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. What does Dan jokingly say he'll call the diet he follows while floating on the surfboard?

2. Who is Victor?

3. What is a fakir?

4. What happened that made Dan go out so foolishly unprepared?

5. What has bothered Dan since the surfboard incident?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. For what is Dan searching in India and why does he choose India?

4. How does Dan decide to commence his search for the woman of whom Socrates had once told Dan, and do you think that is a logical solution?

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

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

7. Dan imagines all sorts of monsters floating beneath his surfboard; what might this metaphorically represent?

8. Why is Dan depressed on his honeymoon?

9. How does Mama Chia interpret Dan's bad dream?

10. Dan says he would trade enlightenment for one glass of "pure, cool, quenching water." What do you think this says about the human condition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dan says that Mama Chia mentions an Arab aphorism, "Trust God but tie the camel." Discuss the following:

Research and discuss the origins of this saying and to what it originally applied.

How does Mama Chia use it in the context of this book? Does it seem appropriate?

How does Dan respond to her statement? Does he "tie his camel"? Discuss fully.

Essay Topic 2

Fear seems to be something that Dan must overcome or let go. In chapter 12, he has an experience while lying beside the grave he has dug. Discuss the following:

What are some of the fears Dan must overcome or let go of? Discuss them using examples from throughout the text.

What ways does Dan use to overcome his fears? Use specific examples.

Do you think Dan is fear free when he leaves Hawaii? Why or why not?

Could the ways Dan uses to overcome his fears work for you? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Mama Chia leads Dan to a village of people suffering from leprosy. Discuss the following:

What is Dan's initial reaction to his "assignment" from Mama Chia? Why?

How and why does Dan's attitude eventually change? Does the change seem sincere?

What do you think is the purpose of this situation in which Mama Chia places Dan?

How do you think you would handle a similar situation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,011 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample