Week 10 Storytelling: The Greatest of Them All

"Welcome heroes and heroines to the "Greatest of Them All Showcase." Tonight our showcase begins with a bow. A bow is a significant weapon in many cultures, but tonight it is the star item of our showcase! If you know heroes, then you know who I am calling onto the stage tonight. Great Odysseus and Rama come to the stage."

The crowd went wild. These are two of the greatest heroes of all time and they were about to go head to head in this epic show case.

*The stage dims*

"So Rama let's start with you. Tell us your story."
"Let me start off by saying it's an honor to be here Steve. My story begins with a girl."

*The crowd laughs*

"I know don't all great stories begin with a girl" Rama laughed. "Now let's see, yes, I saw this beautiful woman and wanted to be with her. Viswamithra wanted me and my brother to see the bow of Janaka. This bow was very large and was from Shiva. In order for me to marry his daughter, I had to string and shoot this bow."
"So, Rama, why do you deserve to be considered greater than Odysseus?"
"Because I didn't just string the bow. I broke it in two."

*Audience cheers loudly"

"Thank you, Rama, you may return to your seat."
"Odysseus, join me at the front of the stage. Now tell us your story."
"Thanks for having me, Steve. I came home from the Trojan War to find a lot of suitors going after me wife."

*Audience gasps*

"I know. So I was dressed as a beggar. There was a competition to string my personal bow and shoot it through twelve ax heads in a row. I'm not sure if you have ever shot a bow through and ax head before, but it is difficult. I not only shot the bow and shot it through twelve ax heads, but I also killed all the suitors. "

*Audience cheers loudly*

"Thank you Odysseus and thank you Rama. Well, audience, now it is time for you to take a vote. Who do you think is the greater of these two heroes with a bow. Who will be crowned the greatest of them all!"

*Audience looks down and begins writing*

"Find out after this commercial break if the hero of Ancient Greek Epics or the hero of Indian Epics will win this showcase."

Author's Note:
I read Buck's Ramayana  this week. When I was originally coming up with an idea for a storybook I wanted to combine heroes from Ancient Greek Epics with Indian Epic heroes. Instead I went with a Portfolio. I wanted to play a tribute to that original idea I had though. I wanted to but Odysseus and Rama against each other. They are both very similar and very different. One of the ways they are similar is seen in the bow, so I wanted to make a play on that story. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you enjoy it.

Bibliography:
Ramayana by William Buck. 2000.

Pictures:
Rama
Odysseus

Reading Diary B: Buck's Ramayana

Again I love reading the Ramayana again, especially in this perspective. In this reading I'm really trying to focus on stories I might have overlooked in the first two times I focused on the Ramayana. I like the story of the one mom using her promises of the king to prevent Rama from being the successor. Her servant is the one convincing her to do this. I think I could right a story about the little devil living on your shoulder and making you do things you don't want to. Our the Kenny Chesney song "Demons" would be a great tie in here.

Banishing Rama

The language of the animal story was interesting I'm not sure if it was in the other stores of the Ramayana that I have read, but if it has been I didn't think it was that important. It is definitely an interesting story that I could work with.

Then again the death of Rama's dad is incredibly sad. In a weird way it reminds me of the story of Oedipus Rex. I don't know maybe I could make a tie in with that story.

Ramayana Reading Guide

Reading Diary A: Buck's Ramayana

It is so nice to be reading the Ramayana again. I have really enjoyed working with this story this semester and I am excited to continue to explore it in Buck's version. I like the opening address, I think it is a good way to introduce the Ramayana. I think this could be a good storytelling technique. I think it is funny that Sauti has just finished telling the Mahabharata, and will now talk about the Ramayana, which we have read both.

I like the way the story begins with Balmiki having to go help Sita. I think about the movie I watched where the poet teaches Rama's boys about him and the boys sing essentially a nursery rhyme about him. Now the story of Rama begins.

I find origen stories and stories that have long beginnings boring so this part of the book was hard to read.

Let's see I like the story of Ahalya. I liked it the first time I read the Ramayana. I think this is a good foreshadowing of all the good Rama is going to do.

My favorite part of this reading was, no surprise, when Rama marries Sita. Rama and the bow story reminds me of Odysseus when he returns to his home and the suitors are there. I could maybe write a story comparing those two.

Bow of Shiva

Reading Guide: Ramayana Reading Guide

Storytelling Week 9: No Mother Should Have to Bury Her Child

Dear Daily Gazette, 

No mother should have to bury her child. Can you think of anything more tragic? Children should always outlive both of their parents. This is the natural order, but sometimes war happens. Sometimes war destroys the natural order. Today I had a memorial for my son. 

