Extra Credit Reading Notes - Ramayana Part D

Plot Outline 

A breakdown of the plot of specifically Part D of the Tiny Tales of the Ramayana. 

(The Combat of Rama and Ravana, late 18th century, shown on the Met Museum website)

Exposition 

Ravana finds out that Rama is still alive and both sides prepare for war. Both parties meet near Lanka and a few of Ravana's underlings came out to fight the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, but they all end up dying 

Rising Action 

#1 - Finally, after all his other plans had failed Ravana faced Rama on the battlefield. Rama ended up winning after and his wives mourned and buried him 

#2 - Sita is brought before Rama and he doubts her loyalty. He basically tells her to leave forever. She is taken aback and demands Lakshmana to build a fire. After praying to Agni the fire-god to demonstrate her loyalty she stepped into the fire and was not harmed, proving her loyalty. 

#3 - The group returns home from exile and Rama is crown king and Sita as queen, shortly after Sita is pregnant 

#4 - People in his kingdom are gossiping about Sita and about how she was "living" in another man's house, and that they did not understand why Rama took her back. I do not understand this part at all. Rama feels ashamed and asks his brothers to bring her to one of the forest ashrams and leave her there. His brother does not like it but does it. 

#5 - Sita lives the rest of her life at the forest ashram and gives birth to twin boys. Rama does not meet them until much later. 

#6 - The twins grow up and are beautiful singers. They sing for King Rama and he suspects who they are and ask them to bring their mother to prove herself again 

Climax 

Sita goes up to meet Rama and when asked to prove her loyalty again she now asks to be taken down into the ground if she was always loyal. The earth-goddess reached up and took her into the earth and Rama did not see her again. I think this was fitting because after how he treated her he does not deserve her, in life or after. After Sita disappears Rama takes his sons in and names them princes of the throne. 

Falling Action 

Rama is regretful and refuses to remarry and creates golden statues of Sita to do holy rituals with. After his reign has come to an end he first tries to give the throne to his brother Bharata, who refuses, and he eventually gave the throne to his twin sons. He then returned to his form as Vishnu and returned to heaven. 

Bibliography 

Gibbs, L. (2021). Ramayana. Retrieved 29 March 2021, from https://sites.google.com/view/tinyramayana/home?authuser=0