Animal Stories from India: Styles Brainstorming

Topic: My Storybook/Portfolio will be about animal stories for children from India.  My goal is to find four different animals that have the ability to teach four different life lessons.  One story I might use is “How the Turtle Saved His Own Life” and another story I might use is “The Girl Monkey and the String of Pearls”.   I do not think I will have any trouble finding stories about different animals.  This only problem I run into is that there are so many different stories, so I will need to focus on those stories that lead into important lessons. 

(Narrative Animals) 

Bibliography:

1. “How the Turtle Saved His Own Life”, Part of the Jataka Tales unit, with story source: Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, Illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1912)

2. “The Girl Monkey and the String of Pearls”, Part of the Jataka Tales unit, with story source: Jataka Tales by Ellen C. Babbitt, Illustrated by Ellsworth Young (1922)

In general, the Unit Jataka (Babbitt) will be where I am getting all of my stories. 

Possible Styles:

Animals as Storytellers:  This is a logical choice for my Storybook/Portfolio; I definitely want to have the animals be the storytellers.  Each story will have an animal that acts as the storyteller in first person.  This will allow me to be creative with the animals on how I want their personalities to be like. 

Bedtime Story: Since I am interested in learning lessons, or pulling some sort of lesson from the animals in the story these could be great for bedtime stories.  Most of these stories are aimed towards children in the first place, so it could be fun to incorporate that into bedtime stories. 

Therapy Session: I can see how making these stories into some type of therapy, for the animals in the story and the readers.  I could changes these stories around that reflect real life situations so that those reading them are learning how to deal with different situations through how the animals learn in the story.  So basically the reader would be learning from the animal in the story. 

Sleepover: I think that this would be a really fun way to tell the stories in.  Putting them in a setting for a group of young minded girls to tell could get really interesting.  Being a girl myself I know how creative little girls get at sleepover, especially when it is way past normal bedtime, and the silly giggles come out to play. 

Week 3 Reading Diary: PDE Ramayana

Part C of PDE Ramayana 

Sugriva and Hanuman

-I find it interesting that they filled all the animals with fear.. at least I think that is what they were saying. Also funny to me that this is a “Monkey King”.

Sugriva’s Story

- I like how they have incorporated monkeys  into the story, and how they end up helping him fight the battle, reminds me of ‘Planet of the Apes’.

Sugriva and Vali

-This story has a lot to do with brothers and in this episode it was cool to see that the brothers always try to have each other’s back, as long as it is sane. But in this case they must go to fight.

Vali’s Death

-Very surprising to me that Rama started to help Sugriva, and then he even killed Vali.  It’s not like Rama to kill someone dishonorable. 

King Sugriva

-It was sad to read about Tara weep over Vali, but surprising that Sagriva also wept over his death. 

Rainy Season

-Back to the hunt to find Sita, they must wait for the rain season to end before they can start looking.  I find it romantic that Rama finds it hard to just sit and wait to look for Sita.

The Armies

-How rude of Sugriva to not make any effort to look for Sita with Rama after he said he would. I’m not the biggest fan of Sugriva, he seems to always be a bit selfish. 

Sampati

-So a month as passed and they still haven’t found Sita, I think that it’s cool that they have birds and monkeys helping them look.

Sampati and Jatayu

-I am starting to get confused on who is a person and what is an animal.  Now there are bears, and these bears and monkeys are wondering why Sampati have burnt wings.  Sampati thought he was going to die, but it never came.  I thought it was neat that if the bird waits he will be granted with more than just fixed wings. 

Hanuman’s Leap

-This story has taking a total twist, but like it.  They are communicating with the animals to find their way to Sita.

Hanuman in Lanka

-I like how the story tired back to Rabana, even thought Sita was not there, smart of them to look there.

The Ashoka Grove

-YAY! Sita was found, I love how she was referred as “The Peerless Princess”

Sita and Ravana

-Of course Ravaba steps in and tries to persuade Sita to reject Rama and take him as her new husband. I thought it was cool that she refused him, even with fame and wealth handed to her

Humana and Sita

-I wonder how Sita felt when she first meet Hanuman, probably so much joy.  She is a great girl because she wouldn't even leave with him because she didn't want to touch another man besides Rama.

Hanuman Captured

-This part of the story is sad, that Hunuman gets captured by Ravana; and then he is taken to get eaten, but he isn’t dead just yet!

