Each year I read Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha with my World Literature 12th grade students. While a few of them are quick to understand the concepts and deeper insights into how one should go about living life, most need the themes and ideas driven home through curriculum supplements.This year I utilized readings from The Way of Chaung Tzu by Thomas Merton to help elucidate key concepts. I also called on YouTube for a visual assist, and found a great three-part Siddhartha series created by high school students.
Today we watched videos one and two. Tomorrow we'll watch the finale before beginning work on the culminating activity for the unit, an essay entitled Siddhartha Comes to America!
Below are the three student-produced Siddhartha videos. I hope you enjoy them as much as my students and I did.