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Steppenwolf

Questions About Steppenwolf

by Hermann Hesse

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Answered Questions (11)

I'm about halfway through, and can't help but notice the main characters are "Harry and Hermine". Seems I've heard something AWFULLY close to those two in a more popular YA novel recently....has JKR ever admitted to taking the names from Steppenwolf?
Peter
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Hello! I was wondering if someone whose mother tongue is not german has read this book in its original version, and if it's accessible --> what level of german does this book requires? I'm always searching for - not to difficult- german books to read and improve my german (i've tried movies in german dubbing and oh dear) Thank you!!
adelaols Hi! I just finished the book and my level of german is approximately B2, a better B2 I'd say. What I found was that it varied, some parts were relativ…moreHi! I just finished the book and my level of german is approximately B2, a better B2 I'd say. What I found was that it varied, some parts were relatively easy to read and some were harder, but it is most definitely doable. Naturally you're going to need a dictionary, there were so many words I did not know but hey, it's all about learning. Still I wouldn't say that this is the easiest book to start with, throughout my reading of the book I had a peek at the version of the book written in my mother tongue (Czech) several times and found the language to be advanced even there, so that definitely says something. Maybe a more modern book would be easier to begin with too in terms of language but give this one a try for sure! :) (less)
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Is anyone else slightly unsettled by Hesse's criticism of 'primitive people' and people of African heritage? I know that we have to read texts in their contexts but I was wondering if anyone has read enough about Hesse or knows enough about his life and opinions to comment on whether these remarks are of little weight or if Hesse engaged with contemporary racist intellectual dialogues?
Pip Karlsen He didn't use 'primitive' pejoratively, but to indicate simplicity, a lack of the trappings of civilisation. His use of 'Negro' (almost always in the …moreHe didn't use 'primitive' pejoratively, but to indicate simplicity, a lack of the trappings of civilisation. His use of 'Negro' (almost always in the context of jazz music) is absolutely common for the time, so I wouldn't read anything into that, though of course this is the translator's rendering of whatever Hesse's word was. There are no indications of the sort of 'scientific' racism that featured in Germany a few years later. (less)
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Hello! Which is the best English translation of Steppenwolf?
Johnny Click 'All Editions' to see them sorted by popularity, and from there it's easy to see who's the most popular translator. Then just go check out that …moreClick 'All Editions' to see them sorted by popularity, and from there it's easy to see who's the most popular translator. Then just go check out that version from your public library.(less)
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Hesse says this book is often misunderstood. I took two things away from this book. 1) Don't hold other people to your own rules 2) Live more of your potential lives (don't have hard rules in which things are evil) Did I miss the point?
Cd0467 No, you didn't miss the point. You got it right. Basically, Harry Haller is having a massive mid-life crisis. He's gotten so out-of-balance and neurot…moreNo, you didn't miss the point. You got it right. Basically, Harry Haller is having a massive mid-life crisis. He's gotten so out-of-balance and neurotic that he's ranting about everything and miserable all the time. So Hermine shows up as his repressed unconscious and teaches him to chill out and explore new possibilities for living. She brings Harry back into balance (and back to sanity) by getting him to try new things and see life from new angles.
Anyways, something like that...(less)
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