Siddhartha Study Guide

Vasudeva

A ferryman who lives a quiet life of work and contemplation. He learns a lot form the river, and guides Siddhartha to do the same. He is spiritual and socially flawless. He taught Siddhartha how to listen to the river's secrets

Colloquialism

A style of writing that conveys the effect of informal spoken language as distinct from formal or literary English. - words like "yall" and "gonna" and "wanna"

Polarity

Basically, one cannot find enlightenment by mastering either the material or spiritual world, instead, youd have to find the common ground between both of them.

Love

Even though anyone can love, he learns that even after experiencing it, he still needs to learn more about it.

Govinda

He is a loyal friend and wants to seek the spiritual truth, he is a follower. He joins the Samanas and then follows the Buddha, but he still has trouble reaching enlightenment. He teaches Siddhartha about being able to go through his journey alone and to search for the Self.

Siddhartha's son

He is a spoiled little kid from the city. He is accustomed to be living in a materialistic environment. He is disrespectful and eventually runs away to return to the city. He teaches Siddhartha about the power of listening.

Siddhartha

He is an educated, and upper class son of a Brahim. He wants to pursue an acquire more knowledge about life and its meaning. - determined, curious, persistant

Hyperbole

It is an exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. - Im so hungry, I can eat a horse.

Songbird

It is supposed to be Siddharthas symbolic spiritual self, which he believes is dead.

Irony

It is the expression of ones meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. - A child runs away from someone throwing a water ballon at him and falls into the pool

River

It represents life itself, time, and the path to Enlightenment. Siddhartha learns about how time does not exist and how the past and future is happening in the moment.

Om

It signifies the oneness and unity of all things and it marks the key moments of awakening for Siddhartha. He talks about how even though people have mastered it, they have not fully achieved an understanding of it in their own live.

Smile

Only those who have smiled have achieved enlightenment, and the smile shows their perfection and harmony.

Kamala

She is a courtesan who teaches Siddhartha the art of love. She is treated as a queen, and she is beautiful.

Mango Tree

The Mango tree is essentially a place where he meditates. Under this tree, he tries to find himself and he reflects on his thoughts.

Samsara

The cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.

Snake

The snake is a representation of an obstacle in his life that he has crossed => now that she died, he has to start a new life, and that is when his son comes about.

Euphemism

The substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant. - Saying "let go" instead of "Fired"

Kamaswami

The wealthiest merchant in town, and he takes Siddhartha on as an apprentice. He teaches Siddhartha how to trade and gamble. He is an anxious man, can get easily angry, and is seen as a greedy person.

Mood

a temporary state of mind or feeling of a person/character or atmosphere of the story - It was dark and stormy night

Oxymoron

a word or group that is self-contradicting - Awfully good.

Personification

attribution of personal qualities. - The log jumped for joy.

Simile

it is a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more vivid. - You are slow like a snail.

Enlightenment

the action of enlightment or the state of being enlightened. In this case, the book is about trying to find the truth of life and trying to find one's true self.