Siddhartha

Herman Hesse

An introductory lesson by J. Lane-Cruz at the Middlesex County Academy

               

Plot Synopsis

Siddhartha, a young man, leaves his family for a contemplative life. After becoming restless, he discards it for one of the flesh. Later he becomes bored and sickened by lust and greed and decides to move on again. Near despair, Siddhartha comes to a river where he hears a unique sound. This sound signals the true beginning of life - the beginning of suffering, rejection, peace and finally wisdom.

Herman Hesse

Read about the life of author Herman Hesse:http://www.nobel.se/literature/laureates/1946/hesse-autobio.htmlhttp://www.online-literature.com/hesse/http://www.gss.ucsb.edu/projects/hesse/life/chron.html

List 10 facts about Herman Hesse’s life.What inspired him to write Siddhartha?

The Real Siddhartha

Read about the life of the real Siddhartha:

http://www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/siddhartha.html

What 10 aspects of Siddhartha’s life can be viewed as admirable?

History

Read the analyses on the history of Hesse’s Siddhartha:Go to:

http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.aspScroll down and click on Bloom’s Literature. For the search term type in:

Siddhartha +Herman Hesse

Click on Analyses and Criticisms at the top and read The Search for Emancipation in Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha and Siddhartha 1922

What overall theme(s) regarding spirituality does Hesse present in his novel regarding life and enlightenment?How did Hesse come to this realization?

Siddhartha & Religion While searching for self realization, Siddhartha will encounter many teachings and will not conform or devote to any one of the religions of his time. To better understand the novel Siddhartha, review the following slides for information on Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism (which Siddhartha follows with the Samanas). These are the teachings that assist Siddhartha in gaining his final perspective on life.

Hinduism Go to the following websites for information on Hinduism and the

caste system.Go to:http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE53&NewItemID=TrueSearch term: Hinduism, caste system

http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india.htm

What are the basic teachings of the Hindu religion?What is the caste system? What are Brahmins?

Jainism

Search this site for information on Jainism:Go to:http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?

ItemID=WE53&NewItemID=TrueSearch term: Jainism

What are the basic teachings of Jainism?

BuddhismSearch these sites for information

on Buddhism:http://www.pbs.org/edens/

thailand/buddhism.htm

Go to:http://www.fofweb.com/

NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE53&NewItemID=True

Search term: Buddhism

What solution did Gotama Buddha find to the question of suffering in the world?

What do Buddhists mean by "Enlightenment?“

How is enlightenment achieved? What steps do individuals have to take?

Quotes

These quotes will help you understand some of the basic themes in Siddhartha:

“Knowledge can be communicated, but wisdom cannot. A man can find it, he can live it, he can be filled and sustained by it, but he cannot utter or teach it.” - Herman Hesse

“The man of power is ruined by power, the man of money by money, the submissive man by subservience, the pleasure seeker by pleasure.” - Herman Hesse

Writing Throughout our journey, like Siddhartha, we have all been

confused or felt frustrated with our lives. Write about a time (3-5 paragraphs) when you sought guidance from something or someone and found a positive answer to a question you had. Describe the situation, why you sought the knowledge how your new-found realization helped you.

Write in Times New Roman, 12 font, and double space your essay.

Evaluation

Grade 1: You will be graded on your individual responses to the questions (class work/homework grade).Grade 2: Your essay must be original, well-written and respond to all aspects of the question (quiz grade).

Conclusion

With this lesson, you have gained some insight into the novel Siddhartha. Remember this information while you read and study the novel. The specific teachings that influenced Siddhartha will help you understand the novel’s deeper meanings.

Credits:Google.com for images

Websites used to link information