 Hanuman and Ravana

-HA! Ravana is going to get what he deserves by setting Hanuman’s tail on fire. 

Hanuman and Ravana

The Burning of Lanka

-Hanuman of course gets away and finds his way back to the monkey army, and starts to worry about Sita.

Week 2- Storybook Topics

One of the first topics I’m interested in is the animal character.  Any story that deals with animals coming to life is fun to me! I have always been entertained by the fact that an animal could talk and help you; this is probably why I am pretty obsessed with fairy tales, because most of them have to deal with animals talking.  I hope to read and find more stories that share adventures with animals. 

Sometimes I hate to admit this but I am a little obsessed with stories about love.  I am a pretty big fan of any movie that ends happily ever after, but I also can handle tough love.  For example movies or books that don’t end with happily ever after, but still ends with a positive note, like if someone where to die because of cancer or dies out of love for another.  For this topic I read through different storybooks about love, and learned that these stories can be much different from the original type of love story I’m use to but almost still have the same concept.   I hope to learn how to better explore these types of stories so that I can fully enjoy the love that comes out of them. 

The third storybook topic I looked at dealt with birth and death. I am more interested in more death related stories.  I have experienced a lot of death in my life and within my family, and this is why I find these stories interesting.  I like to see how these people’s and characters learn to deal with death, and with my dream of helping people some day overcome pain I think it will be beneficial for me to read these stories and learn about them. 

My fourth interested storybook deals with the Gods and Goddesses. I have of course learned a little about Gods and Goddesses thought out my education career, but It has been a very long time since I have study them, so I am not that familiar with this topic.  I do know that I am more interested in the Gods and Goddess of nature more, for example the Gods of the water or wind.  I hope to learn and read more stories about how the Gods and Goddesses control the nature.   I also know that most of these Gods and Goddesses are intertwined with each other, and it would be cool to learn how they are connected within each other. 

(God and Goddess)

Week 2, Reading Diary 2- PDE Ramayana

This is the second part of reading diary’s for week 2 covering the story Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

21. Baharata Returns

-Of course Kaikeyi didn't cry when she told Bharata that Dasharatha had died, because she was unworthy of him.  I am excited that Rama is getting to come back from the jungle.

22. Dasharatha’s Funeral

-You can tell that Dasharatha was a well-known and respected man by the way they treated his funeral.  I mean they spent 10 days lying on the ground mourning his death. 

23. Rama and Bharata

-Jabali let them have it real; by letting them know that paradise does not exist.  Rama is the coolest because he always keeps his promises; he also talks about how truth is our ancient path.

24. The Sandals

- Very cool how he returned the sandals by placing them on the throne which Bharata willing said I that he would watch them until Rama returns

25. Anasuya

-This story always seems to surprise me, I mean how did Sita’s father just happen to find her while he was ploughing??

26. Viradha

-Went to war with a demon named Viradha whoms name is actually Tumbura, and his skin can’t be wounded.  But as Rama beat him he set the demon free from his curse

27. Agastya

-Rama meets Agastva in the forest where he receives his weapons 

28. Shurpanakha

-Shurpanakha is trying to take Rama from Sita, and that’s just rude, I like Rama and Sita together.

29.  Lakshmana Shurpanlha

-Gross that Khara is going to drink the blood of Indra.

30. Battle with Khara

-I don’t understand why they are having a battle against Rama, but it doesn’t matter because Rama is a beast and wins everything, and still has his girl Sita,

31. Shurpanakha and Ravana

-Rama is awesome! He is like the modern day bat man, the way he is described is in such honor.  What do they mean by “carry off this sita”? As in get rid of her?

32. Ravana and Maricha

-Ravana is dumb because he thinks he can win against Rama. I’m assuming that he wants Sita, and that is why he will be getting rid of Rama.  So he disguises himself as a deer to attract Sita. 

33. The Golden Deer

-So Ravana’s plan works, with the golden deer, but I mean how could it not the deer was made beautiful and so attractive, so I don't blame Sita.  After she sees the deer she begs Rama to get the deer for her.

(The golden deer) 

34. The Chase

-Ravana not only plays one trick but two, and imitate his voise as Rama’s.  He only wins because of his tricks, but to bad for him Sita does not and thinks she can’t live without Rama.

35. Ravana and Sita

-Ravana is getting a little creepy, first he makes himself a deer and now sage just to get closer to Sita, but it worls because he swoops her up and takes her away.

