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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Sauti say that Rama is beyond?

2. Who fashioned the five elements of the world?

3. Complete the following statement: Rama and Lakshmana learned two mantras, one for strength, and one for ________.

4. What does Sumantra find after he leaves Rama and Sita in the woods?

5. What do Guha’s bones say when Bharata shows up looking for Rama?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Ravana’s role in the birth of Rama?

2. Describe Dasaratha’s funeral.

3. How did Agastya tame the upstart Vindhya Hills?

4. How does Ravana defeat Jatayu and escape with Sita?

5. Why does Rama insist on going into the Dandaka Forest, against Sita’s wishes?

6. Why does Dasaratha decide that he wants to see Rama made king, and what do his advisors say?

7. Describe Bharata’s meeting with Guha.

8. How does Sita allow herself to be abducted?

9. How is Bharata convinced to leave Rama in the forest, and accept the throne of Ayodhya himself?

10. Describe the history of Five-Apsarasa Lake.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What topics would you like to research further after reading the Ramayana? Describe why additional research or reading would be beneficial to an understanding of this book. Propose a list of articles or books you would read in order to get a better handle on the Ramayana.

Essay Topic 2

What does the Ramayana tell the reader about the relations between men and women, husbands and wives? Using examples from the text, describe the poem’s lessons for relations between the sexes.

Essay Topic 3

How would you rewrite the Ramayana, if you were to adapt it and make it your own? What part of the book would you preserve? What part would you change? Explain your motivation for the changes you would make.

(see the answer keys)

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