A River Sutra | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 1

1. Why does the narrator take the job at the guesthouse?

2. Why is "endurance" a necessary part of a pilgrimage to the Narmada?

3. What are the requirements of being a Jain monk?

4. How is our narrator similar to the Jain monk? What is he lacking to be truly like him?

Short Essay Question - Chapter 2

5. How does Ashok's father feel about him becoming a monk?

6. What are the ceremonies of becoming a monk?

7. What...
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