AP PREP POST 1: SIDDHARTHA

AP QUESTIONS:
-What purpose does self-denial serve in Siddhartha? What about self-indulgence?URL: http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html-Within the book, Semana taught Siddhartha to lose all emotions in order to reach enlightenment.
-What does enlightenment look like in Siddhartha? Is it a feeling? An attitude?
URL: http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html- Personally, I believe it is both a feeling and an attitude. Enlightenment is about discovering the truth about just living.
-If you were the river, would you be enlightenment or would you know enlightenment? In other words, what’s up with the river? What is it’s relation to enlightenment?URL: http://www.shmoop.com/siddhartha/questions.html-"Everything was a lie, everything stank, everything stank of lies, everything feigned meaning and happiness and beauty, and yet everything was decaying while  nobody acknowledged the fact.  The world tasted bitter; life was agony." This is a quote was said when Siddhartha tried to commit suicide before reaching a state of enlightenment. The river is not enlightenment, but it knows enlightenment, which allows Siddhartha to learn from the river. -Explain which person has the greatest influence on Siddhartha?
URL: http://www.gradesaver.com/siddhartha/q-and-a/explain-which-person-has-the-greatest-influence-on-siddhartha-and-why-94151/-From what I can remember, Semana has the greatest influence on Siddhartha within the book.
-According to Siddhartha how will gotama find enlightenment?
URL: http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/according-siddartha-how-will-gotama-find-10313-Enlightenment can only be found within oneself and the nature that surrounds them.
The questions above show me that I need to not only focus on the the plot and characterization, but also themes and tones that are presented within the book. Often times, I put all my focus on the facts rather than the feelings that are shown when I'm reading for school assignments due to the fact that I'm trying to be efficient. This assignment showed me the importance of taking your time instead of rushing through it.