PICTURING THE STORY: NARRATIVE ARTS AND THE STORIES THEY TELL ESPECIALLY FOR EDUCATORS: RETURN TO AYODHYA Curriculum Connections: Social Studies (Associated Activity Sheets) Learn more about the city of Ayodhya, the island of Sri Lanka, and other sites important to the story of Rama. Locate Sri Lanka and Ayodhya on a map of India. (Map It – India) Learn more about the practice of Hinduism in India. Identify important Hindu holidays, and choose one to research. What is the significance of the holiday? How is it celebrated? Are the celebrations local, regional, national, or everywhere Hindus live? Read about Ram Sethu, the land bridge between India and Sri Lanka. “SC: Is Sethu a place of worship?” Times of India, April 16, 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/SC_Is_Sethu_a_place_of_worship/articleshow/2954678.cms Read the article “Ravana is a hero for Sinhala nationalists” by PK Balachandran, Hindustan Times, Colombo, September 23, 2007. (Access at http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=fe2f4394-73e9-41a0- a41a-a30d3ef2c6b3&&headline=ravana+is+a+hero+for+sinhala+nationalists) What is the view of Ravana in modern Sri Lanka? Why? Trace the spread of Hinduism from its origins in India. How did Hinduism come to Sri Lanka? Read a .. history of Sri Lanka, which was once called Ceylon. … special characteristics of this tiny island nation? Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts (Associated Activity Sheets) Describe the characters, scenery, and other images inspired by hearing the story. Read the story, then test your skills of understanding. (Reading for Meaning) Listen to the story, then test your listening skills. (Listening to Learn) Reinterpret the story as a play, including appropriate background information, (Playing the Parts) characters, setting, etc. Role-play an interview with one of the characters at different stages of the story. (Imaginary Interview) PICTURING THE STORY: NARRATIVE ARTS AND THE STORIES THEY TELL Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts (con’t) Role-play an imaginary interview with the artist that created the work of art. (Ask the Artist) Create a storyboard showing the main events of the story. (Storyboard: Scene by Scene) Compare the story with a hero story from another culture. (Compare and Contrast) Try reading different versions of the story. How does the story change? The Ramayana in verse on Internet Sacred Text Archive – http://www.sacred- texts.com/hin/rama/ry495.htm Recommended Children’s Books Bapu. Ramayana, the Story of Rama. Madras, India : Sanskrit International; Thompson, CT: Intercultural Associates, 1974. Narayan, R. K. (Translator). The Ramayana: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic. Penguin, 1977. Ram, Govinder. Rama and Sita: An Indian Folk Tale. New York: Bedrick/Blackie, 1988. Scioscia, Mary. A Bridge for Lord Rama. Illustrations and lettering by Loetitia S. Lilot (Saradiya dasi). Vaikuntha Press, c1994. Sharma, Bulbul and Sudesh, K.P. The Ramayana For Children. Puffin Books, 2003. Sperlin, Vatsala. Ram the Demon Slayer. Illustrated by Pieter Weltevrede. Rochester, VT: Bear Cub Books, c2005. Verma, Jatinder. The Story of Divaali. Illustrated by Nilesh Mistry. Cambridge, MA : Barefoot Books, 2002. Watson, Jane Werner. Rama of the Golden age; An Epic of India. Illustrated by Paul Frame. Champaign, IL: Garrard Pub. Co., 1971. Weitzman, David. Rama and Sita: A Tale of Ancient Java. Boston: D. R. Godine, 2002. Curriculum Connections: Art/Art History (Associated Activity Sheets) Take a closer look at this object. (Examine the Elements) Compare the story and the object. (How do they Compare?) Create a storyboard demonstrating the artist’s creative process, from (Storyboard: Picture the Process) PICTURING THE STORY: NARRATIVE ARTS AND THE STORIES THEY TELL assembling materials to finished piece. Role-play an imaginary interview with the artist that created this object. (Ask the Artist) Experiment with painting in watercolors and ink. Explore other works from this culture and time period. Compare images from the Ramayana in other museums. Some suggestions: Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY: http://mag.rochester.edu/ Unknown, Indian, Pattern of Human and Animal Warriors, 83.58 Unknown, Indian, Hanuman Bringing the Mount of the Himalayas with the Medicinal Roots to Restore the Dead of Rama's Troops, 83.39 San Diego, CA, Museum of Art: Unknown , Indian, Rama and Sita Enthroned ww.askasia.org/teachers/images/image.php?no=221 Cleveland, OH, Museum of Art -- Several images to choose from! http://www.clevelandart.org/explore/searchlist.asp?searchText=Rama&display=list&recNo=0&tab=2 The British Museum, London, England Rama on Hanuman fighting Ravana, ca. 1820 The British Library: Online Gallery The Ramayana: Love and Valour in India's Great Epic – http://www.bl.uk/ramayana HOW TO READ A MUSEUM LABEL: Culture Indian Title of work of art & date created Rama, Sita and Lakshmana Return to Ayodhya , ca. 1850-1900 Rajasthan, Rajput School Opaque watercolor on paper Materials used by artist Gift of Helen H. Reiff in memory of Robert F. Reiff, 83.55 Identification number for object in museum source of money or gift .