Week 8 Progress

1. Looking Back: Looking back, I know that I haven't been putting as much effort into this class as I could be. Right now, I sit in the "C" range, but I know I can at least end up with a "B" in this class by the end of the year. I will just have to do at least 2-3 extra credit assignments each week along with all the normal assignments. Thus far, I have not utilized any of the EC options, but I will have to in the remaining weeks.

2. Looking Forward: Looking forward toward the rest of the semester, I know that I can't fall into the trap of not doing some assignments, because I am running out of EC options to make up for those points. I also know I must do more EC work each week. I think the schedule itself has been fine, it is just me that is slacking.

This image is how I treated the first half of the semester.

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

1. Feedback in: Overall, I feel like the comments that posters made on my stories and blog posts were very helpful and insightful. The comments that are about about my writing style or about storytelling aspects like characters and setting are the most helpful because I can directly use that feedback in my next story.

2. Feedback out: As for my comments, I always try to give helpful advice when I see something that can be made better. But I also make sure not to come off as too condescending or anything, because that would be counter productive. I like commenting on other's posts since they may be able to use some of the suggestions I provide.

3. Blog Comments: I actually do feel like I know more people in the class now after commenting on so many people's introductions. I do think I should have spent more time on my introduction, I wrote it in a hurry.

4. I can't really think of much more I need to do moving forward as far as commenting goes.

5.

I chose this image here because I really like all the components it mentions. It really covers all the bases of giving good feedback,

Week 7 Reading A: PDE Mahabharata (Part B)

These are my notes for Part B of PDE Mahabharata found here: http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/pde-mahabharata-house-of-fire.html

This sinister plot to burn the Pandavas is very interesting, I wonder what will happen to them. Getting a skilled miner to try and dig their way out of the palace is definitely thinking outside the box. Wo, they turned the plot around on the evil prince and burned down the guardhouse. Isn't Bhima the very strong one too?

Misinformation is always an fun twist to include in a story, so it will be interesting to see what Queen Kunti and the Pandavas do with their element of surprise.

"going into hiding" or "going into exile" seems to be a big theme in these Indian epics. It's kinda silly that Bhima is able to actually lift and carry his whole family long distances.

"I will drink hot, frothy blood" is really good but also sickening imagery and wordplay.

Just like in Ramayana, a Rakshasa woman is falling in love with a royal man. It was really kind of Bhima to carry  Hidimba away from the sleepers.

What is interesting to me is that in this picture, Bhima looks like a strong guy, but nowhere near as big as the way he is described. (Link)

Bhima seems like his is now the strongest of his brothers; he is killing everything.

The births of Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi were very creative, and I wonder if  Drupada will have his revenge.

The story of Nalayani gives a little insight into the perceived culture back then, where marrying 5 men was okay but having premarital sex is not. Poor Karn, the caste system can be seem in full efect when he gets rejected!

It's a little strange that Draupadi's five husbands are all the Pandavas brothers. It seems like a pretty harsh punishment to be exiled for 20 years just because you accidentally walk in on your brother and your wife. At least it turned out well for him, with meeting a wife and all.

Arjuna is just spreading his seed everywhere. It's unny that people look on him with favor for abducting his bride!

This thing with Agni is definitely going to have consequences.

The image of King Duryodhana bumping into all these crystal items really is funny.

I want to see Bhima drink Duryodhana's blood!

Story: Sita the Eternal Flame

Note: This story takes place when Rama captures Lanka and retakes Sita. He is questioning her loyalty, and considering throwing her in a great pyre.

Source: PDE Ramayana http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/pde-ramayana-sita-is-tested.html

Now Sita, hearing all of Rama's foul accusations about her and Ravana, was publicly shamed and tired and wondering what she could do to recover from this. No matter how much she begged or pleaded with Rama, he stood by his views that it would be unfit for a king to take a queen that has lived so long in the house of another man. Rama then suggests giving her a trial by fire- if she is indeed pure, she should be unharmed.

His army of bears helped put together a great pyre for Sita, and when it was all finished, practically the whole city was gathered to watch what was to unfold. Sita looked positively radiant as she made her way up to the great pyre. All that looked upon her were marveled by her beauty, except Rama. He has already come to terms with Sita's demise; he knew in his heart she wasn't loyal

As Sita was situated on the pyre and ready to light, she said a few last words. She looked directly at Rama, and spoke to him, "Rama, my once beloved. You will come to regret these actions. Know that." And with that, Rama gave the command, and the pyre was lit.

Sita began screaming louder and louder as she lit up, until, suddenly, she cried out to the god of fire, Agni, and immediately burst into ashes, and was never seen, in her human form again. For when she called out to Agni, it was not to save herself, but to put a curse on Rama, Agni could see that she was pure and did not deserve such a harsh death, so he had allowed Sita to avenge herself in some way. From now on, whenever Rama lit a fire near him or there was a fire near him, it would be Sita's face he saw in it, and Sita's voice he heard in it. He could never escape her, if he wanted light and warmth for the rest of his life.

