Siddhartha - Herman Hesse

ECP Senior Connections

Definitions

These will help you make sense of the vocabulary.

Atman / The Self; the highest and most holy form the self can take
Brahman / The Creator in Hindu cosmology. Brahman is a passive force that ca be tapped into but does not take an active role in the lives of Hindus.
Brahmin / a member of the highest social group or caste, from which India's holy people come
Dharma / The roles that all people, idea and natural forces follow. Everyone must fulfill his or her own dharma, not try to take another's. It is better to do one's own dharma poorly than to do another's well.
Karma / The acts of one life that affect the quality of the next. Good or bad acts carry over to the next life.
Good acts = good karma = better reincarnation. Bad acts = bad karma = worse reincarnation.
Mantra / A chant that is repeated during meditation.
Moksha / release into nirvana from the endless cycle of birth -death- rebirth
Nirvana / The state of spiritual perfection. When a person achieves it, s/he is no longer part of the cycle, but are released from the suffering of earthly life.
Om / A very holy mantra. "om" is a word believed to have supernatural powers to those struggling to achieve perfection. It is supposedly the sound the universe made when it was created
Samsara / The endless cycle of birth - death - rebirth. People are tied to samsara by ignorance and are released when
they gain spiritual perfection
Siddhartha / One who has achieved his goal

Seminar Topics

After each section of reading, respond to the question or prompt in about one page. We will have short seminars on these topics in class. In addition, prepare one or two questions of your own on each section of reading. You will use these questions to lead at least one discussion on the book.

1. The Brahmin's Son

Create a character sketch of Siddhartha. What are his goals and what is his life situation. Why does he do what he does? Give an explanation of the character Siddhartha as we see him in the first chapter. Include quotes that show the traits you describe him as possessing. What relevance does his character have for the rest of the story?

2. With the Samanas & Gotama

Contrast Siddhartha's learning with the Samanas with his learning with Gotama. Give a discussion of what Siddhartha learned in these two different situations. Include quotes that show these "learnings". What relevance do these learnings have for the rest of the story?

3. Awakening

Explain Siddhartha's realization on page 40: "Meaning and reality were not hidden behind things, they were in them, in all of them." Compare this to his former thoughts and discuss future implications of this for Siddhartha. Use relevant quotes to enhance you discussion. What relevance does this realization have for the rest of the story?

4. Kamala, Amongst the People, and Samsara

Discuss Siddhartha's change in lifestyle. Do this by comparing/contrasting old and new lives or by analyzing the impact of specific changes in his life. Select quotes from relevant scenes to enhance your discussion. What relevance does this change have for the rest of the story?

5. By the River, The Ferryman, The Son

Discuss Siddhartha's change from village life to river life. Include causes and obstacles. Use relevant quotes or scenes to enhance your discussion. What relevance does this change have for the rest of the story?

6. Om and Govinda

What do Siddhartha and Govinda each represent as individuals? Develop an "answer" for each one and defend them. Use relevant passages to support your discussion. What relevance do these representations have for the story?

Extra Question for Seminar

"Why should good, clean kids living in a high middle-class suburban area--the ones who 'have it made'--revolt, destroy a comfortable system, search for a different way of life [in identifying themselves with Siddhartha's quest]?" (Esther Gropper, "Literature for the Restive: Herman Hesse's Books" 1221-28).

Scoring Guide for Reading Logs

Excellent 20 points

Sophisticated analysis with relevant textual evidence (quotes). Writing style enhances readability.

Proficient 16 points

Generally solid analysis (not sophisticated) textual evidence is present and generally good. Writing style makes ideas easily understandable.

Nearly Proficient 12 points

Reports instead of analyzes, but tries to incorporate textual evidence. Writing may make it difficult to understand ideas.

Not Proficient 8 points

Does not make an attempt to really understand the book or the question. No textual evidence used. Writing style makes it difficult to understand ideas.

Required Assignment

Siddhartha is a book that has caused some controversy over the years because people believe that it has a powerful influence on young people at a critical stage in their development. Fans of the book praise this influence; they say that it provides an example that counters the materialistic ways of our world. Critics of the book say that it steers young people away from the religion of their parents when they are too young to make that decision for themselves. You’ve read it, what do you think? Persuade your readers that Siddhartha should or should not be read in high school classes. Center your arguments on the idea of the development of the young readers of the book. Cite evidence from the book and from supporters and critics of the book.

Options for Creative Projects

The novel uses the metaphor of a person’s life to explain the spiritual development of the Buddha. Create a visual metaphor (a piece of artwork) for Siddhartha’s spiritual development.

Compare and contrast the spiritual development of Siddhartha/Buddha with that of Jesus in either visual or written form.