AP Prep Post 1: Siddhartha

1. A bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, recounts the psychological or moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity, when this character recognizes his or her place in the world. Select a single pivotal moment in the psychological or moral development of the protagonist of a bildungsroman. Then write a well-organized essay that analyzes how that single moment shapes the meaning of the work as a whole. (x)
1. Passage wasn’t sufficient enough. It stated that the narrator went through an evolution, from following the footsteps that were paved for him by class/reputation to turning around and paving his own road, but didn’t explain how the change occurred or what challenges he faced or will face.   

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? (x)
1. Passage gave no specific details on how he attained spiritual enlightenment, giving only his mental distress over his lonesome life.

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? (x)
1. No mention of any character aside from Siddhartha therefore unable to answer the question.

4. Siddhartha and Buddha both eventually attain Nirvana. However, the way that each achieves it is different. Explain the difference, relating this to the reason for Siddhartha’s not following the Buddha. (x)
1. Refer to answers 1a, 2a, and 3a

5. Siddhartha is a love story in addition to the story of a spiritual quest. How do Siddhartha’s romantic love for Kamala and his love for his son impact his spirituality? How does Siddhartha’s spirituality, in turn, impact Kamala and his son? (x)
1. Refer to answers 1a, 2a, and 3a

6. It is clear to say that in order for students to do well in the exam later this year, they will need to get both the literal and figurative meaning of passages. Incorporating literary terms will also be needed when writing analysis so as to explain and give further evidence and examples needed to answer a certain question.