Week 9 Extra Credit Reading

Exile in The Five Tall Sons of Pandu by Richard Wilson
Gandharva - is a name used for distinct heavenly beings in Hinduism
Chitrasena - taught music and dance to Arjuna. He was a Gandharva king.
Jayadratha - was the king of Sindhu Kingdom. He was married to Dushala. He was killed by Arjuna with the help of Krishna.
Virata - was the king of Matsya Kingdom with its Virata Kingdom, in whose court the Pandavas spent a year in concealment during their exile. He was killed during a Kauravas attack in the Kurukshetra War along with his sons
The Pandavas have been exiled from their kingdom and are residing in the Matsya Kingdom. Duryodhana pays them a visit and all he does is mock them and ridicule them, however, this is not surprising. However, when Duryodhana tries to leave the kingdom he runs into trouble with the gandharva. He then needs help from the Pandavas, pretty ironic. It amazes me that family would treat each other like the way Duryodhana treats his nephews and vice versa. I feel like this could be a life lesson not only for the characters but also for those reading the story. Although for the circumstances of the characters in the story they chose to ignore this life lesson and continue on with the family hate. Duryodhana then takes the hate a step further and involves other people. He takes with him Karna and Drona to steal Virata’s cattle. This not only continues to prove how awful Duryodhana is but how he uses his leadership and persuasiveness to convince others to do harm. The Pandavas then retaliate, especially Arjuna, and convinces a chariot-driver to take him to where they keep their weapons. He then disguises himself as a corpse in order to surprise the attack Duryodhana, Karna, and Drona. Based on past stories and foreshowing this battle does not seem like it will end well.

                               (Pandavas go to Battle: Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Week 9 Story

Karna has just become king but the question of where he came from was resonating with him. He thought how could I be king if I did not know where I came from or what my background was. Who could I guide a whole kingdom when I am so lost? He also thought that who ever gave him up would have to be proud of him when they find out he became a king and would finally accept him. So, Karna set out to find where he came from and to have the answers in his head answered.

Karna began his journey by talking to the people who raised him. “Mom, Dad where did I guys find me, who did you get me from?” His parents responded “We don’t know who we got you from all we were told was that you were born in the south of the country in a city called Madurai and they were not able to keep you because they were not ready to have a baby”. Karna did not know what to do next so he headed to the south of the country to the town of Madurai.

When he arrived in Madurai, he asked everyone if they knew him or new of a baby that was given away the year he was born. Most people told him they did not know or just ignored him. Other people gave him advise on where to go where he might find more information. He spent days and days searching through the town to find more information about his history. Karna gave up hope and decided he would go home but before he left, he needed food and to rest before the long journey. He stopped into a bakery to buy some bread to fill his stomach. When he came in he heard a older women scream and drop a bowl he was holding. He asked the old women if she was ok and if he could help her clean the mess from the bowl.

She responded “Is your name Karna?”

“Yes, do I know you” asked Karna

“No, you do not know me but I know you, your parents were my neighbors when you were born and when they gave you away.” Claimed the old women.

“You knew my mother and father? Can you tell me who they are?” asked Karna

“I never knew their names they only lived next to me for a short while, they moved the day after you were adopted, they said they wanted to be closer to you even if that meant they could not talk to you.” Said the old women.

“Thank you for talking with me and for the bread but I must be going.” Said Karna.

Karna set out for home and he thought a lot about what the old women had told him. He was confused and angry that his parents had moved to be closer to him but never told him who they were. The anger began to consume him and he had to stop and rest to calm himself. He thought to himself should I be king, am I worthy? By the time he returned to the palace he knew what he had to do. He knew he must be king because he knew he would be a good king. He thought to himself, I do not want to waste time on people who lie and hide the truth from me. I will not let my history determine my future, I will make my own future.

Authors note: I continued the story of Karna and Arjuna by Sister Nivedita. The story ends with Karna becoming king but I wanted to show he was not perfect and he struggled just like everyone else. I took some aspects of the original story like him not knowing his history and that his mother was close to him he just did not know. This story gives more information on how he dealt with the fact he did not know his parents and that he might not ever know.      

                              (Animation of Adoption: Image from Wikimedia Commons)   

Reading Notes Mahabharata

Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists: Mahabharata by Sister Nivedita

     The story begins in a very intense scene that had been building up many stories before this one. Karna and Arjuna are in the midst of a duel. The two cousins are butting heads and are fighting over the crown for the kingdom of Agna. Arjuna is known for his strength and power, especially when using a bow and is thought to be the ideal image of a solider and a fighter. All of this changes when Karna duels him and matches Arjunas every skill that they perform. Once Karna wins the duel he is presented as king of Agna instead of Arjuna. When asked where Karna comes from, he cannot respond because he does not know his background or history. Little does he know that his actually mother that abandoned him at birth was standing right next to him. I have never seen such a large family feud in a storybook until this one. Not only do a few of the cousins dislike each other but all of them hate each other. I wonder if this is a common theme in this literature, families feuding, or if this is what makes the story different. I also wonder if there was anything that could have been done to reunite the family before the feud was taken so far. It is interesting to me that Karna does not know who his mother is and that she has not told him yet even though she is proud of him for becoming king. The style of writing in this book is different from the stories I read in the previous weeks. It is more descriptive and detailed about the characters and how the scene is set.

