WHICH LESSONS CAN WE TAKE from The Ramayana? Which lessons do we connect with Indian society and Hindu culture? Which lessons are more universal, and apply to contemporary life? This week we will finish reading our text. I will collect and grade annotations on Tuesday of next week. No homework over Thanksgiving break, but we will write a comparative essay when we return.

MONDAY

Discussion of killing of Vali. Is Rama wrong to slay Vali in the manner he does? Why the lengthy exposition about the slaying? What lessons do we take from the exchange between Rama and Vali?
HW: Re-read the chapter, “When the Rains Cease.”

TUESDAY

Discussing the roles Angada, hanuman, and Lakshmana play in the rescue of Sita and the destruction of Ravana.
HW: Reading the next two chapters, “Ravana in Council” and “Across the Ocean.”

WEDNESDAY

What do we make of Ravana, now that we have seen him with Sita on Lanka? Is he the horrible demon he’s been made out to be by way of Rama?
HW: Read chapter 11, “The Siege of Lanka” and pages 139-146 in “Rama and Ravana in Battle.

THURSDAY

Discussion: What do we make of the final battle between Rama and Ravana?
HW: Read the end of the novel.

FRIDAY

The alternative ending. Why does Narayan choose to leave the second test of Sita out of his text?
HW: Complete the hero-journey analysis on the novel for class on Monday.