English Literature - ...

About the passage

A.  Read to understand

1.   Choose the correct options.

     a.   Sanghamitra and her twin brother, Mahindra, had been sent to Sri Lanka to

                     i.        conquer new realms for Magadha.

                    ii.        help spread Buddhism.

                  iii.        build a stupa.

 

     b.   Ashoka’s edicts proclaim

                     i.        Ashoka as the emperor of India.

                    ii.        Ashoka as Chand Ashoka.

                  iii.        Ashoka’s belief in the Buddhist principles of dhamma.

 

     c.   The emperor was remorseful because

                     i.        many of his soldiers had died in the battle of Kalinga.

                    ii.        the battle had caused much more destruction than expected.

                  iii.        he had been responsible for taking the lives of many individuals.

 

     d.   The king expected his subjects to

                     i.        lead a vegetarian lifestyle.

                    ii.        respect each other’s religious beliefs.

                  iii.        spread the Buddha’s teachings to other kingdoms.

2.  Answer the following questions.

     a.   What are Ashoka’s edicts, and why are they important?

 

     b.   Why was Chand Ashoka a well-deserved nickname for Ashoka?

 

     c.   Describe the incident that transformed Emperor Ashoka.

 

     d.   What were the ways that Emperor Ashoka adopted to avoid violence altogether?

 

 

B.  Read to infer

1.   A tolerant person shows respect for the rights, opinions, and practices of others. How was the battle of Kalinga an example of Emperor Ashoka’s intolerant nature?

 

2.   Was he a tolerant king after the battle of Kalinga? Give reasons for your answer.

 

3.   The battle of Kalinga showed that Ashoka was a powerful king. However, the battle also made him realize that he was not as powerful as he had thought himself to be. Explain.

C.  Discuss

1.   Do you know the story of how Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha? Compare this story with the story of Ashoka’s transformation.

 

2.   Find out about Buddha’s Noble Eightfold, and discuss how it can apply to your daily life, both in and outside school.