Reading Notes: Public Domain Ramayana, Part A

Throughout much of the reading for Part A, I’ve found the use of strong figurative language and imagery to be a constant. The use of metaphors and similes is especially useful because it provides a more universal context to scenes that may not be familiar to a reader not used to the names and places given. Phrases like “the soft winds were wont to beat back the white water-blooms from the honey bees as coy maidens are withheld by the impulses of modesty from their eager lovers” and “warriors fierce as flames of consuming fire” from King Dasharatha provide a solid parallel between the somewhat foreign setting to a more universal image. This occurs time and time again. It seems that many of the pieces use figurative language in order to convey more complex settings or events through common or universal images.

Besides just strong figurative language, there is a constant barrage of new information that appears certainly cultural in nature. The direct links to Wikipedia give the reader much needed context for understanding the happenings that are taking place. In a retelling, it would make sense to maintain certain links to things that the reader may not know about, otherwise very important context could be lost. It would be probably be worth it to include links for certain things and characters.

The few battle scenes are described in a very matter of fact manner which in some ways is useful because it gives the text a certain weight to it. It’s almost historical in tone and thus sets up the image as being a historical narrative rather than a fictitious one. It would be useful to maintain the certain distant tone in my own retellings to maintain that sort of omniscient and almost historical tone about the piece.

I’ve very intriqued by the use of time in the Ramayana. This is especially clear in Bhagiratha andGanga. Often small events take entire years and it isn’t uncommon to see tens of millennia described. I could write my stories with similar time usage to maintain the form and style of the piece while I could then change the actual events. The form would be set but the content would have a bit more personal flair.

I’m especially interested in the poetic form of Ahalya, Rama Wins Sita, and several others. It could be fun to a do a retelling that retells a story not found in a poetic form in one or vice versa. 

(The death of Dasaratha, source)

Bibliography: 

Public Domain Ramayana, Link