An online guide to reading Nietzsche's 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra'?

February 23, 2009 12:53 PM

Hi, I am currently attempting Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra with some difficulty. What I'm really looking for is a chapter-by-chapter explanation of the book; the meanings, metaphors, and significance of the characters and events. Thanks in advance.
posted by FuckingAwesome to religion & philosophy (5 answers total)

This is a bit simplistic, but it'll help with the basics: http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/zarathustra/.
posted by hayvac at 1:09 PM on February 23, 2009

Try David Allison's Reading the New Nietzsche. The author is one of the leading contemporary Nietzsche scholars; he writes really well and provides much-needed context. It's not just about Zarathustra, though--he does in-depth readings of four of Nietzsche's books.
posted by nasreddin at 1:23 PM on February 23, 2009

Spark Notes
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:40 PM on February 23, 2009

Oops. Just noticed that was the first answer. Sorry
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:47 PM on February 23, 2009

I don't know of anything good online, but Nietzsche's Teaching by Laurence Lampert is a great book long study of Zarathustra.
posted by BigSky at 4:26 PM on February 23, 2009