Reading Notes: Kincaid's Indian Heroes, Part A

I appreciate the fact it starts acknowledging Rama and Sita in Vishnu's heaven.

 Part 6 seems to be along the same lines as the Mahabharata we read before. Not much variation, at most just less detail. This section is about the birth/raising, to the point of finding bodies in the burnt house, believing the Pandavas had passed.


Part 7: Seems like the other version as well. Stays with the main point of the story. I don't feel like there is much variation here either. This part is about them going through the woods, killing the monster, wedding the sister, reuniting, rejoining the family in town, and killing that towns "ruler" that was tormenting them. Finally they arrive in town to compete for Draupadi.

Part 8: Is this supposed to be the same as the other? Arjuna wins her hand, queen accidentally says to share her, everyone ends up agreeing. Draupadi weds all the brothers.

Part 9: Their cousin finds out they are alive and that they wed. Cousin invites them back to mend fences, gives them part of the country. They go and build a wonderful city. For a second I thought they forgot the oath, but it was just mentioned at a different time. Arjuna went to the woods, and had the alligator-water nymph thing. Then the whole burning of the forest. Then he gets his own bride. Moya of the nagas built a wondrous palace with the nagas jewels, and they sent some around as tribute. They wanted to do a sacrifice to show he was the highest, but krishna said to eliminate J first, so they managed that by bhima wrestling him

Part 10: They do the ritual, cousin comes and gets jealous. Comes up with a plan to have Pandavas face a family member who cheats in gambling. They loose everything. Draupadi gets their freedom and everything returned, but had a messenger chase them to challenge them at dice once more. Because of the curse, they accept and return. The pandavas lose and have to spend 12 years in exile and 1 year hidden.

Part 11: They go into the forest. Vyasa tells Y to have arjuna go see Indra for armor to defeat their cousin after the exile is up. He made it to the spot, saw what he believed to be one of the immortals, and set up camp there for a month. He ends up wrestling one of the immortals who gifts him the armor. Bhima gets caught by a huge snake. Y faced the challenge given and answered all the snakes questions, breaking the curse and returning him to human form.

Part 12: This is the year of hiding. Each chose their disguise and they chose a city and went. They hid their weapons and entered the city. They all found employment with the king. Draupadi was requested to go to the queen's brothers room, and was unsure. H tried to embrace her, she ran out. He followed mad and struck her. King didn't want to hear it, so she told Bhima. He was angry and promised revenge. He told her to have the prince meet him. He beat the prince until he was totally unrecognizable.

(image from Flickr)

Bibliography:

  Gibbs, Laura. “Kincaid. The Indian Heroes.” Kincaid. The Indian Heroes, http://freebookapalooza.blogspot.com/2016/07/kincaid-indian-heroes.html.

Week 8 Progress

Looking back: I am happy with my progress over all. I am proud of the length of my posts (as I said before i'm used to short and sweet). My weekly routine could definitely be better. It's gotten the point it's usually sitting down a bit before bed to work on whatever is due that day. I started off ahead, and need to work on getting back to that. I have been getting my stuff in at close to the last moment. On the bright side: most has been getting in, if not I do extra credit opportunities. I think point wise i'm still about 1/2 a week to 1 week ahead, so thats good. I appreciate extra credit for that reason. I think I am behind on stories though (I just have 2 written) so I should probably work on those, but everything else is going well. I'm happy with my blog and website.

Looking forward: The main change I would like to make is getting stuff done earlier. My 2nd class starts this Sunday so I know i'll have a lot more work going on. The farther ahead I can be, the better it would be in case things happen. I would like to look into other styles of writing. I feel like both of my stories follow the same style. Blog and website I am happy with how it is.

(Image from Flickr)

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

Feedback in: I like reading the responses and suggestions on what to add or change. As i've discussed previously, I actually decent at editing, but writing stresses me out so I tend to just try get it over with which means not always such great things. I've had a few point out grammatical errors, but didn't give me examples to fix. That didn't help too much. I overthink a lot so I try not to focus too hard or I could seriously give myself an anxiety attack. If others could give definite examples it would make me feel a lot better. Some have pointed out spelling errors (I use a MacBook and I can't seem to get spellcheck to work no matter what I do) so those are definitely helpful so I can go in and manually edit them.

Feedback out: I feel like mine are decent (if not hopefully someone would tell me). I try to stay with the WWW theory, and try to give specific examples/suggestions as much as I can. Everyone is so creative, I feel a little inferior but it also pushes me to try to be better. I've loved reading the stories in different formats, like the diary entry. I may use that for another story.

