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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 Valmiki say Ravana thought when he looked at Sita?

2. How is the search for Sita broken up?

3. What does Bharata answer when Bharadwaja says that he knows that the king is dead?

4. How do humans win favors from gods in the Ramayana?

5. Who fashioned the five elements of the world?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Sita allow herself to be abducted?

3. What kind of relationship do Sita and Ravana have, from their first meeting?

4. Describe the birth of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna.

5. Why does Agastya replace Rama’s bow?

6. How does Hanuman characterize the story of Rama and Sita to Jambavan?

7. When had Kaikeyi almost used her two wishes previously?

8. How does Dasaratha describe Rama’s banishment as punishment for his own actions?

9. Describe Rama and Lakshmana’s training by Viswamitra.

10. What is Bharata’s response when he hears that Dasaratha is dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Would you recommend the Ramayana? For what purposes would you recommend the Ramayana, and what kinds of readers would you recommend it for? What other book would you recommend that would cover the same material or tell the same story in a different way?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What does the Ramayana teach you about how to live? What kinds of problems does the Ramayana tell the reader how to solve? What kinds of questions would it not be very useful for?

(see the answer keys)

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