Sita on the Pyre

And with this knowledge, Rama grew regretful in his hasty and harsh actions against Sita, and he begged her and the gods forgiveness. But none was given.

Author's note:

I wrote this because after I read about Sita being almost burned alive in Ramayana, I thought of all the ways it could have gone worse, and wanted to test out an idea I had,

Reading Week 6 Part A: PDE Mahanharata

These reading notes are taken from reading PDE Mahabharata found here: http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/mahabharata-online-public-domain-edition.html

As always, I will just be taking notes on things I can find interesting or things I can use for my upcoming stories.

I like how it was two godly figures that created both Ramayana and Mahabharata, it gives them a more mystical feel.

How did a king's semen just happen to fall in a river??

Devavrata is an interesting character since he is a human but has godly powers.

That fisherman asked A LOT from King Shantanu in return for his daughter.

Bhishma sacrificed a lot just to get his dad a pretty young bride, I wonder why he wanted to do it.

It is a little ironic he is doing all these things just to secure the throne for his little half-brother, who took the throne from him.

Bhishma seems similar to Rama in that they are both seemingly the best archers to ave ever lived.

This image of Bhishma fighting for the brides was my favorite from reading A:

I'm interested in seeing the story of Amba unfold throughout the story. Her transformation is pretty dark by today's standards, I like it!

I wonder if Pandu will be as great of a king as Rama. The story of how Karna came to be is not unlike greek mythos of gods having children with mortals.

I just realized the hunting accident in Ramayana is just like what happened to King Robert in Game of Thrones!

At least Pandu wasn't killed like King Dashartha.

Lots of curses involve things of sexual nature in India, Epics...

It's silly that the wives are arguing over who gets to burn to death.

The main thing that differentiates this epic from Ramayana so far is that there is more time covered. It has already been 50ish years from the beginning of the story, and I am only halfway through part A.

I bet something crazy will happen between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Of course Duryodhana would use posion. What a bad person.

Drona seems like a nice guy, I hope he helps out the Pandavas/

Comment Wall

Here is my Comment Wall for my Ravana storybook project.

You can find the website here : https://sites.google.com/view/ravanastorybookbr/home

Week 4 Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D

For the last part of this version of Ramayana, Part D, I will continue taking notes that I think will help me for the story.

Source: PDE Ramayana

It's interesting how even Rama performs sacrifices to gods, it shows how common it was back then. Also like the mention of his celestial weapons.

All the gods respect Rama so much they build him a bridge to attack Lanka.

I like how crafty Ravana keeps proving to be , if only that messenger wouldn't have come in and made Sita realize the battle was still going on. I can probably write a story where sita is fooled.

It is interesting how quickly they add new characters to the story, but it does make sense since it's an epic. It's kinda cheap how Indrajit could just make himself invincible.

Rama didn't seem too upset from his brother's death..

Garuda is a great guy.

That picture of Kumbhakarna from the blog is awesome, so I went and found another one here:

If Rama wouldn't have been there to stop Kumbhakarna, everyone would have died.

It is crazy how many celestial weapons both armies are using.

I like how even back then the Himalayas were renowned for their size and beauty.

It is a little silly that Hanuman actually picked up a mountain and set it on top of Lanka, although it is very creative!

I liked the cunning of Lakshmana to set up the ambush and kill Indajit.

I am actually feeling a little sorry for Ravana, since his most beloved son was slain.

So now that Lakshmana seems to have died for real, Rama seems distraught. But wow these Himalayan herbs are quite powerful.

I like the prose describing the weapons given to Rama from Indra.

The wise-man giving timely advice is a very common trope, but it works out in this epic.

These celestial weapons are really the key to everything in Ramayana, if you have some, you are unbeatable! I like how Rama was named king of Lanka, where at least he can rule.

It's been so long since Sita has even seen Rama, I wonder what will happen!

Wow that was an interesting decision Rama made to decide not to take back Sita. You can see how back when this epic was put together, the culture still put a great deal of value on a woman being "untainted". I like Sita's answer to all this though.

It is kind of ridiculous Sita had to have fire vouch for her.. and Rama wouldn't believe her on her own. I like the little narration Rama tells when they are flying to ayodha.

The reunion of brothers was a little touching to me, because I have two brothers.

I was really expecting the story to end with Rama's crowning, this Sita exile situation is a real twist I don't like how Rama still questions her purity, even after the fire said she was pure. What's up with that? Also, why is he so sad that she ascended into heaven, even though he exiled her for 16 years

The ending was nice, with Rama and his brothers returning to a heavenly state, even though I felt like Hanuman got a little slighted by not being allowed to join,