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Siddhartha was published in 1922 and is probably Hermann Hesse's most famous novel. It represents a culmination in his interest in India and Eastern philosophy, and in 1946 this short work won for him the Nobel Prize for literature.
Your task is to read it and be prepared to retell and interpret the story. Below you will find a number of questions that I'd like you to try and answer.
Rest assured that you will not waste your time reading it. For some of you it may be the first attempt to read an entire novel in English. It should not pose a problem for you that it was originally written in German. It is a book that is widely read in the Anglo-Saxon world and part of our culture.
You will find that there are a number of on-line versions of Siddhartha. I recommend going to Gutenberg Press or to the more commercial sites such as The Literature Network, Sparknotes. In the latter site you will find a wealth of information and analysis.
Questions for discussion
1) What did Siddhartha and Govinda learn from the Samanas and why did they leave them?
2) What flaw did Siddhartha find in the Buddha's teachings?
3) What did Siddhartha learn from his son?
4) Who in the story has achieved true happiness?
5) What is the significance of the river?
6) What is the significance of the stone?
7) Why does Siddartha tell Govinda to stop seeking teachers?
8) Is there a connection between the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism and the story of Siddhartha?
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