                                (Arjuna attacks Karna: Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Week 8 Progress

1. I am happy with the progress I have made because it is just that PROGRESS! I can see a definite improvement in my writing from my previous stories. I really enjoy my project because it is something that I would use if I ran across it when trying to travel. My writing is still not great and it is difficult for me to come up with ideas to write about but I am improving. 

2. I continually tell myself that I have to start the week off early but I do not, this is something I need to work on. I also need to work on doing some extra credit ahead of time that way I can get ahead. Other then that I think the quality of my assignments is good and I am proud of them!

                                                         (Quote: Image from Flickr)

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

1. The feedback that is left for me it almost always helpful for minor changes and to give me ideas about how I could have changed things. I find it useful to read the comments left for me even if its just on my intro because putting a face behind a username helps when reading critiques. For the most part I try to implement the comments and feedback into my story and projects when applicable.

2. I do not enjoy leaving the comments as much as I enjoy receiving them. I have a hard time leaving critique because I am not a great writer and I often do not know what to write. It is easier for me to write questions I have or something more about there story I would want to see. I think the quality of my feedback is improving.

3. I think my blog tells a lot about me and represents me accurately. It is not the prettiest or fanciest blog out of the class but I also thing that represents me. I am a science major and am used to writing short concise things with little color but that's me! I also believe I get a good understanding of who my classmates are through their blogs.

                                                                      (Cheezburger) 

Week 8 Reading and Writing

Getting started in this class took a little practice and time. At first, I was confused and hesitant on some of the assignments and it showed in my writing. My first few stories I was not used to writing so they are a bit choppy and awkward but as the weeks went on, I figured out a good strategy to writing them. I like the reading notes, I think they really help when I go back to write the story. I think my writing can still improve but it is definitely getting better. I am really enjoying writing my project because it is something unique to me that I was able to have complete freedom over. I think my week 7 story is my greatest accomplishment because I feel I finally understood how to write them and I had a clear vision on what to write (I also thought it was funny). My favorite reading in this class has been the Ramayana because I liked the characters best especially Sita.

                                      (Under Review: Image from Wikimedia Commons)

Week 7, Story: Monty Python

PDE Mahabharata: Riddles at the Lake by Donald A. Mackenzie

The Pandava brothers have been transformed into a new era, The Middle Ages. They are confused and wish to return home to their friends and loved ones. They are unsure about how they got there and how they will get home, but they are determined to find a way. They hear news of a Holy Grail that is hidden somewhere in England that will grant wishes to the person who possesses it. They had been warned though that this Holy Grail was difficult to find and that they would have to pass a series of tests to be able to capture it. The Pandava brothers agreed that they were up for the challenge, they would do anything to be able to get home. The brothers set out on their journey across the country in pursuit of this Holy Grail asking anyone who knew anything about it. They ran into a villager who was traveling through the country selling his goods that he had made.

“I have heard of this Holy Grail before and I might be able to help you brothers, but I am very poor and am trying to sell my things for money.” Says the villager.

“If we buy something from you, will you tell us where to find this Grail?” Asks Sahadeva.

“Yes, I will tell you where to go if you buy something from my collection.”

Arjuna gives 5 pounds to the villager and is handed a book about birds particularly swallows.
The villager then tells him about the Bridge of Death that they must cross to get to the Grail. The bridge is hidden within the mountains and is guarded by a bridge keeper.
“The bridge keeper will ask you all three questions, and if you answer them correctly you will pass safely.” Says the villager. After that the brothers began their long journey through the mountain range to seek out this bridge. It took many long days and cold nights. While the brothers took turns collecting food and setting up shelter Yudhishthira read the book they were given by the villager out of boredom and he thought it may keep his brain sharp and the long nights. One day 3 weeks into there journey through the mountains they could see in the distance a bridge will a keeper at the front and they rushed toward it.

The brothers stopped before they reached the front of the bridge.

“Who will go first?” Asked Yudhishthira “I will!” responded Nakula. However Nakula was unable to answer the three questions and vanished. Next was Sahadeva but he could not answer the questions and he too vanished. Arjuna then went but he too could not answer the questions and vanished. Yudhishthira was the last to approach the bridge keeper, the first question he was asked was “What is your name?” He answered it correctly. The next question was “What is your quest?” He answered it correctly. The third and final question was “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?” And because he read the book the villager sold to him he responded with “What do you mean African or European Swallow?” The bridge keeper did not know how to respond and he too vanished. Yudhishthira was able to cross the bridge and find the Holy Grail. He demanded the Grail to take him and his brother who had vanished back to there home in India to reunite with their loved ones. The Grail did has he wished and they suddenly appeared home. 

Authors note: This story was adapted from the Riddles at the Lake and put in the the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In Monty Python and the Holy Grail a group of soldiers are looking for a holy grail. To find it they must cross a bridge guarded by a bridge keeper. The bridge keeper asks them 3 questions to pass the bridge and only two of them are able to cross. Two of the soldiers were thrown over the bridge for not passing the test.

                                     (The Holy Grail: Image from Wikimedia Commons)