We're not talking about the type of knowledge you get from studying—when it comes to Repossessed, we're talking about the kind you get from experience. Sure, Kiriel knows a bunch of stuff intellectually about life, but he doesn't really get it until he experiences it firsthand. As a human, he gets to see and taste stuff he's never had before, and he's pushed to evaluate his experiences. Most importantly, though, he begins to think critically about what's going on in the world around him, challenging ideas instead of just accepting them at face value. It's all part of his path to wisdom.
Questions About Wisdom and Knowledge
- At one point, Kiriel tells us, "Knowing doesn't hold a candle to doing" (3.23). What do you think he means by that? Do you agree?
- By the end of the book, is Kiriel wiser about life? What has he learned? What hasn't he?
- Does Kiriel really need to live as a human to find the knowledge he's looking for? What does this experience do for him?
Chew on This
Repossessed shows that wisdom comes from lived experience, not from words or lessons.
Kiriel learns more about life through being a human for a few days than he does from hearing about it for several millennia.