Dharma Bums Lesson Plan

Where is the Zen lunacy in this section? What does the narrator mean by “Zen Lunatics,” and to what extent do you see it playing out in the text?

Strong answers could look for evidence of both concepts (Zen and lunacy) separately, and then look for the evidence of where these seem to blend together. They should be prepared to discuss the concept of Zen by this point in the reading. As far as lunacy, they should discuss whether it is negative and derogatory, noting that it more likely dovetails with ideas of the unconventional, free-spirited, wandering ideals of characters who reject conventional ways of being. They should note that this shows up in the text in terms of...