I gave birth to six beautiful boys. They were all perfectly healthy and very strong. My eldest was the most ambitious, so he moved to the North to be a big business man. My other five sons remained down here in the South with me, although they all moved to different states. I've got one in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. If I were to be completely honest, I never wanted my eldest to go to the North. We do things differently here in the South, and I didn't think that he would adjust well to life up there. I was afraid he would change, but through his letters I learned that he really did enjoy living in the North. He had found his new home. 

I got six letters when this stupid war began from my sons telling me that they were going to war. The problem was I couldn't take a side. I know I live in the South and I should side with the South, but my eldest was fighting for the North. How can I be against one my sons? 

A letter came in the mail about a month ago. It was from a man I didn't know, but he said he knew my son. He told me my eldest son was dead. He was so young. He didn't deserve to die. Growing up he was the sweetest little boy and he was so good to his younger brothers. You see, I lost my husband after my last son was born so my eldest had to step up and be there for his brothers. I would have freed all my slaves willingly if it could have prevented the war. Some people tell me that I am lucky because I still have five other healthy sons. That doesn't make the loss of my eldest easier. No mother should have to bury her son. 

The memorial was beautiful. I buried a box of all his favorite things as a kid in the backyard of our home. It's a miracle we still have this house, but that's a story for another time. All of his brothers came down for this event because they loved their brother. In the end those Southern boys and now dead Northern boy were still family. 

This is the reason why I am writing this letter. To hopefully remind a few of you Southerners that the North is still our family. The United States are just that, united. I know you will call me unpatriotic for saying this, but the dead never die in vain. Really they were both fighting for unity, just two different kinds. Brothers and Sisters, it is time to be a family again. 

Let us be kind to our Northern brothers staying here in the South. Let us open our doors and show them warmth. Let us bury our dead in pride. Let us be stronger than we have ever been and unite with the North. We lost the war, but we still have hope for another day. 
Sincerely, 
A Mother

Author's Note: 
So today I decided to explore the idea of a mother having to bury their child after a war. This sadly is a scenario that has been faced throughout history. I feel like it is an incredibly relatable topic, and a sad one at that. I was inspired by the death of Karna, who was the son of Surya and Kunti. He is a brother of the Pandavas, but not a Pandava himself. This is a story from the Mahabharata. I know in the Civil War family members were fighting family members, so I wanted to place my story in this time frame. I wanted to explore the emotions that a mother might have felt if she had sons fighting on both sides. Although I do not know if a mother had sons fighting on both sides, I believe it is highly likely. I enjoyed writing this story, but it was also hard to write. It was hard to give voice to something that I have no personal experience with. It was hard to find the words to use to express that much pain. War is such a horrible reality. I hope you enjoy my story and the emotion behind it. 

Picture Info: Civil War

Bibliography: Peter Brook's Mahabharata 1989

Reading B: Brook Mahabharata

The like ten men all stabbing the boy at once was a lot extreme. At least the regret killing the boy. The deathless boy is a little confusing. Now the non pandas are doubting that they will win the war. Someones dad was born for a life a peace but he chose war, that was his error. Then his son goes to fight someone. Total fail.  Owl killing crows in sleep story is interesting.

It is always sad when a mom has to see that their child has died. No mother should have to bury their child. I could write a story about this. About the tragedy of was. Oh and now the Pandas just find out that he was one of the brothers. He swore to spare all the brothers but one, so that the mom would still have five sons. How sad.

I like the narrators interacting with Krishna and Krishna telling the story of his death before he dies. I think this would be an interesting story technique, but I think I would have a hard time executing this idea.

Military Cemetery

Reference: Reading Guide

Reading Diary A: Brook Mahabharata

So the fighting has begun. I still just have a really hard time with this story. I miss the Ramayana. I thought if I continued the movie I would like the story more. I still don't. The one part of this part of the movie that I liked was when the one brother tricked the man that he was a woman about to sleep with him then he killed him. That was an entertaining scene.

I liked the one guy having a break down about his mother leaving him in the river and abandoning him. I could potentially right a story about that. I am just having a hard time finding the words to say about this story. Just having a hard time. But I think I will watch this scene again and try to write a story with it because I think I can work with it. Explore the emotions of the abandoned man. 

Reference: 

Mahabharata Reading Guide

Picture:
Fighting

Reading Plan

My reading plan for the rest of the semester is as follows.