Blog comments: I definitely enjoy reading other people introductions and getting to know them. I feel like some were more detailed than others, but that's okay. I tend to be an introvert too and rarely know what to type. I tried to hit all the obvious points with my own, and I feel like it turned out well at giving an overview of me and mine.

Looking forward: I like my set up for my comment wall and introduction. I probably need to work on elaborating more. I've been in the business world for a while so i'm used to short and to the point sales of writing. Both ways probably need to work more on specific examples. I do what I can, but I could be better.

Image from Cheezburger and was chosen because it is the story of my life. As I stated above, if I strive for perfection I will psych myself out and that is no good for anyone.

Week 8 Reading and Writing

The reading I love. Some of the stories have so many characters going in and out I can get overwhelmed and feel like I'm not keeping them straight very well. At the end, I am thankful for all of them though because I still feel like they help give a greater understanding to the story. I try to write my notes kind of recapping what is going on and my feelings about it because it helps me recall everything later on. In doing so, it helps spark ideas for my stories. So far it's helped a lot. However, the stories are a bit out of my comfort zone. I've always been a reader but dislike writing. I think I'm too OCD and stress over it. That also gets me into trouble though because I tend to try to rush through it so I don't stress to much, and end up missing things I know I'm better at. I love editing others work, but stress way too much over my own. I've only done 2 stories so far, but I think i've done okay.

I think my blog and website are CUTE. I really like my layouts. I know for my Cat story i've gotten the suggestion to change my header to a cat picture, but I liked the one I chose because it reminds me of water droplets. I feel okay about my writing, I think it could be better, but not the worst thing ever. The 2 I have done I think work well. I feel like they are decent accomplishments for me since I always dread writing. I feel like I've come up with cute ways to change and add details to it to help visualization. My favorite reading is about Rama and Sita though (which also happens to be my 2nd story). I am just a hopeless romantic and loved how they were destined and the way it came into play.

The image I chose I also used in my Week 5 Review post. I find it fitting because notes/stories are definitely ways to be enagaged and learning.

(Image from Cheezburger)

Looking forward, I probably just need to stop overthinking. If I can do that, then I can actually focus better on what's going on, and can work on writing without feeling overwhelmed.

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part D

I see we are still at the Kaurava's being dumb, and causing the death of Bhishma. Karna is making terrible decisions too. I don't like the poem page. I had a hard time keeping my attention pulled in because I get into the Lilt more than the story. Abhimanyu's death is so sad. As I had said in previous notes, I can't imagine burying a child. Poor Arjuna. So much war. Everyone falling one by one.

I did find it funny about...

 Yudhishthira answered in a clear voice, "Yes, O Drona! Ashwatthaman is dead!" And this he said three times. But after the word Ashwatthaman he said indistinctly each time the words "the elephant." These words, however, Drona did not hear...


What trickery. but again I can empathize with Drona believing he lost his son. Tasting blood, even if it was a promise for your wife, is disgusting. No thanks. You can have it all Bhima. I know it Karma, but Arjuna killing Karna is sad. I had hoped they would patch up their relationship and embrace each other as brothers. Krishna seems to be the voice of reason. Even if something didn't seem to fit their morals, he would advise what he believed to be the right reason. I don't get being happy with killing everyone. This definitely does not seem to be a happy story. Draupadi has lost a lot, but it still seems like she is always whining and throwing her own fit. Like, she's irrational. I like that the Pandavas show regret and true emotions versus the Kauravas always showing anger. Bhishma's death was so sad, but it's nice he could hold on to give advice. Uttara's story is sad too, but I don't understand wanting to chose your husband over your child. As a mother, my mentality is children first, ALWAYS. 

Why did Arjuna's son want to kill Arjuna? I'm glad there was the stone to revive him, and the were okay after. It still seems weird to me thought that his son is who defeats him. Why wouldn't he be in line for the throne though? Didn't they say all hope was on the baby? Poor horse. I get the reasons why. But I still felt terrible.Wait.... We are calling Draupadi virtuous and full of wisdom? Okay then... 

So much death happens. Even just visiting the elders along the river. It was nice thought that Vyasa allowed them a visit with their loved ones, and offered for the widows to go with them. And then back to fighting. Why is it so hard for everyone to get along? I wish all death could be as nice and simple as the Pandavas. It's our time and we will just walk into it together. Well I say that until each keeps falling. Why are all the Kauravas there? IT seemed like they were nothing but mean and spiteful their whole time on earth. Ohhhh it was a test. I'm glad to see them all reunited happily in the end.

