Reading Week 15: The Ramayana, Part F

Wow, the last reading is already here. Can't believe how fast these 15 weeks have flown by. I decided to spend my last reading by continuing the Ramayana. I have really enjoyed this reading and it has been fascinating getting exposure to things I wouldn't have if I didn't take this course. I liked the part where Rama curses the ocean. Cursing the ocean - an example of something I wouldn't have read if I wasn't in this class.

Rama curses the Sea: (Blogspot)

Bibliography: The Ramayana by William Buck (Link)

Week 15 Reading: The Ramayana Part E

This week I continued reading The Ramayana, and it is starting to get very weird (which is always more fun to read). Some of the things talked about I will reading and think to myself 'what just happened.' I love the obscure characters and series of events, I never know what to expect. I liked the part when the mountain Mainaka hides under the ocean in fear of Indra, but then comes out to give Hanuman a chance to rest. This was a very interesting part of the reading, and I enjoyed getting exposed to this version of the Ramayana.

The Ramayana: (Wikipedia)

Bibliography: Ramayana by William Buck (Link)

Reading Week 14: The Ramayana, Part D

Sita gets abducted!! Best part of the reading right here. It reminds me of when Daenerys Targaryen gets taken by the Dothraki. It was smart of her to drop down her jewelry to the monkey's beneath her so they would know exactly where she got taken. I like this idea of getting kidnapped and am going to try to incorporate this in a story during the semester. I am liking this other version of the Ramayana as it is very exciting. 

Daenerys Targaryen: (Flickr)

Bibliography: Ramayana by William Buck (Link)

Reading Week 14: The Ramayana, Part C

This week I continued reading the Ramayana into part C. I liked the part when Bharata goes with an entourage to go find Rama. This reminds me of a story I wrote when King Dasharatha goes with an entourage of nine men into the forest. It is cool seeing how all the stories are tying together and relating to each other. For my project post this week I am thinking about including something different about Rama.

Rama: (WikiCommons) 

Bibliography: Ramayana by William Buck (Link)

Reading Week 13: Ramayana Part B

The opening part of this reading was very surprising, and I liked it! In my stories I have always tried to thrill the reading and take turns they were not expecting. When Dasharatha plans to make Rama his successor, I thought it was just going to play out normally and Rama would be the next King. But Kaikeyi uses two promises that Dasharatha owes and Rama doesn't only not become king, but he gets exiled! I thought this was a very good twist.

Bibliography: Ramayana retold by William Buck (Link)

Ramayama: (WikiCommons)

Reading Week 13: Ramayana Part A.

This week I read Buck Ramayana. It was weird seeing Sauti tell the story of the Mahabharata because we have already read that this semester! It was very cool seeing King Dasharatha in the story again, because I have included him in a story in my portfolio. In this story, he prepares a sacrifice to obtain sons. In my story, and went to fight the ten headed monster to get sons. I liked the reading this week, and am looking forward to reading B.

Bibliography: Ramayana retold by William Buck (Link)

King Dasharatha: (WikiCommons)

Week 12 Reading: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar, Part B

This next part of the video focused on Narayan. I thought it was really interesting how when Narayan sleeps, the world has no form and no identity. This shows the type of power he has, and that was really cool. I think this is what I will write about in my story, and maybe somehow fit in the elephant from Reading A. I thought Part B was a better video than part A, and I will focus more on it in my story this week.

Bibliography: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar (Link)

Narayana: (Wikipedia)

Week 12 Reading Notes: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar, Part A

This week I chose to watch Seven secrets of the Hindu Calendar, Gods and Goddesses. I'm not sure if I was the biggest fan, so for next week I might try and find more comic tales. But, it was interesting to watch about the different Gods of Indian Epics. I remember reading a student's storybook about the elephant, so it was good to see where that came from. Maybe I will incorporate a God into my next story, but we will have to see how I begin brainstorming.

Bibliography: Seven Secrets of Hindu Calendar (Link)

Elephant God: (Pixabay)

Week 11: More Jataka Tales, Part B

What another great week of reading. I really enjoyed reading the Jataka Tales, it was very different and interesting. I especially likes the part with the elephant and the dog. I would never had thought to put these two animals together, but it turned out to be really cool. I discussed in my last reading notes that I wanted to incorporate some animals into my next story, so maybe I'll make them two random animals. Great read.

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Babbitt (Link)

Elephant and Dog: (Wiki Commons)

Week 11: More Jataka Tales, Part A

This week I read More Jataka Tales, and I enjoyed it just as much as last week. Last week I read Jataka Tales so I thought it would be a good idea to continue that reading. I really liked the story of the Stupid Monkeys. I have yet to write about animals as my only characters, and this upcoming story I am thinking about doing so. It would be fun to have animals talk to each other and I think I could come up with something to write about. I enjoyed this reading and am looking forward to Part B.