Week 9: Finish Brook's Mahabharata (Week 2)

Week 10: Buck's Ramayana (Week 1)

Week 11: Buck's Ramayana (Week 2)

Week 12: Buck's Ramayana (Week 3)

Week 13: Buck's Ramayana (Week 4)

Week 14: Public Domain Ramayana (Week 1) 

Ramayana by Buck

Reflections: Looking Forward

In regards to writing, I want to be more diverse in my writing style. I also have noticed a common problem with grammar that I really want to make an effort to improve on. Furthermore, I want to really try to work ahead. It is so hard for me to work ahead right now because I am applying to law school, graduating this semester, and getting married all within this school year. I have a lot on my plate so it is hard to get ahead in all of my classes, but I want to work on it. I have been working on this class at home and I still want to do that in the future. But I wan to also make more time to work on the extra credit assignments.

We Can Do It

Reflections: Looking Back

I have had a really fun time writing for this class. I have had fun exploring different writing styles. My absolute favorite story that I have written is the first story of my portfolio Till Death Do Us Part. From this story I decided to focus on stories that weren't explored clearly in the text.

My favorite reading has been the Ramayana and I really liked the movie Sita Sings the Blues. That movie really left a big impression on me. This story inspired me to explore a possible different ending for the Ramayana. I learned that I prefer stories with a little romance and are about more than just fighting.

Writing

I haven't ever done an online class before, so this has been a new experience for me. But I have really enjoyed getting to know people online through this class. I also really like reading the different stories online.

I normally work on the class Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. I will usually work an hour or two each of those days. I have used this schedule the entire semester and it works for me.

I think one of the most important things that I have learned is that I am capable of being creative and writing well.

Storytelling Week 7: The Cycle of the Sun

She was outside of her comfort zone and was somewhere she wouldn't normally have been: a party. She was a bookworm to say the least. Her friends had forced her to come out for the night because they believed she needed to socialize and meet new people. Needless to say, she wasn't having a good time. Everyone was incredibly intoxicated, and then someone spilt booze all over her shirt. That's when she saw him standing in the corner. He was tall and well built like a steady oak tree. He had dark features but his eyes radiated like the sun. He was also handsome, and in her mind he was way too handsome to talk to her. But then he did.

He came right up to her, looked her in the eye and introduced himself. "My name is James." His voice was deep and almost poetic.
"My name is Carol," she replied.
James and Carol spent the night making fun of all the drunk kids and had a wonderful time together.

"It's almost morning. I'm going to need to leave to go get some sleep," Carol said.
"Let me walk you home," James said.

James walked Carol home. They stopped for a moment on the beach to admire the rising sun. They embraced the warmth of its colors. The reds and oranges washed over their bodies and became to brighten the blues in the sky.

"This is beauty," Carol said.
"Yes, it is," James said, looking right at her.

James and Carol spent the next week at each other's side. Completely inseparable. Some might say they had fallen in love. But there was one problem.

"I'm not a student," James said.
"What do you mean?" Carol said, as she took another sip of her coffee.
"I'm not a student. I lied to you to make you like me. Truth is I'm not from here. I'm the son of a sailor. I leave port tomorrow to return to Ireland. I didn't want to lie to you, but I'm just a sailor. How could someone like you ever like me?"
"James, I don't care what you are or where you are from. Let me come with you. Let me be with you. I'd give it all up for you."
"No, Carol, you can't. I can't have you give up your dreams. This is your life. Mine is on the ocean."

Carol looked him in the eyes but didn't know what to say. After a few long moments she said, "I need to go home now."
James replied, "Let me walk you home one last time."

As they walked home the sun began to set. They stopped for a moment to reflect on everything that they had shared that past week. The reds and oranges began to sink beneath the ground and the darkness of night overtook it. They said goodbye and knew they would never meet again.

The next day James woke before the sun rose. He knew his dad would want to set sail before the day truly began. He put on his sea-worn robes and headed to the dock. As they pulled away from the dock, James faced the direction where sun was supposed to rise. He waited to see the red and orange. He wanted to feel the warmth of the sun like that first sun rise with Carol. But it never came. It was cloudy day that day. And the sun was hidden behind the clouds and all James saw was grey.

Author's Note:
So although this might be a stretch, I was inspired by the story of Hidimbi and Bhima. Bhima is one of the five brothers in the Mahabharata. A rakshasa sends his sister Hidimbi to kill them, but instead she falls in love. She changes from her true form into a beautiful woman. They get married, have a son, but then she leaves to another world. I wanted to write about an encounter like this. I wanted to explore the idea of two people meeting, quickly falling in love, one hiding their true identity, and then they are forced to leave to the separate life that they know. I'm in a Spanish literature class right now and we have read a lot of stories that focus on color, so I decided to really focus this story on the sun and the colors it brings. I have learned in my Spanish class that color can really bring a lot of emotions forward, so I wanted to experiment with that. I had a lot of fun writing this story. Focusing on an inanimate object as a source for inspiration is something I haven't done before, so I enjoyed experimenting. I hope you enjoy my story!

