introduction to the mahabharata
TRANSCRIPT
Today’s Plan
Introduce The Mahabharata Skit Project Some Notes Going Over the Project Requirements Scriptwriting/Screen Writing vs. Narration Signing Up Groups Groups Assigned a Section of the Story Script Writing Workshop
Topic:
Questions Answers
Summary:
Introduction to The Mahabharata
Some Facts
The Mahabharata has the honor of being the longest epic in world literature, 100,000 2-line stanzas
8 x larger than the Iliad and the Odyssey combined
3 x larger than the Bible Only about 4000 lines relate to the main story; the
rest contain additional myths and teachings. It is said that “Whatever is here is found
elsewhere. But whatever is not here is nowhere else.”
The Title
The name means “great [story of the] Bharatas.”
Bharata was an early ancestor of both the Pandavas and Kauravas who fight each other in a great war
But the word is also used generically for the Indian race, so the Mahabharata sometimes is referred to as “the great story of India.”
Structure of the Epic
The work is divided into 18 books
The main narrative concerning the war is contained in the first ten books.
The Mahabharata resembles a long journey with many side roads and detours.
Some of the Major ‘Detours’
Bhagavad Gita (Krishna instructs and teaches Arjuna.)
Damayanti (or Nala and Damayanti, a love story.) Krishnavatara (the story of Krishna) Rama (an abbreviated version of the Ramayana.) Rishyasringa (also written as Rshyashrnga, the
horned boy and rishi.) Vishnu sahasranama (the most famous hymn to
Vishnu, which describes His 1000 names.)
Concepts from the Mahabharata
In its scope, the Mahabharata is more than simply a story of kings and princes, sages and wise men, demons and gods; its author, Vyasa, says that one of its aims is expounding the four goals of life: kama (pleasure) artha (wealth) dharma (duty) moksha (liberation). Karma also play an integral role in the
Mahabharata.
Our Study of the Epic
Some of the major sections… Will be read Will be turned into skits and performed Will be viewed
Skit Project Overview
Step 1: Get into groups of four Step 2: Choose a section of the epic to turn
into a performance Step 3: Read & Follow the Skit Project
Handout Read/Study chosen section Discuss section Write a script
Parts of the Epic
1. Ancestors of Pandavas and Kauravas
2. Growing Rivalry b/w Pandavas and Kauravas
3. Arjuna wins the hand of Draupadi
4. The Dice Game and Humiliation of Draupadi
5. The Thirteenth Year
6. The Battle Begins
Skit Evaluation Rubric
Individual Participation Scored Time on task Contribution in the areas of discussion, writing, and
performing Group Participation Scored
Communication Fairness
Product Scored Accurate Interesting/Dramatic Captures most major elements School Appropriate
Tips & Suggestions
Use a combination of dialogue and stage directions
Create a narrator role to narrate some of the events (especially what has just happened and parts you do not want to dramatize)
Write your script in proper format Make sure to write with a blue or black ink
pen (so that it photocopies well)