Indian Epics: Reading Options for Week 5

This week you will be starting the Mahabharata! I hope you will enjoy meeting this new cast of epic characters.

Choose. The first step in the Tuesday reading assignment is to CHOOSE which version of the Mahabharata you want to read for Weeks 5 and 6. There are two options again: Narayan's Mahabharata (a novel-like version of the epic) and a Public Domain Edition of the Mahabharata (like with the Ramayana, this is an online anthology drawn from various sources). To find out more about these two options and to decide which one will be best for you, look at this page: Indian Epics Reading Guides Weeks 5-6 Mahabharata. If you have any questions about making your choice, let me know and I'll be glad to answer any questions you have.

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MAKE-UP / EXTRA CREDIT READING OPTION: Weeks 5-6-7

Each week there is an extra credit reading option. This is not required, but it is a really good way to either make up work that you missed earlier in the week or to build up a cushion of extra credit in advance. For those of you doing a Storybook project, the extra credit reading is also a great option to do reading for your Storybook AND get extra credit. Here is how it works: 

• Video online. You can watch Part A of Devdutt Pattanaik's videos about the Indian gods (more about this video series). Just like with reading a book, you will take notes on what you are watching in a Reading Diary post in your blog. Again, you don't have to do a plot summary; just write about the things that make the biggest impression on you from the video. If you already watched Part A, then move on Part B, C, and D (in order). 
• More video online. You can watch Part A of Epified's Mahabharata - Animated. Just like with reading a book, you will take notes on what you are watching in a Reading Diary post in your blog. You can watch Part A this week, and then watch Part B next week.
• Comic books in Bizzell. There is an amazing collection of comic books in Bizzell for you to choose from. Don't read the Mahabharata ones yet, but there are comic books about the Gods and Goddesses, plus comic books about Krishna, stories of Heroes and Heroines, plus all kinds of Folktales. You might even want to take a look back at some Ramayana comic books, especially if you are doing a Ramayana Storybook. Choose a single comic book to read and then write up your notes in an Extra Credit Reading Diary post. The comic books are available for check-out at the Bizzell Reserve Desk.
• Buddhist Jataka Tales. The Jataka tales told by the Buddha in ancient India are some of the oldest folktales in existence. There are some free Jataka books online that you can use for extra credit reading. Read one part (Part A, Part B, etc. — it doesn't matter which part you start with for these books), and write up an Extra Credit Reading Diary post; here are the free Jataka books online you can choose from:  Shedlock - Babbitt - More Babbitt - Rouse -Inayat. If you like audio books, the Babbitt options have free audiobook versions at LibriVox, so you can listen to the stories.
• Indian Folktales. In addition to the Jataka story collections, there are two Indian folktale books that you can use for extra credit reading. Read one part and write up an Extra Credit Reading Diary post for either of these two books: Devi's Indian Fables - Neogi's Sacred Tales.