Bibliography: Peter Brook's Mahabharata 1989

Picture Information:
1. Sunrise Wikimedia Commons
2. Sunset Wikimedia Commons
3. Grey Sky Pixabay

Reading Diary B: Peter Brook's Mahabharata

Alright a lot went on during this part of the movie. I liked the gambling match and how the robe of their wife went on and on. The men weren't able to abuse her. I thought the story of the one brother meeting the monster woman in the wilderness and killing her brother was interesting. There might be a story to write with that. Maybe a chance encounter with a stranger and they aren't who they say they are, then they are forced to only love for a short time because that person must return to their original life.

Again the water test is interesting. The answering the questions from the lake. I really enjoyed this part of the movie but I think it is too complex to write a story about.

But yes, now as I am reflecting on what I have watched over the past two days I think writing a story of a chance love encounter would be the best option. Maybe give them the names of the original characters in the story, or maybe not. Maybe I can even talk about the person who had to leave's feelings after they left. Then I would be able to stay in the theme of the stories that were untold. I'm pretty excited about this story, it appears to go along with the idea of star crossed lovers. This is always a fun topic to work with. In a way the remind me of Romeo and Juliet.

Wikipedia Star Crossed Lovers

Reference: Peter Brook's Mahabharata Reading Guide

Reading Diary A: Peter Brook's Mahabharata

So I am watching the movie this week. It is actually pretty good. I like the fact that in the beginning the guy is telling this as a story to be recorded. I think this is a really interesting story technique. Throughout the movie the original three characters will talk to each other. This makes this story more approachable because I really didn't like the novel version. I think I could write a story about the girl having 5 husbands and how she feels about it.

Someone in the story said it was a double negative because one of the brothers liked gambling but he was very bad for it. I don't know what I can do with this but I liked this saying.

Gambling

I started watching the dice match although I wasn't supposed to until tomorrow and I stopped right in the middle of it. So there is a lot of suspense which I think I could work with. But I think I want to write a story about a gambling match and losing everything.

Reference:
Peter Brook's Mahabharata Reading Guide

Storytelling Week 6: Piper

"Hey, Joan! Throw that bag of marshmallows over here!" Jim shouted.
"Ok daddy!"

Jim felt it was necessary to take his kids out to the woods for the weekend. They were too "techy" and it was getting harder and harder for Jim to relate to them.

"Dad I'm bored." Junior said, as he sat slouching in a red lawn chair.
"Well how about I tell you a story." Said Jim.
"Oh I love stories daddy!" Said Joan.

"There once lived a very wealthy man. A man who had so much money that he was never in need and had everything he could ever want. Except this man did have something he needed; his dog Piper. Piper was his only remaining friend. "

"All of his family and friends didn't want to be around him because of his love of money. Now there were a lot of people who were jealous of the man's wealth and wanted to take it for themselves. But they didn't know how. They tried stealing his money, but that didn't work because he kept his money hidden. They had to come up with something creative. So one day the bad people walked into his backyard and stole Piper while she was asleep in her dog house. They called the man and told him that they had Piper and would return her once he gave them all of his money. But the man didn't want to give up his money. So, he lied and only gave the bad men a little portion of his massive wealth. The bad men knew he was lying so they called back and told the man that they had killed Piper, even though they really hadn't. The wealthy man was so upset that he just lay on his floor in his massive mansion. The bad men came and stole everything he had. He didn't move, he just laid on the floor. One day Piper came home. The men had let her go and she found her way back. The once wealthy man rejoiced and was never without his dog again."

"Wow dad that was an awful story." Said Junior.
Joan agreed.
"But there is a moral to this story. You two are so attached to your phones and iPads that you might miss the opportunity to be with someone you love when they need you. You need to give people your full attention not just a portion of it."

The kids didn't give up technology that day. To be honest they never gave up their technology, but they began to spend more time with their family and loved ones. They began to reengage in life.

Author's Note: 
For this story I was inspired by the death of Drona. Although my story follows a somewhat different line of events, Drona was still the inspiration. I really had a hard time finding inspiration in the Mahabharata and this story was hard to write. So essentially I tried to give a moral to the story and add a family who is out camping.

Bibliography:
The Mahabharata by R.K. Narayan Web Source Reading Guide

Photo:
Old Time Farm Shepherd Wikipedia