Discuss techniques such as flashbacks and foreshadowing.

There isn't too much action here. This novel lays it on thick with symbolism and time manipulation (flashbacks, foreshadowing). Flashbacks allow us to see the progress or lack of progress Siddhartha goes through. Foreshadowing allows us to see the challenges Siddhartha will encounter later in the story. Hesse really gives us a meditative tone to the whole book that utilizes techniques like flashback within Siddhartha's own mind.