Possible Storybook Styles

Topic

My Storybook will be focused on the geographical features of India. I’d like to include the Himalayas (Mount Kailish), the Ganges river, the Dandaka forest, and one involving an ocean. I’d like to tell the story through the eyes of two kids trekking the area and learning about the significance of the landmarks through people from the respective regions. I’d like to incorporate some of the epics from the Ramayana. Of course I’d include some great photographs and maybe the tie the fables in with the features included in the illustrations.

Bibliography

Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way. The story of the Dandaka Forest and the story titled “The Thorn in the World’s side.”

Writing Styles

Journey. A journey through the region told in first person as a friend and I travel through India   exploring some of the most notable landmarks. It would entail meeting people from each                  area who could explain the cultural significance of each site. The people at each site            would point us to the next stop on our adventure as the plot unfolded.

Story. A story being told in third person by an Indian elder. Again, this would involve the two kids who know little about the significance of the geography. They would coincidentally come across the elder who would paint a vivid picture of the occurrence that afforded each place its value.

Voyage. This style would entail children on a cultural/religious voyage throughout India as they stopped at each significant site. Their parents would explain why they traveled to each site and provide a story as to why it was important for the children to travel there.

Cause for significance. This would entail being the reason why each place had cultural value. This would be a first-person story in which the main character had some remarkable event take place at these spectacular locations. It would be these occurrences, then, that were cause for the importance of the location. None of these would involve battles (too cliché for my liking); instead, something along the lines of a daring rescue or accomplishing a near impossible feat (i.e. breaking the bow in order to gain Sita’s hand in marriage) would be the event. I like this idea just because it allows for complete control over the content of the story and affords me the luxury to take the plot in whichever direction that I please.

 

                                                                 The Sacred Site

Week 3 Storytelling

“Search for Sita in every nook and corner.” This was the only fragment of instruction young Kahi heard Rama give as he prepared the monkey armies to traverse the land in search for Sita.

 

 

Kahi, intrigued by the excitement surrounding the search, decided to fill in his two best friends—Leali and Anka -- of what he’d heard from the majestic Rama. “His wife has been abducted,” exclaimed Kahi. Anka, suddenly appearing uneasy, then confessed “A time ago while I was out picking berries heard a woman’s shout come from the sky. Startled, I took cover behind a redwood. As I searched the sky for where the cry could have originated I saw a chariot zip across the horizon. It was traveling south over the great mass of water.” Leali, being the adventurous of the three, jumped with joy and shouted, “We’re going! We’re going to join in on the search!” Anka pleaded, “We’re too young. What if we get lost? What if he run in to violence? We can’t fight adults. We’re only of ten and two full seasonal cycles.” The decision had been made – they were going to search for Sita covertly

Before sunrise they following day they snuck out of their comfortable living quarters in the city center. Making their way into the newly sprung foliage, all three of their faces gleamed with excitement. “Ah, what a great smell,” said Kahi in reference to the pine scent of the forest. Twigs cracked, the moist grounds sunk, rivers rushed, and birds chirped as they made their way south towards the great water. “You said that Sita was carried over the water, right?” Remarked Kahi, sporting an inquisitive expression. Leali, knowing just where this series of inquiries was heading, said “the bushes along the beach where we’re heading bear rare fruits. Fruits which, when eaten, afford the ability to hold ones breath for days.” Kahi and Anka looked at one another in a frightened manner. “I’ve done it before. Don’t worry,” encouraged Leali.

While the youngsters sat on the beach on ate of the fruit, Hanuman and his raucous army showed up. Frightened by the punishment that might be handed down, the three attempted to make a break back into the forest. “Halt or we’ll shoot!” shouted a soldier. “Aren’t you three adolescents the descendants of Karkeez? You live in our village, do you not?” probed another. Kahi, frightened at how upset his elders would be, pleaded, “We can help. There is no way you can cross this body of water as is. Eat of this fruit and you’ll be able to trek thru it.” “What do you mean ‘trek thru it?” probed the soldier. “Well, you see, these allow you to be able to hold your breath for days. Given that amount of time, you can walk right across the bottom and surprise the enemy on the other side,” exclaimed Kahi. After much debate, Hanuman and Rama agreed that this was the best option. “However, you three must go back to the city and watch after your younger siblings. I will not place three adolescents in direct harm,” demanded Rama.

 

                                                            Preparation for Travel

The monkey army, utilizing the idea presented by Kahi, slipped into the water under the moonlight and capitalized on the element of surprise-- defeating Ravana and his army while they slept.

Author's note:
I wrote this story in third person in order to afford the reader with what these three adolescents hoped to accomplish. It is very much like a younger person to attempt to do something all by themselves. Although the kids didn't quite accomplish their task, they were able to serve their army. This story provided an alternative means by which the monkey army defeated Ravana. The actual epic claimed that the monkey army scoured southern India in search for Sita and only came to the southernmost edge once they encountered Sampathi. My changes to the original story include the method by which the army crossed the ocean as well as how the final battle unfolded. I thought that these changes would serve as a refreshing twist in the tale as no adolescents had been heavily involved aside from Rama. The image that I selected was taken from a Google search. It was an illustration of what I thought the monkey army would look like as they ate the fruit to prepare to cross the ocean. My hope with all of my blog posts is to be able to include an image that readily depicts the significant occurrences within the tale.

 

 

Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Week 3 Reading Diary B: A Violent Encounter

I found it to be odd that Rama decided to allow Vibishana into the group even though he parted ways with his brother. He proved to be an ally—yes – however, they took on a great risk by allowing him entry in their group. He could have wreaked great havoc had he elected to.

I can’t imagine being able to allow an opponent of mine – someone who kidnapped by wife at that—to surrender even after the fight appeared to be tilting in my favor. Most would have sought to exact vengeance with their own fists after learning of Ravana’s acts. But then again, Rama is quite the exceptional character.

How could Ravana be so stubborn? Clearly, he was close to losing the battle and yet he refused to resign. His entire populace had died on the battle field and not even this dissuaded his efforts.

The battle between Rama and Ravana was epic (no pun intended). My only reservation would be that it would have done the epic well to have more visual descriptions of the battle and its unfolding.

I legitimately became upset at Rama for just a few lines as I thought he was going to let all of his work be in vain.

What a violent and wildly suspenseful happily-ever-after.

Superhumans Succumbing to Human Traits

Week 3 Reading Diary A: Search for Sita

Why did the author decide to choose monkeys as the animal of choice for this section?

What will transpire as a result of the encounter with the monkey named Hanuman?

Vali acted rather brash in his handling of Sugreeva following the conquest of Mayavi.

I don’t understand why Vali attempted to justify his actions to Rama on his death bed and question Rama for what he’d done.

Will Sugreeva honor his promise to help out Rama? It seems like he may end up betraying both Rama and Lakshmana.

Great! Sugreeva will indeed honor his promise and help Rama to find Sita. I’m glad that Sugreeva has committed to helping and I’m shocked at just how loyal they are to the cause.

How will the monkeys be able to scour all of the earth and possibly beyond in order to track down where Ravana has taken Sita? Their task seems formidable.

One facet of the characters is their inherent goodwill and intent to comfort all who have faced some trial. For example, the monkeys demonstrate great compassion by consoling Sampathi after the death of Jatayu.

                                                                 Cautious Encounter