Siddhartha - Herman Hesse
Senior Connections
Nearly all of the reading of this book will take place in class. Your homework during this time is to work on your I-
Search paper. If you don’t complete the reading in class, you can use the e-text that is on Monaghan’s web site on the Readings and Assignment Sheets page. The reading journals are due after each reading session AND you will have to read at least one of yours aloud to the class.
Definitions
These terms will help you make sense of the vocabulary.
Before you start reading the book, discuss what you think the equivalent concepts in American spiritual culture are. Identify any that don’t seem to have an equivalent.
Atman
Brahman
The Self; the highest and most holy form the self can take
The Creator in Hindu cosmology. Brahman is a passive force that ca be tapped into but does not take an
Brahmin
Dharma
Karma active role in the lives of Hindus. a member of the highest social group or caste, from which India's holy people come
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.
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.
A chant that is repeated during meditation. release into nirvana from the endless cycle of birth -death- rebirth
Mantra
Moksha
Nirvana
Om
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.
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.
Writing Assignments
Choose the essay topic you need to complete your requirements. Getting Literary Analysis done is the top priority with this paper, but if you have that done you can choose any one you like.
Literary Analysis Essay (if you have not yet met this requirement, you need to do this essay)
What is the message of Siddhartha and what symbols does Hesse use to convey the message?
 Some suggestions: don’t just pick three random symbols and summarize how they appear in the story. Pick categories of symbols (people, places, and/or actions) and show what they symbolize.

Read about Siddhartha before you begin your writing. Go to the King County Library site www.kcls.org
and access the same sources we used for Hemingway to find out about Hesse.
Compare and Contrast Essay (if you have met the literary analysis requirement, you may choose this one)
Compare the ideas of enlightenment, redemption, and salvation that you see in the Buddhist world of Siddhartha with the ideas of enlightenment, redemption, and salvation in another religion.
Persuasive Essay (if you have met the literary analysis requirement, you may choose this one)
Does Siddhartha have anything to teach people who are not Buddhists? Use yourself as an example. Identify your beliefs and argue that Siddhartha does or does not have something to offer you. Provide lots of evidence from your own belief system (religious or not) and from the novel.