(Krishna from Flickr)

Gibbs, Laura. “Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics.” PDE Mahabharata, 1 Jan. 1970, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE Mahabharata.

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part C

Being in the woods seems like it would definitely suck, but the copper pot with food seems like it wold be a huge help. It also seems like Bhima is great at protecting them all.  I'm glad Krishna is on their side. Draupadi sounds like s spoiled brat, but at the same time I get it. I would have some issues with it too. I could definitely see the struggle between choosing to fight, or honoring your word.
Arjuna is intense. That sounds like a tough life to life, fasting and praying with your arms raised all day. The fact he still had the strength to wrestle with The Great God, and do it well enough to be gifted. So many Gods, so many gifts. I also admire how pure he can be in the fact he is not swayed by all the women calling to him.

Ohhh Yudhishthira learned dice. I hope that is some foreboding about revenge and getting their empire back. Hanuman! How nice to see (read) a familiar face. I love how it ties the Mahabharata to the Ramayana. Even cooler that he and Bhima are half brothers.

Duryodhana is a hot mess, and two faced. Don't act all grateful for being saved, but harbor mortification and resentment. It's not the Pandavas fault you lost. He sounds so petty. "I'll just wait here and die then". *inset eye roll here* Then deciding to go back and play King, and keep up the feud. Man needs to be smacked. Also, Karna is gross and should definitely wash his feet. Indra meets him and agreed to exchange one invincible dart for Karna's jewelry. Will it be worth it though?

These women are killing me. Men leave them unguarded and terrible things happen. First Sita, and now  Draupadi? At least Bhima got Jayadratha and punished him accordingly. Then everyone drinking the water and dying.... surely they should know better. Thank goodness Yudhishthira could answer the riddles, reveal Dharma (his dad) and bring everyone back to life.

Poor Draupadi, for a second time she had troubles with outside men. It definitely seems that Beauty is a curse for these women. But she's also dark, I don't think I would want to see my husband kill someone, even if it was for myself. The Kauravas seem to be whiny brats. I wish it would be as simple as sending messages to have the kingdom restored, but I highly doubt that would ever ever ever happen. SO I agree 10000% for getting ready for war. Once again Duryodhana is acting like a brat and always focused on anger. What a tough call for Karna, but I get the mindset too. He doesn't want to seem weak and like he gave in, he wants to earn it and support those who have been his friends. I'm glad he at least offered to spare 4 of the brothers if it comes to it. It is a tough spot to be in. I like that Arjuna compared Duryodhana to women.I do like when it comes to war, for the most part, family protects family. What a sad battle. I could only picture the scene, and it breaks my heart. Losing a son is something I can't even imagine. What heartbreak that would be.

(Arjuna from Flickr)

Gibbs, Laura. “Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics.” PDE Mahabharata, 1 Jan. 1970, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE Mahabharata.

Week 7 Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part B

So I forgot to do this as I went, so I'm doing recap thoughts and the rest of what I have to read. I know it worked for the Pandavas, but I felt terrible for the woman with 5 sons who ended up perishing in the fire. If they knew something could happen, how could they in good conscience let them fall asleep in the house?

The 1 wife and 5 husbands was definitely weird to me. I cracked up. Just the past story of her feeling abandoned by her husband, and getting "blessed" with 5 husbands (although that sounds like a pain, I do well to handle one man). From the brothers standpoint, I wonder what jealousy issues they had if any. Just seems weird overall.

I really liked following the travels of Arjuna. The nymphs was interesting (being alligators). I'm definitely getting the vibe there's not really free-will going on. Everything is pre-destined. ....Okay wait...abducting a bride? What the heck. That's not how you make friends people...or get a wife. But I guess it is in this. Then she's the handmaiden to Draupadi, and then they got along? My brain just does not like this.  Maya's palace sounds beautiful, but I would definitely be like Duryodhana and be confused.
Gambling Draupadi? Thats terrible. Also Duryodhana is definitely a jerk and I don't like him in the least.I like Bhima. I hope he gets his revenge in battle. People definitely deserve it. Poor Kunti with her sounds/daughter in law being away from her for so long.

(Queen Kunti from Flickr)

Bibiolgraphy :

Gibbs, Laura. “Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics.” PDE Mahabharata, 1 Jan. 1970, http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE Mahabharata.