Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse

Siddhartha: Style 1 key example

Part Two, Chapter 12 – Govinda
Explanation and Analysis:

Hesse's meditative style contains a few characteristic formal techniques. The first is triplicate rhythms. The author creates this kind of rhythm by combining three-part grammatical structures. Sentences often contain three similar words, phrases, or clauses. And sometimes, a page will contain three similar paragraphs. This rhythm, which appears on a microcosmic level, also reflects the macrocosmic structural aspects of the novel (i.e., Siddhartha's story takes place in three parts, as he stays with the Samanas, the Child People, and Vasudeva). The number three carries great significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism, but on a simply stylistic level, triplicate sequences give the text a rhythmic, lyrical quality that makes it very enjoyable to read.