Bibliography: More Jataka Tales by Babbitt (Link)

Monkey: (Pixabay)

Reading Notes: The Jatakas Tales of India. Part B

For Part B of this book I want to focus on Why the Owl is not King of the Birds. I have incorporated Kings into a lot of my stories, so I was excited when I came across the part where there was a non intense story about Kings (kind of). I am interested in taking on this kind of approach in the future and we will see how it pans out for me. Overall I enjoyed this reading and am looking forward to continuing to choose our readings in the future.

Bibliography: The Jatakas Tales of India by Ellen Babbitt (Link)

Owl: (Pixabay)

Reading Notes: Babbitt: Jataka Tales. Part A

This week I read Babbitt Jataka Tales and specifically liked The Turtle Who Couldn't Stop Talking part. This was an interesting little story and I think that is what I want to do with my next story. I have been very dark and serious in my stories and I am thinking about lightening it up. Although the Turtle ends up dying, I thought of this as a short little tale and I really liked it.

Bibliography: The Jatakas Tales of India by Ellen Babbitt (Link)

Turtle: (Pixabay)

Reading Notes: Valiant Archer, Supreme Teacher - Part B

It's kind weird that Drona was born in a pot, and not only born in a pot, his name also means Pot. This struck me as kind of weird, but hey it's Indian Epics. At least Drona has cool secret military skills to offset his weird birth and name. I like the fact that Drona is seeking pupils that will lead to his revenge on Drupada. This calls for a very exciting story and I may have to use this for one of mine in the future. Overall, this was a fun story to read.

Bibliography: Valiant Archer, Supreme Teacher (Link)

Drona: (Wikipedia) 

Reading Notes: Tales of Arjuna Part A

This week I read Tales of Arjuna and really enjoyed it. This was my first comic book to read this semester and I really enjoyed it, I need to find more! I like how the monkey was interactive with the humans, that definitely made for it to be a more lighthearted and funny story. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.

Bibliography: Tales of Arjuna (Link)

Monkey: (Pexels)

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part D

I thought the sacrifice of the horse was a very intense part of the reading. When Bhima cut the head, it immediately ascended to heaven, and disappeared in front of everybody. I am going to go a different direction from this. I still haven't thought of my characters to use, but I think I am going to have a sacred horse be a source of a debt payment when the characters come across the casino in the Himalayas. This will provide a new theme and feeling to the reading, and will deviate from my past stories which have revolved around battles.

Bibliography: Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan (Link)

Sacred Horse: (Pexels)

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part C

I really enjoyed when Draupadi and the four Pandava brother's begain their journey in the Himalayas. I think it would be really interesting to set a story in the mountains, which I have yet to do. Most of mine have revolved around battles of different kingdoms. But after reading the dice game last week, and the Himalayas this week, maybe I will select some characters to come across a hidden casino in the middle of the mountain range. This may be a little far fetched, but with more brainstorming throughout the week, I am sure I will get a basis for my plot.

Bibliography: Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan (Link)

The Himalayas above the clouds: (Wikipedia)

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part B

The dice game was by far my favorite reading we have done this semester. I am a big fan of gambling, and seeing it be incorporated into this indian epics course was really cool for me. Shakuni is playing a game of dice in Duryodhana's place, and Yudhishthira loses everything he owns. I am planning on changing the names of the characters because I think it is difficult to develop a story if you cannot pronounce the people's names with confidence. But centering a story around gambling will be very fun and interesting to do.

Bibliography: Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan (Link)

Game of Dice: (Wiki Commons) 

Reading Notes: Mahabharata, Part A

This week reading was really interesting. I think I am going to like this book better than the last one. I like to focus on characters and setting to develop around and Bhima killing a rakshasa really has me interested. The sister of the Rakshasa fell in love with Bhima, even though he killed her and I think this is a good spot to create a story. Bihma then battled with another rakshasa, and everybody is suprised he is able to beat him.

Bibliography: Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan (Link)

Rakshasa: (Wiki Commons)

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part B

When Dave broke up with Nina by email, I immediately thought this was a good plot to revolve around. This is one of the top things not to do when you break up, but Dave decides to do it anyways. Sita told Rama in the story that she is pregnant, but I think I am going to change that to Nina being pregnant to spark up the story. I might make Dave a King and Nina can't have children, but when he breaks up with her, she discloses she's pregnant with a boy (aka the heir to Dave's throne). This week I am going to focus on changing names from the original just to include a different aspect to my stories.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley (Link)

Dave Begging For Nina: (Wiki Commons)

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues, Part A

This weeks reading was very interesting and I am excited to develop a story off of it. King Dashartha has three wives and four sons, making it a good family to develop a plot around. I am brainstorming about some family instances that could make the family turn against each other. It would be cool to have the four sons try to stake their claim to another kingdom by branching away from the family. I also like the idea of incorporating the half man half monkeys to draw some chaos to the story.

Bibliography: Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley (Link)

The Man Monkey (Wiki Commons)