2. When does Mama Chia resume her work as midwife and kahuna?
(a) When she becomes gravely ill.
(b) When she wants to reach a higher plane of ascension.
(c) After receiving a letter from Socrates about Dan.
(d) When she retires.

3. What does Dan have to keep fighting off?
(a) Panic.
(b) Rage.
(c) Lassitude.
(d) Despondency.

4. What does the conscious self become?
(a) A wheel.
(b) A rainbow.
(c) An arch.
(d) A robot.

5. What is so painful during Dan's time on the surfboard?
(a) Knowing his daughter would grow up without him.
(b) The realization of his impending death.
(c) His sunburned body.
(d) The realization of his stupidity.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mama Chia say when Dan tells her he is drained and depressed?

2. Why has Dan no sense of time or bearings?

3. How does the The Basic Self use pain?

4. What does Mama Chia draw in the sand?

5. After Stanford, where does the author accept a teaching position?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ruth respond to Dan's appearance at the party and what do you think this foreshadows?

2. What does Dan say about death and how do you think he will overcome his feelings about it?

3. How has Mama Chia been healing Dan and what do you think of her method?

4. Chapter four opens with what quote and what do you think it means?

5. Dan falls asleep, which could be what is called in literary terms, a "narrative contrivance." What do you think that means in context of this story and Dan falling asleep?

6. What does the college give Dan and where does he go?

7. What is the phrase that Ruth uses that catches Dan's attention and how would you characterize their encounter?

8. What does Dan do while in India?

9. What does Dan realize he must do at this time in his life?

10. Describe Dan's experience in his dreamlike state in chapter 7 and his reaction to the dream.

(see the answer keys)

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