritual benefit or spiritual value? Or is it impossible for the art of love to have a spiritual benefit or spiritual value?

6. In what way(s) is (are) Siddhartha and Kamala alike?

7. Over time, Siddhartha grows to care about samsara, the things of this world, such as material possessions, wine, and gambling. How do you explain his growing to care about such things?

8. Siddhartha is warned about the meaningless life he is leading by a dream. What might this say about where truth comes from, according to the author?

Siddhartha 35-39, 43-top 0f 48

1. Siddhartha comes to the realization that the has been fleeing from his ego, and that he should no longer do so; that he should get to know himself: "I will get to know myself, the secret that is Siddhartha." What do you think of this plan? Do you think it would be a good idea for you to get to know yourself, "the secret that is" you? (36)

2. Having decided to get to know himself, Siddhartha immediately notices colors "as if seeing the world for the first time." Can you put into words why getting to know himself might lead to his noticing colors? (37)

3. Do you think it would be a good idea for Siddhartha to go home and see his family, even if only for a visit? Or is he right to decide not to? Why? (38-39)

4. Siddhartha thinks that there can be a "random ego of thinking and learning" as well as a "random ego of the senses." What do you suppose he means by each? (45)

5. The ferryman says that he "often listen[s] to the river, and looks "into its eyes," and he says "One can learn a lot from a river. Although we don't have enough information to say, do you think the ferryman is in the same place in his spiritual journey as Siddhartha, or a different place? Why? (46)

6. Note the references to Siddhartha's "innermost voice," the one that say to him "no" concerning the young woman (47). What do you think of this concept of an "inner voice" one should listen to?

7. How would you explain the fact that his inner voice tells him "no" about the young woman? (47)

Siddhartha 25-34

Sorry about assigning the wrong pages. The right assignment is 25-34.

Please note that we'll spend some time tomorrow reading the Buddha's four principles and eight-fold path so we'll have an idea of what the Buddha was preaching.

1. How does Siddhartha feel about the Buddha, given the evidence of this reading assignment?

2. What do you think about Siddhartha's response to Govinda's announcement that he was going to become a follower of the Buddha, and to Govinda's questions as to why Siddhartha is deciding not to be a follower of the Buddha? (29-30)

3. Siddhartha brings up two points to the Buddha--one on p. 31, and one on p. 32. Put into your own words ONE of the points Siddhartha brings up.

4. The Buddha gives Siddhartha two warnings. What are they?

5. In what way is the book about Buddhism, and yet not about Buddhism?

6. Find a sentence from the reading you would like to comment on, and comment on it.