36. Jatayu and Ravana

-Sita is so smart as Ravana takes her away she drops her jewelry so that Rama could find her. 

37. Sita in Lanka

-Sita is in the home of the demon, but she will remain safe as long she keeps refusing to go to bed with him.  She is safe from Ravana rapping her because he has a curse so he tries to trick her.

38. Rama and Jatayu

-Finally Rama realizes and learns what happens to Sita, and sets out to help her.

39. Kabandha

-The brothers run into Kabandha, and they learn where Sita is from him as they helped him. 

40. Shabari

-As they keep looking for Sita, they run into a hermitage who has been waiting on Rama for a long time so he has to help her perform funeral rites. 

Week 2: Diary Reading- PDE Ramayna

I chose Option two, Public Domain Edition: Ramayana. This was Honestly kind of hard for me to read, but as I keep looking over it hopefully I will be able to put the story together better, and learn new things. 

 

(PDF Ramayana: Source-Google)

1.     King Dasharatha
-When I think of the two Kingdoms I most definitely would find myself in the capital of Koshala (Ayodhya). It sounds like great places to sight see and be one with nature.  Maybe because the kingdom was so pretty that it needed beauty and royalty to run it instead of boys, and just maybe this is why Dasharatha had girls instead of boys. 

2.     Dasharatha’s Sons
-I found it cool that after the ceremony Dasharatha awarded gifts and treasure to the Brahmins, I believe that shows he was a kind man.  He wanted sons so bad that he would do anything to get them,  and he was soon promised that he would get 4!

3.     Avatar of Vishnu
-I found it very cool that that Vishnu would divide himself into four parts for Dasharatha could get his sons.  This story keeps showing good in these people.

4.     Vishvamitra
-Another act to show that Dasharatha has a good heart is that he cast down his son because he was terrible, but Rama redeemed himself by becoming a man. 

5.     Thataka
-I find it interesting that whatever Rama needed it would just magically appear. Maybe this shows that he is great, and that he is meant to be a hero.  

6.     Bhagiratha and Ganga
-This story being told is almost just like what he have been reading.  But the main difference this time is that sixty thousands sons were killed, yet they were still there in spirit. 

7.     Ahalya
-Here we go, the story is starting to get a little messy.  I think that I like the version better when Ahalya realizes she is sleeping with someone else besides her husband.  I also find it interesting that Rama will end her curse.

8.     Sita
-Love the way the princes were described in this story, with pearls and yellow coats.  Also interested how each row had different theme of people.  I like how this is an example of love at first sight for Sita and Rama. 

9.     King Janaka
-This story has now turned into any typical fairy tale, where the man must bend a strong weapon to be able to marry the daughter.

10. Rama Wins Sita
-Of course Rama was able to bend the bow so easily, and he of course was then given the right to marry the daughter. 

11. Parashurama
-Oh but we thought it was that easy, but here comes Parashurma.  He came to see who has broken the bow because he was mad.  But Rama came to the rescue and made it all alright again.  

12. Rama and Sita’s Wedding
-Their wedding was beautiful and I can just imagine Sita and all her beauty in a wedding dress.  Also kind of strange that all the other brothers found wives from the Janaka family as well.  

13. Rama the Heir Apparent
-Ahh the time has come for Dasharatha to pick one of his sons to become the next king, I find it funny that he no sons, and now he has four to pick from!

14. Manthara and Kaikeyi
-I find it funny that two boons were what was granted when Kaikeyi cured Dasharatha

15. Kaikeyi and Dasharatha
-Boons has a different meaning to it that I thought. It was interesting to see that boons is meaning as in request.  Also how cruel that one boon request was to banish Rama in a devotee clad. 

16. Rama is Banished
-This story has now become a little sad as Rama was banished, yet it shows that he still has respect for his father as he fulfilled his vow.

17. Ramayana
-As Rama decides to go into exile alone, his wife Sita and his brother insist on accompanying him, how great would that feeling be that people love you so much they are willing to follow him.

18. Crossing the River
-Putting away all of their royalty they cross over into the forest to be in exile for fourteen years. Also love that Rama has the Jata hair style that is like dreadlocks. 

19. Dasharatha’s Karma
-I enjoyed that the hermit respected him enough that he built him a funeral for it was the kingdom of death.

20. Dasharatha’s Death
-It was sad to me that the king who all he wanted was sons weren’t even able to attended his death, but maybe that was because of his own karma.