Storytelling Week 2

Some time ago, there was a king named Dasharatha. He was king of a city called Ayodhay. One day while ruling over his kingdom, he realized how lonely he was. He thought and thought, it took him a long time, but he finally realized the root of his loneliness. Dasharatha's problem was that he had no children. After a long while, he began to ask the gods, even beg them to give him children. Ultimately, they refused. They told Dasharatha that their refusal was due to a problem they had which was of greater importance. After asking what was needed, the gods told Dasharatha that they needed a Demon named Ravana to be defeated. They informed him that Ravana possessed ten heads, which would make it an extremely difficult task. The gods also informed Dasharatha that the only being that can defeat Ravana is that of a normal human being and if he could deliver they would award him with children of his own. A few days passed, however, after much consideration Dasharatha decided to take the gods up on their offer. Dasharatha spent weeks doing research. After compiling all of his data, he was prepared for the epic battle that would pursue. He found that the demon, Ravana, is easily susceptible to and easily distracted by fire. To make the most of this, he gathered many torches and hand made many spears with which he could light the spear tips and throw in order to further distract some of the heads of the demon. His research also showed that the necks of each head of the demon were extremely weak to steel material. In order to make the most of this, he crafted many throwing blades and arrows for his bow crafted from the purest steel that he had access to. Once all of his supplies and materials were gathered and his pack was full of the weaponry that he decided on, Dasharatha set out on his journey. Before leaving, the gods blessed him. With the blessings of the gods, Dasharatha now had a heightened sense of touch, smell, and feel, while also having increased agility and strength. Upon arriving at the cave within which Ravana resided, Ravana came outside. The demon laughed allowed at Dasharatha telling him that he had heard the tales of some mortal coming to attempt to defeat him, but he told Dasharatha that he never imagined it being someone so puny. Ravana did not realize how much preparation Dasharatha had taken and the battle only lasted an hour. Dasharatha had won. Upon arrival back to Ayodhay, the gods were waiting. They thanked him and for his completion of the quest by rewarding him the children that they said they would. Years went by and Dasharatha was never again lonely.

Author's note: While keeping the basis of the story pretty much the same, I did change the fact that Dasharatha defeated the demon on his own and that he was rewarded with children for this by the gods. I just started typing and the story basically came out on its own, hope you enjoy.

(Ravana, Source)

Bibliography: Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana

Week 1 Storytelling: The Stork With A Downfall

There once was a stork, his name was Henley. Henley the stork was an honest being, one that followed the rules, however, he had a very big downfall. This downfall of his was one caused by the good inside. This downfall of his was trying to find the good in everyone.

One day a flock of cranes came along with intent to get him in trouble. The cranes came along and began talking to Henley and they had a plan. Henley was wary of the cranes saying, “You are no good,” and “I know that you cranes do nothing but cause trouble.” Henley had no intentions of doing their bidding, but the cranes were smooth. They used their words and manipulation to target Henley; they knew exactly what they were doing. It did not take long before Henley’s downfall starting playing its role. As the cranes kneading away at him with their smooth words, Henley began to falter. He began asking them questions, the questions they knew exactly how to answer. It was a trick of their trade; the cranes knew how to talk to get Henley to fall. After minutes of conversation Henley began to think that maybe the cranes were not all that bad, maybe people had been far too harsh about them. Henley was about to find out how wrong he was.

Upon the end of the conversation the cranes asked Henley if he would come along with them. Although he was hesitant, he decided to go. The party of birds went to visit a newly planted field. Upon arrival, Henley saw that he was very wrong. The cranes began to steal and plunder everything that they could. When Henley decided that he could not be a part of this, it was too late.

As he tried to fly away he realized he was stuck in the farmer’s net. He begged and pleaded with the farmer pointing out that he was a stork, which he was honest and of good character and that he did not realize what the plan of the cranes was. Though the farmer knew, he told Henley this, “You are a good bird, but your company is not. Though you are a good bird, people believe you to be what you surround yourself with. Because of this, you must suffer the consequences all the same and hopefully next time you will think twice.”

(The Stork With A Downfall)

Author's Note. This story comes from a fable titled "The Farmer and The Stork" which can be found in the book The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Lang and illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke (1897). The fable is about a stork who learns that you are perceived to be the same as who and what you surround yourself with. However, in order to make the story my own, I included parts that were not in the original such as background information between the cranes and the stork.