Siddhartha 75-115 Study Questions

Samsara1. Is Siddhartha’s superiority (77) out of character? What does it suggest about him?

2. Why is gambling appealing to Siddhartha? (79)

3. Why does Siddhartha become “old and sick” (80) but Kamala does not?

4. Why does Siddhartha leave without saying goodbye to anyone? How is this

leaving consistent with his character and goals? Why, in earlier chapters, did he first seek approval before he left, but now he does not?

By the River

1. Why is the imagery on 90 significant?

2. Who has accomplished more since they parted: Siddhartha or Govinda?

3. Explain the cycles of life? How is death a “renewal”?

The Ferryman

1. What does the river symbolize?

2. Why does Hesse personify the river?

3. How is the ferryman’s speech on 105-06 a key theme?

4. Explain the situational irony on 114.

5. Explain the significance of the end of the chapter: Why does Kamala die in the same bed as the ferryman’s wife? Why does the son sleep while the funeral pyre is built? How can Siddhartha suffer without sadness?