View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. ___________ fills the tree in which Lavana lands.

2. What sage invites the king and his men to come in and dine with him in Viswamitra?

3. Who is the presiding god of wisdom and acumen in Yayati?

4. Where does Viswamitra seek solitude, renounce all speech, and rid himself of anger?

5. How long does Chedi go to sit in seclusion and meditation before emerging to battle the sage in Viswamitra?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is King Chedi's response to his dinner invitation in the beginning of Viswamitra? How is it explained?

2. What obstacles face Kacha once he becomes Sukracharya's pupil in Yayati?

3. What conversation does Iswara have with Vasishta in Viswamitra?

4. What moral lesson does King Lavana learn from his encounter with a magician?

5. What happens to Manmata's arrows when he shoots them in the beginning of Manmata?

6. What does King Chedi come upon in the beginning of Viswamitra?

7. How does Chudala test her husband's ability to make no distinction between yielding and resisting?

8. What is the third test which Chudala places on her husband? What comes of it?

9. How is the struggle between the gods and demons described in the beginning of Yayati?

10. Who does Sikhi-Dhvaia's father arrange for him to marry? What is their marriage like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the Indian practice of Swayamwara. How does this tradition differ from Western marriage arrangements? What power do women have within this system?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the Ramayana and Mahabharata. How many stories in Gods, Demons, and Others are derived from these texts? When were they written?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the characters of Draupadi, Yudhistira, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, Shadeless, and Kunthi. Who are the parents of the Pandava brothers? Where do they live?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 855 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample