Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part B

So…Karna is the actual first born child of Kunti, which makes him Arjuna's brother. However, the hate is so deep between them that Karna is still determined to kill Arjuna. The fight continues until finally Arjuna kills Karna. Duryodhana is determined to continue the war, but fails undoubtedly. He then flees to the lake and hides form the Pandavas brothers. When they finally find, him he swears to kill all of them. News gets to them that the sons of the Pandavas are all dead. When they see this Duryodhana dies as well.

In the end Kunti tells Arjuna and the other brothers that Arjuna has killed his own brother. They mourn together over the fallen ones. This part does not make sense to me because I thought Arjuna and Karna were both aware that they were brothers. I think in my story I would switch it up a little. I would have two men go to war against each other. They would plan their whole life hating each other. However, in the midst of their war an angel would come down and announce that both of them are actually brothers and have been brainwashed from the kingdom each grew up in. Then the brother would team together to fight against their kingdoms and come out strong.

Another story idea I have is having one of the Pandavas brothers faced with a terrible situation. In the war, they would have to choose between killing their brother or their own child. I think this is one of the hardest choices to make. This would really take a toll on the person regardless of which way they chose. What would the other person think that survived? Would the guilt stay forever? Would the regret choosing one way over the other? I could really play around with this idea.

Arjuna and Karna 

(Source: Hathitrust)

Bibliography: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson. Reading Guide Part B.

Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Part A

In the version I chose to read was pretty straight forward. It focused on the Pandavas brothers, which is what my favorite part is in the Mahabharata. What was quite interesting is in the original version Draupadi is shared amongst all the Pandavas brothers. However, in this version Arjuna wins Draupadi but is forced to give her to his eldest brother Yudhisthira, because his mom said so. Imagine having to give your significant other to your sibling just because they are older!

I feel that in this version the Pandavas brothers go into disguise more often than the original version. I think for the story this week I might want to do something that has to do with going into disguise. I might be able to write a story about a girl who falls in love with a boy. However, when the boy's twin brother sees how beautiful the girl is, he sends him off so he can disguise himself as the brother and get the girl. A story such as this can be interesting because, who knows if she can tell between the brothers? What happens when the brother returns? Will she be willing to marry both of them or will she fall for one over the other? I feel like I can go many ways this story.

I can also choose to focus on the jealousy that Duryodhana has for his cousins. He challenges them to a dice game and Yudhisthira loses everything and is the reason they go into exile. My story could be that Duryodhana is jealous of his cousin cause his dad loves them more. So he keeps trying to prove to his dad that he is more worthy of them. His dad does not recognize his efforts and continues to praise the Pandavas. Finally, a day will come where Duryodhana will have to come to the Pandavas rescue and will win over his dad once again.

Draupadi Swayamvara

(Source: Hathitrust)

Bibliography: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson. Reading Guide Part A.

Week 6 Storytelling: Till Death Due Us Apart

One stormy night an angel came down from Heaven to visit 10 year old Bhishma. She was a beautiful little girl who had so much to offer. The angel told Bhishma that she was special, and therefore has the power to choose the moment she will die. However, there was an exception to this rule. Bhishma had until she was 16 to come up with the limits of when she will die. For example, Bhishma could say that she will die after she rules the world. Or after she hits 90.etc. The angel soon left her alone with her thoughts.

Bhishma took her time coming up with her limits. Every time she thought she knew when, something would happen and she would change her mind. Finally, one day when she was coming home from school and saw an old man sitting outside her apartment complex. He was dirty and smelled weird. He kept whimpering "so hungry, so hungry." Bhishma hurried upstairs and made him a peanut butter jelly sandwich. She grabbed an apple and a water bottle and ran back downstairs to the man. He was so surprised and touched by how friendly this little girl was, that he started to cry. He told her that she really made a difference in his life. And suddenly it hit her...

The Homeless Man Bhishma Helps

(Source: Wikimedia)

Bhishma decided that day, that she would die after she has completely changed someone's life for the better. This made Bhishma want to help others even more. She knew that all she ever wanted to do in her life is help others and to completely change someone else life would would make hers. Bhishma soon started started a non-profit organization at the age of 16 helping homeless people. Things were going really great until one day...

One afternoon Bhishma was passing out flyers in the halls to her classmates about her non-profit organization when she collided with the school's bully (Aryan). Aryan was known to prey on those kids who were so called "nerds." He believed he was better than them and was quite the troublemaker. He got suspended every now and then and his grades where the lowest in his class. When Bhishma collided with Aryan her flyers flew everywhere. Instead of apologizing to Aryan, which most people tend to do because they do not want to be on his bad side, she looked him dead in the eye and said, " Pick up my flyers and help me pass them out." He was in such shock that he actually listened to her!

This opened the door for their friendship to blossom. Bhishma and Aryan started hanging out quite frequently. They would go pass out clothes or food to the homeless, she helped him with his homework, and he stopped being mean to others. Bhishma had influenced Aryan in such a positive way. With each day that passed by Bhishma's feelings for him got stronger and stronger. By now she had completely forgotten about her power and was just focusing on the life she was living.

Now Bhishma and Aryan were 18 years old. Two years had passed by that they had been dating. Aryan had become a new person because of Bhishma. Twas the night after their graduation, and Aryan and Bhishma were laying out admiring the stars planning the future. When Aryan pulled out a ring, and Bhishma to marry him. He told her that he had never been happier and that if it was not for her he would've never gotten his life together. She was so fully of joy and had tears running down her cheek. Aryan uttered the words," you have completely changed my life for the better, will you please marry me?" And suddenly Bhishma had remembered the rule to her power and she fell to the ground.. and died.

Bibliography:

This story is based on the Mahabharata Reading Guide Part C and D

Author's Notes:

In the original story Bhishma is male and not female. Bhishma has fallen in battle against the Pandavas. However, he still does not die. Bhishma is granted the power to choose the moment in which he will die. He chooses to die after he has taught the rest of the survivors of the battle how to rule what is left of the world. He is then accompanied by rishis and Parashurama when he finally dies. I decided that I wanted to key in on the aspect of Bhishma having the gift of choosing when to die and turn it into a modern day tale. I change Bhishma's character to a girl as well to help compliment my story. 

Reading Notes: The Mahabharata Part D

In this part what surprised me is the fact that Duryodhana is hiding from the Pandavas brothers because he does not want to ask for mercy but instead continue the war. He hides in the lake until he is found. He is then confronted to come out of the water and fight. He said that he would only if he fights them one by one. This was quite hilarious to me. He did not want to ask for mercy yet he would not give up. Then he went into hiding. He seems like he is all talk but no show.

Something else that caught my eye was Bhishma fell in the battle but had the power to choose his moment of death. He stayed alive to tell the survivors how to rule what was left. This is a really small detail in all of part D, but is such an intriguing one. I feel like I can make a whole story just out of this. Having the power to control the moment in which you would die is absolutely insane. Would I ever want that power? Something to think about, considering there is always something that people want to do before they die. For this idea, I would have a girl who is given the power to choose the moment she wants to die. When she is first given this power she would go through the things she wants to accomplish before she dies. She would decide that she would die after she has made a great impact on someones life, because that way she will leave the world strong instead of with a downfall. However, she will end up falling in love along the way. Will she stick to her decision? Will it change because of her relationship status?

Bhishma on the Bed of Arrows

(Source: Wikimedia)

Bibliography:

The Mahabharata, link to Reading Guide Part D. 

Reading Notes: The Mahabharata Part C

I do believe the Mahabharata is harder to wrap my head around than the Ramayana. For this reason I have chose to focus in on the aspects of it that I enjoy reading.

What caught my eye is in the chapter is when Duryodhana encountered the Gandharvas's. Duryodhana was captured and taken as a prisoner. When news got to the Pandavas brothers they went and fought the Gandharvas's until they released the prisoners which included Duryodhana. Duryodhana was embarrassed and soon after wanted to end his life. I just thought this was a very dramatic scene. Duryodhana was taking a parade to go see the Pandavas in misery, and it turned out that they helped him greatly. I feel like I can write a story based of this. For my idea I would have it involve two families. In one family there would be a proud mother who is constantly bragging on her children. I would have this mother be the aunt to the kids in the other family. This aunt would constantly hate on these kids and think that they are nothing compared to her little angels. Until one day the aunt gets in horrible car crash and gets paralyzed. Then, instead of her own kids it would be her nieces and nephews that would help her. She would soon realize how at fault she is and feel so guilty that she would just want to commit suicide. That is just one idea.

Just as in the Ramayana, Jayadratha abducted Draupadi into his chariot when she was unguarded in the forest. Then what caught me off guard is that Jayadratha is already married to someone! Like where is his wife?? For this story idea I was thinking of basing it off of a movie called "Along Came Polly". This movie is about a guy catching his wife cheating on him on their honeymoon. I was thinking to reverse the roles. Meaning, I would have a guy go on a honeymoon with his new bride. However, while he is there he starts to fall in love with another woman. He is aware that this woman is also married but does not care. He makes the woman fall in love with him, and runs away with her. The woman's husband soon comes and find them and beats the man up. The man is left beaten and alone, and has nothing better than to run back to his wife.

The Mahabharata has a lot of room to come up with ideas which is what I really like about it. I am not sure if I will stick with either one of these idea but this is what I think I am going to do for now.

Jayadratha

(Source: Wikimedia)

Bibliography:

The Mahabharata, link to Reading Guide Part C

Reading Notes: The Mahabharata Part B

Arjuna is exiled for 12 years.. again this looks like a pattern of when Rama was exiled! During the time of his exile he marries two women. This is so interesting to me. Do these women ever have the desire to marry more men? If they do, are they able to act upon it?

So the game of dice is real intense. Yudhishthira not only loses everything that he owns but he gambles his brothers and himself away too! To add the cherry on top he gambles Draupadi away as well. Yet, she brings up a good point. How is she able to be gambled away when Yudhishthira has already gambled himself? Hm. I do not think it is possible because he does not eve have control of his own life how can he give the life of another?

Duryodhana orders Draupadi to undress. This makes me so sad because the poor woman is already on her period too. She must feel awful and this is just so degrading. However, when she calls upon the gods to help. they help her. Draupadi has the kindest heart. She wishes her husbands free but does not think of herself. I wonder if the men where in this situation what they would have done?

Arjuna, surprisingly declines the advances from Urvashi. He is then cursed but is told that this curse will be a blessing later on. When he is reunited with the Pandavas after five years, they are excited to see all the weapons he has acquired. I think with the weapons they will go to war or do something worse in part C. 

I feel that this story is kind of all over the place. I want to pin point one aspect about it and write about that since there is so much going on. Maybe I will focus on Draupadi and the Pandava brothers because I am so intrigued by it. I might keep the story of the Bachelorette, or change it up. I definitely want to include a part of 3 wishes in my story.

Draupadi and Pandavas Brothers

(Source: Wikipedia)

Bibliography:

The Mahabharata, link to Reading Guide Part B

Reading Notes: The Mahabharata Part A

As soon as I started reading, there is a part where Shantanu the king falls in love with this woman, and she tells him that she will agree to marry him as long as he never questions her actions, I knew something was up. I mean no one says that unless they know that their actions are odd or wrong in some way. Then it turns out that she is not even real human she is the river of Ganga. Now I did not see this coming so that is is pretty interesting.

So, Amba and Bhishma now have a quarrel because Amba is not able to marry whom she want because that king does not want her cause she was in another man's home. I feel as if this is a reoccurring event in the the epics of India. A man does not want a woman who has been in the arms or home of another man. Even if she did not do anything. So is the man able to do whatever but he still gets to choose his woman? Hm.

Something that really caught my eye was Pandu shot a deer that was having sex, so then he got cursed that he should also die while making love. This is the worst possible curse a human could get! This is absolutely awful.

The Pandava brothers have to share whatever they have acquired, so when one of them finds a wife all five brothers have to share her. This reminds me of a Bollywood show that I once saw about a man who had two wives. Every day and night he had to choose what wife to give attention to. One was quiet and one was evil and jealous. As the show goes on, after a long time he finally divorces the quiet one because the evil one as brainwashed him so much. I can only imagine how it would be like to have five husbands.

For my story idea, I think I would like to base it off the show the Bachelorette. I would have one woman Draupadi have 30 men wanting her, but in the end she ends up with five of them, who also happen to be brothers. I think modernizing it would add a little twist to it.

Draupadi Swayamwara

(Source: Wikimedia)

Bibliography:

The Mahabharata, link to Reading Guide Part A

Feedback Focus

Reading Out Loud:

I already use this technique when I read anything.. It seems to me that I cannot focus without using this technique. Reading out loud really helps catch details that you might miss otherwise. I think many students learn the art of skimming. Sometimes people tend to skim even when they do not mean to. When reading out loud and reading slowly it helps to ensure that no details are missed. I did a technique where I first read the story to myself and then I read it out loud. And I came to notice when I first read it to myself, I had skimmed so much that I got lost in the story. I was not sure who was who, and what was really going on in the stories. For example, by the end of the story I was confused on who the youth was and how the crocodile played a role. I then read it again, and I, then understood the plots of the story. I also realized reading stories out loud help you remember the story, than if you just read it to yourself.

Copy & Paste:

Animals trying to imitate mankind and speak their language - What if that happened in this day in age?

Held festivals to show off their strengths

The animals should also have this type of festival and hold feast.

The whole world was invited to this festival? Really interesting that they are summoned by a drum that everyone can hear.

This is so cute! Each animal playing an instrument of their choice and style.

I like that these animals were able to laugh and play like humans are.

U Kui got a big head and I bet it will end up biting him in the butt.

U Kui is being selfish and does not want to share. I bet if he would of shared his sword people would've admired him more.

That is so awesome how they connected him stealing the sword to thunder. Very creative.

Awh! I hope U Kui get its, and this just made me so sad. I wonder if U Kui's mound will reach the sky?

Those are the notes I got from using the copy and past technique with "What Makes the Lightning."

I can see why the copy and paste technique is so effective. To make a note you have to reflect on what you just read. It does make making comments on someone's post easier and more in depth.

Use a Timer:

I chose to read the story Midterm Madness. I set my timer to 10 minutes. I read it out loud and slowly and I was done reading it within 4 minutes. Then, since I enjoyed reading the story so much I read it again. This time I focused on the message of the story and reelected while I was reading it. It reached to my 10 minutes when I was done. I am not sure how much I enjoyed the timer technique. I feel as if everyone has their own pace in which they read and reflect. A timer could just make some people nervous. In this case it was helpful, but I would of reread the story regardless. 

I think I like the combination of reading out loud and copy and paste. It helps catching every detail. 

Pay Attention to What You Are Reading

(Source: Wikimedia)

Week 4 Storytelling: A Wife's Blues

It all started when my husband John told me that he was getting deployed to Afghanistan. I had no idea how to react. I was hurt and in shock. I mean how could he just leave us? I understand that it is for our county but I do not know what I would do without him! I decided I am just had make the best of it. I spent the next few weeks spending every moment I could with him and our two adorable little girls. However, John wanted his family to have dinner with us twice a week before he left. This includes his brother Adam. Adam has always been so weird. In high school, he would stare at me awkwardly anytime I was around him. Yet, he would never talk to me.

The time passed by too quickly. I dropped John off at the airport with tears in my eyes. I didn't want him to leave but he promised he would be back soon. I kissed him goodbye and off he went. John called me three times every week. He called me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I was so thankful that I was still able to talk to him a few times a week. Things were fine. Everything was fine. And then my world came shattering to pieces. 

In the middle of the night I woke up to a banging on the door. To my surprise, it was John's team members. They told me that John went missing in action and they believed he is dead... I, I, was once again in shock and my heart broke. I cried for days. I could not control myself. The army had arranged a funeral for him, and though I was devastated I still went. His mother, father, and his brother greeted me when I arrived to the funeral. Afterwards, Adam wanted to come over to talk. When he came we had a good conversation reminiscing about John. It was the first time ever that I had a decent conversation with Adam. I decided he wasn't that weird after all. 

For the next few weeks, Adam came over every day. He helped me remodel my kitchen, he helped with the girls, and he took my mind off of my depression. Adam had become a big part of my life. One night, while having a few drinks, Adam and I were reminiscing about high school. He told me he had a crush on me in high school but I fell for John instead. I am not really sure how it happened. But one thing led to another and before I knew it, I was waking up to him the next morning. We were just lying there when we heard banging on the door. I got up and answered the door, and once again it was John's team members. They said that they found John and he would be returning home in a few days.

I did not know what to think. My dear husband who I thought was dead, is now alive? And I just slept with his brother? I had too many mixed emotions...Let's fast forward to when John got back. He was different. Things were different. He suspected that me and Adam had an affair but I reassured him that nothing happened. I felt so guilty but why? I did not cheat. I thought my husband was dead. I started to feel sick every morning and I thought it had something to do with just how weird things were. I went to the doctor and the doctor told me I was pregnant...

Since John had gotten back we had not done anything. I knew it was Adam's. I panicked. That night I did it with John and in the next few days I told him that I was pregnant. I told him that it was his. I know it is stupid but I did not want to lose John. Though, he did not believe me. He wanted me to prove it. Panicking again, I asked one of my friends who is a doctor if she could help me forge the results to the DNA test. And she did...

Fast forward even more... I ended up having twins. But John was still suspicious and did not want to be made a fool. So he left us. Every night I sang the blues. I sang about John and I missed him. I taught these blues to my twins. They sang it perfectly. I would often take the kids to the park and just sit there while they played. I just think how my life could have been different… One day when the twins were singing the blues in the park John came back... I was so happy to see him. But he wanted me to prove my loyalty to him once more.This time... I couldn’t... I just couldn’t live a life like that. So I ran.

I ran and I ran and I ran. I ran until I didn’t know where to go. And that is how I ended up here. I do not know what to do now. I need your advice. I just feel so awful.

(a few moments of silence went by and then...)

The therapist replied, “It will be okay. We will work figure this out together.”

Image Information

Sitting in the Park, Before John Arrived

(Source: Pixabay)

Bibliography:

This story is based on Sita Sings the Blues Reading Guide Part A and B

Author's Notes:

In the original story Rama is exiled and goes to the forest and Sita goes with him. Sita is taken by Ravana. When Rama rescues Sita he is suspicious that she was unfaithful to him. She proves she was by jumping into fire. Then she gets pregnant. A laundry man hits his wife and says that he does not allow affairs like Rama does. Rama feels disrespected and embarrassed so he asks his brother to take her into the forest and abandon her there. She has twins and teaches them the songs of Rama. Rama hears the twins one day and comes back. However, he still wants Sita to prove her loyalty once again. This time Sita does by reentering mother nature's womb. I based my story off of the movie Brothers. The film is about two brothers: one brother (Sam) is married  to wife (Grace) and has kids but gets deployed, while the other brother (Tommy) is a loner and a troublemaker. When Sam gets deployed he gets taken in as a prisoner from the opposing side. However, Grace believes he is dead. Tommy steps up and starts to act like a family man. Grace and Tommy have an affair, but soon find out that Sam is alive. When Sam comes back he is suspicious about his wife's loyalty. The detailed summary of the plot can be found at Wikipedia. I thought by taking a more modern spin on the story of Rama and Sita, and telling it from "Sita's" point of view would help spice things up. It also shows that constantly testing people can drive them away. I chose this picture because I think it helped create the scene in the park.

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part B

The second part of this film did catch me off guard a little. A laundry man beats his wife because he believes she is having an affair. He curses Rama's name and when Rama gets word of this he is furious. He wants his people to respect him and he is now embarrassed about Sita. He has his brother take Sita to the forest and abandon her. She has twins and they sing songs of Rama. Rama hears them and once again wants Sita to prove her loyalty to him

I am very annoyed with Rama. Sita did not ask to get abducted in the first place and she stayed loyal. She also was pregnant with her boys and it makes him heartless for still abandoning her in the forest. This makes me understand why Sita was singing the blues.

I think I want to continue on with my last idea from part A. When Rama comes back he would suspect Sita had an affair with his brother Ravana. She would deny and he would ask her to prove it. She would get the help of the gods to prove it cause she does not want a divorce. She then finds out she is pregnant but not with Rama's baby. At this point she does not know what to do. I want to incorporate mother nature into this somehow since Sita went back into her womb. I am not sure if I want Rama to find out that the boys her not his or not. I am excited to write this next story. I might modernize it or just keep it how it is.

Sita is Pregnant with Rama's Baby 

(Source: Flickr)

Bibliography:

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley: link to reading guide for Film Part B

Reading Notes: Sita Sings the Blues Part A

This film was actually quite interesting. At first I was confused because it is like there are two different movies playing in one film. One is about Dave and Nina which I am assuming is like the Americanized versions of Rama and Sita, so I thought that was pretty interesting.

The film plays pretty closely to original version. It added its twist by Sita singing her blue throughout the film. There is the same plot line however, but it is nice to see it all play out instead of just reading it. The few things that caught my eyes were when Ravana's sister Sita was telling him about Sita she kept describing her like a Lotus Flower. I could not help but just laugh. Just as the original Sita rejects Ravana's advances towards her. Rama sends Sita away because he is unsure what happened between Ravana and Sita. Sita once again proves to him that she is pure by jumping in fire.

When watching the film and hearing a detailed version of this I was thinking about the movie Brothers. It is about about this man who has a wife and kids but he is in the military and goes overseas. While being overseas he is abducted by the enemy and they torture him and fellow platoon. His team is unable to find him and assumes he has died. Back at home they tell his family that he is dead. The man's brother starts to spend a lot of time with the wife. Now, there are two different versions. In one, the wife just kisses the man's brother and that is it, she does not go any further. In the other she acutally particiaptes in intercorse wtih him. What ends up happening is that the man is found and then sent back home. When he gets home he suspects that his wife and brother had an affair and goes crazy.

An idea I have is to base Rama and Sita off of Brothers. For instance I would make Ravana the brother of Rama. When Rama is sent into exile, new would travel back to Sita that he is dead. So I would have Sita have an affair with Ravana because she believes that Rama is dead. When Rama returns Sita would deny it, but.... Well I will write about this story and try to add some plot twists to them. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Sita Singing the Blues

(Source: Reading Guide)

Bibliography:

Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley link to reading guide for film Part A