Epics of India

Figure 1:  Jaka Battles Meindas Personal File Far away, by a remote village, next to a dark forest, where a terrible serpent once lived, a dragon circled overhead. An eagle and snake chimera the length of a house, its mouth dripped of venom; a true dragon. The dragon rears back in fury, just in time for Jaka to bury the blade of his sword into the roof of its mouth, killing it. It had been 15 years since Jaka Singh had met the great lion and slain the serpent in the woods. In that time, he had grown tall and broad-shouldered. His head was ringed with a dark mane of hair. He was clothed in a scale and padded armor, and a lion pelt was tied around his waist. In hand was his legendary sword, forged from the claw of the great lion. Villagers come to marvel at his latest victory, and naturally he removes his shirt and flexes for the crowd. After all, how can justice exist when the people could not admire his battle forged body? This time, only one rock was cast at...

Figure 1:  A Lion and a Wolf  Max Pixel If I had to write a different story, I think that I would like to write a variant of "The Foolhardy Wolf" using lion boy again. I would prefer to write using lion boy, specifically because he is my character, and I am much more comfortable messing with his character than using an established character. I'd also like him to be more of a mentor to the wolf, rather than sending him to die. I also really like that sword. I'll have Jaka Singh coach the wolf character in the slaying of monsters and dragons. I think I'll make the wolf more serious and focused while writing Jaka as a big ham. More Jataka Tales  by Ellen C. Babbit

Figure 1:  Depiction of a Battle  Wikimedia I think I would like to write a story about how the monkey saves his troop. Specifically, I want to reuse the lion boy from my first story. I think that casting him in the role of a leader would be a nice form of progression for his character.  I also want an opportunity to use his unique claw sword again. I'll mention that he has been killing dragons during the time that he has been growing up, and open with that before an enemy kingdom comes to conqueror his small village for its mangoes. Obviously, I'll make the king a cannibal and a fruit obsessed madman. Lion boy (Jaka Singh) will then evacuate his village, before doing battle with the enemy army and defeating much of them. He will then tell them to run, lest they suffer the fate of a penny-wise monkey. He will tell them not to try to get so little, causing them to back off. More Jataka Tales  by Ellen C. Babbit

Figure 1:  Bow and Arrow  Pixabay "It’s not too late to turn back. You can let go of your anger." said Arjuna, bow in hand. "Silence Arjuna, the Pandus are spoiled and this is my day of retribution!" says Karna, sneering and pointing his finger into Arjuna's face. Karna growls to Arjuna "I will rain down every punishment upon you that I can imagine. I will make you pay for everything that you've done to me.". And with that statement, Karna leaps at Arjuna bow drawn and arrow nocked. Arjuna hunches down, lowering his weight and shifting his left foot back, ready to dodge the impending attack. Karna looses his arrow, but Arjuna lunges right and Karna's arrow goes whistling past his ear.  Arjuna and Karna simultaneously nock their bows and strafe each other. Karna, mad with bloodlust shoots first, but Arjuna dodges again and shoots his own arrow at Karna. Karna narrowly ducks the attack and runs, weaving between trees, rocks, and other ...

Figure 1:  Karna Fights Arjuna  Flickr Wilson's realistic style makes for some interesting combat. I think I'll try to emulate that. I think I'll try rewriting Arjuna and Karna's battle in this manner. I'd also like for Karna's character to be relevant to the battle, making it clear how bitter and resentful he is. Maybe I should model his personality after Elliot Rodger. I'd like to focus the writing at describing the basic events in an intelligible and detailed manner. After learning to do this competently, I think I'll try more stylized writing. I don't think I've done an archer battle ye. I've done a gun battle, but not an archer battle. That sounds like something fun to attempt The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu  Richard Wilson

Figure 1:  Karna's Battle  Flickr The element of this story that I enjoyed the most was Karna's characterization as a bitter, slighted warrior. Its very understandable that he acts in the villainous manner that he does, but his actions till cause substantial harm. His behavior during his initial offences were admirable; he manages to remain calm and polite. However, I wish that his seething anger was better conveyed. As it is, the text relies a bit too much for the audience to realize why Karna is so angry. I think I would like to write a scene where Karna remains calm after being insulted, only to explode as soon as he is out of view. I'll have him do something really disturbing and scary, show off his combat prowess and generally have fun. The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu Richard Wilson

1. Looking back. Are you happy with your progress so far? What are you most proud of? Do you have a good weekly routine? What are the class assignments that you enjoy the most? Are you using any of the extra credit options? How have things gone in terms of developing your blog and building your website?  In terms of completing coursework I find my progress to be adequate. I am not particularly proud of any of my work. My weekly routine is fried due to factors external to this class. I do not particularly enjoy any of the assignments. I am no using any of the extra credit options, mostly because I'm lazy. In terms of developing my blog and website, I am ambivalent. As such, "how things have  gone" is a somewhat empty statement to me.  2. Looking forward. Are there any changes you want to make for the second half of the semester? Any pitfalls you want to avoid? Something new you want to try in your writing? Anything you want to change about your blog or your projec...

1. Feedback in . Overall, how would you rate the quality of the comments and feedback you are receiving from other students in the class? What kinds of comments are you finding to be the most useful?  I find that feedback falls into three categories. Feedback from people who are just trying to complete an assignment, people who are genuinely trying to offer genuine feedback, and people who are trying to offer genuine feedback, but are not good writers themselves, and do not know what to optimize for. I find that the most useful feedback is from people who are willing to speak their minds and offer concrete criticism, usually on grammar or homophone misuse, since those are concrete things that should definitely be optimized for.   2. Feedback out . Similarly, how would you rate the quality of the comments and feedback you are leaving for other students? Have you found some good feedback strategies? Are you getting some good ideas for your own writing as you analyz...

Overall, how well are the reading and writing assignments working for you? Existence is pain. Nothing is worth living for. Are you happy with your blog? With your project website? Considering how poorly I react to significant quantities  of attention, my poorly regulated ego, and my tendency to make incriminating and idiotic statements, I intend to never publish anything online again without complete anonymity. I wouldn't be happy with my blog if it contained the solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations, and I want nothing to do with blogging ever again.  Are you satisfied with how the writing is going for your project? How about your story posts? Considering that my writing cannot even be considered competent, I am not happy with any of the stories. However, I do seem to be improving, so that's something to be happy about I guess. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment(s) in your writing for this class?  Restraining myself f...