Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse (1877-1962)
Background information
Published in 1922, Siddhartha tells the story of a young Brahmin who, yearning to find complete spiritual
peace, embarks on a journey of discovery in which he matures philosophically through a series of experiences
that are often painful, but that ultimately lead him toward the truth he has always sought.
Hesse was a German-Swiss poet, author and playwright whose life was characterized by intensive and
extensive study of the works of artists, philosophers and religious scholars. His grandparents had been
missionaries in India and he was fascinated by the culture of that part of the world. He lived through two
world wars and reflected on the horrors of human behavior in the context of war.
Hesse’s works were well known in Europe during his life (he won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946), but only
became popular in the United States during the “hippie” counterculture movement in the 1960s when young
people began to take interest in “finding themselves,” often through spiritual literature.
Related Study
We will be looking into the literary and psychological motif of the Heroic Journey in our study of Siddhartha.
To do that, we will draw upon the work of Joseph Campbell, a prominent scholar of world mythology. For
additional background information on Campbell’s work, see The Power of Myth (a book and television
miniseries) and The Hero with a Thousand Faces. A few quotes by Joseph Campbell:
 “Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths.”
 “Every religion is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors,
interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble.”
 “Myths are the world’s dreams; they are archetypal dreams and deal with great human problems.
Myths and dreams come from the same place; they come from realizations of some kind that then
have to find expression in symbolic form.”
 “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
 “You are the Hero of your own Story.”
 “We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us, the
labyrinth is fully known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path.”
 “As you proceed through life, following your own path, birds will shit on you. Don't bother to brush it
off. Getting a comedic view of your situation gives you spiritual distance. Having a sense of humor
saves you.”
Test your background knowledge
Put a “0” next to the terms with which you are completely unfamiliar, a “1” next to those you could explain
somewhat or with which you have some experience, and a “2” next to those about which you could
confidently teach someone:
____ the caste system in India
____ the basic tenets of Hinduism
____ karma
____ asceticism
____ the Eightfold Path
____ the life story of Buddha
____ meditation
____ the Hero’s Cycle motif
4/25
Philosophy in Literature Home stretch calendar
In-class activities
Due before class begins
-senior check in
Read first four chapters of
-Siddhartha introduction and
Siddhartha
resources
Siddhartha study guides
Vocab sheet
4/28
Hinduism/Buddhism overview
4/29
Reading assessment #1
4/30-5/1
Siddhartha study guides
5/2
Reading assessment #2
5/5
In-class work time on study guides
5/6
Reading assessment #3
5/7-8
Heroic journey overview and
Siddhartha project introduction
5/9
Siddhartha project work
5/12
Siddhartha project work
5/13
Siddhartha project work
5/14-15
Siddhartha/hero’s journey
Socratic seminar
Philosophy synthesis writing
project overview
Synthesis drafting
Synthesis drafting
Philosophy synthesis Socratic
seminar
Synthesis work
Self and peer editing
Writing project final touches
Presentation of writing projects in
author circles
FINAL
Date
4/23-24
5/16
5/19
5/20
5/21-22
5/23
5/27
5/28-29
5/30
6/2-3
Complete study guide for
chapters 1-4
Complete study guide for
chapters 5-8
Homework
Complete vocabulary sheet for
Siddhartha for all terms from the
first four chapters
Work on study guide for
chapters 1-4
bring all materials to use during
assessment on 4/29
Read middle four chapters; begin
study guide for chapters 5-8
Prepare for second assessment
by completing study guide; bring
materials to class
Read final four chapters; begin
study guide for chapters 9-12
Complete study of final four
chapters
Complete study guide for
chapters 9-12
Begin to identify content for
Siddhartha’s heroic journey
project
Complete preparation sheet for
Siddhartha project (have all
content identified by 5/12)
Preparation sheet for project;
Socratic seminar questions (due
by end of class period)
Complete Siddhartha project;
Prepare for Socratic seminar
Socratic seminar preparation
(initial responses to questions)
Complete preparation worksheet
for synthesis project
Preparation worksheet
Socratic seminar prep
Second draft
Hand in final draft (w/ scoring
guide and 2 other drafts)
Prepare for Socratic seminar
Revise to create a second draft
to bring to class 5/23
Continue revising
Continue revising
Final draft
Reflection to share at final