Sorry I've been sick

So my fever is still over 100 degrees, and school policy for H1N1 precautions does not allow me to return to school until my fever drops below 100 degrees for 24 hours.

I am sorry that I have been missing discussions on Siddhartha; however, I hope that I will be back on Tuesday so that we can have one full day to discuss the book before you take the 25-question multiple choice final exam on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Vocab will not be on Wednesday's exam, so you should just think of the test as a big reading quiz. The vocab test will be after the long weekend, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, so that you have the weekend to study the words.

Read the blog posts below. They summarize the Siddhartha unit and assignments.

Siddhartha Extra Credit

For your second extra credit opportunity of the quarter, consider writing a paragraph on Siddhartha that answers one of the prompts below. The paragraph is worth five points, and although you may not think that five points is a lot, it really does help your grade. If you are also completing "The Overcoat" extra credit, due this Tuesday, those 10 points would really boost your grade.

Typed paragraphs are due by Friday, October 23. Remember that a paragraph should have at least two PIEs, and make sure your points, illustrations and explanations prove your topic sentence (which is basically your thesis). Remember that direct quotations are the best illustrations for your analytical points.

Paragraph Prompts

1. Discuss the influence of Kamala on Siddhartha’s life.
2. Discuss the influence of Vasudeva on Siddhartha’s life.
3. Discuss a thematic aspect of discontent as it is found in Siddhartha.
4. Discuss Hermann Hesses’s success in teaching concepts of Buddhism in the novel Siddhartha.
5. Discuss Hermann Hesses’s success in teaching concepts of Hinduism in the novel Siddhartha.
6. Discuss a thematic aspect of learning or education as it is found in Siddhartha.

Siddhartha Hinduism and Buddhism Terms

In class last week, you should have completed the Hinduism and Buddhism sheet by defining the term and offering a quotation or example from the book that shows this element of Hinduism or Buddhism in the text.

Hindu Terms

Meditation
Dharma
Brahmin
Samsara
Om
Atman/Brahman

Buddhist Terms

Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Noble Path
Nirvana / Enlightenment
Historical Buddha (Sakyamuni)
Dharma
Karma

Siddhartha Vocabulary Words

You should be making flash cards to study for your vocabulary test on Tuesday, Oct. 20. If you made a four-square vocab on each index card, you would really learn the words as you go.

Here are the words to know:

vocation (4)
orator (oration) (4)
atone (atonement) (5)
ascetic (9)
austere (18)
ostracize (45)
prudent (63)
compel (66)
desolate (desolation) (66)
concede (70)
formidable (79)
permeate (94)
diligent (95)
carouse (97)
benevolence (147)

Siddhartha Reading Schedule

Here are a few reasons why you should care about Siddhartha:

1. Reading about him improves your knowledge and cultural literacy about world religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.
2. He is a dude who is searching for more in life. He wants to move beyond all of the worldly trappings of jealousy, lust, and greed to find ultimate inner-peace. Sounds nice, right?
3. Siddhartha's quest is a classic story of discovery. It is one that is patterned after The Odyssey. Knowing his story helps us to better understand the single monomyth that is told and retold throughout different times and different cultures. Think about Gladiator, Star Wars, Finding Nemo, Siddhartha; these are all the same basic quest stories.

Reading Schedule

The date indicates the due date for the reading selection. Be prepared for discussion or a quiz.

Oct 6: Chapters 1 & 2
Oct 7: Chapters 3 & 4
Oct 8: Chapters 5 & 6
Oct 9: Chapters 7 & 8
Oct 12: Chapters 9 & 10
Oct 13: Chapters 11 & 12
October 13: Final Discussion
October 14: Final Test

Vocabulary Test: October 20