Reading Notes: Tiny Tales Ramayana, Part B

Ravana Kidnaps Sita - These reading notes will focus on Page 8 of the Tiny Tales Ramayana, which describe Ravana crafting his plot and then carrying it out to kidnap Sita

Plot:

1) Exposition: Technically, the fault for this kidnapping rests with Shurpanakha and Lakshmana. Shurpanakha, the sister of Ravana, falls violently in love with Rama at first sight. She does not handle the rejection well at all, especially after Lakshmana also rejects her, so she decides to try to kill Sita. Lakshmana decides to mutilate Shurpanakha's face instead of simply pushing her away or knocking her unconscious, which I felt was very unnecessary. There is some sort of supernatural connection between her and Ravana, so three of Ravana's heads fall off when his sister is injured.

2) Rising Action: Shurpanakha sends her rakshasa cousins Khara and Dushana to attack Rama and Lakshmana, which fails miserably. One of the rakshasas manages to get word to Ravana about who attacked his sister, and he also gives Ravana the inspiration to kidnap Sita. To help with his plan, Ravana gets Maricha to take the form of a golden deer to act as bait for Rama. However, Sita actually sees the deer first, and she convinces Rama to go catch it for her.

(Image Info: Gold deer by Elekes Andor, no changes; Source: Wikimedia; License: here)

3) Climax: Sita and Lakshmana hear the voice of Rama calling for help, and Sita convinces Lakshmana to leave her alone. Lakshmana tells Sita not to leave a certain area around the hut until he returns, which must have had some sort of magic spell attached, but that was not explained in detail. Of course, Sita doesn't listen to this advice at all because she apparently does not have the common sense to avoid feeding an old man who randomly approaches the hut when she is all alone. Ravana is the old man, of course, and he easily kidnaps her and flies away.

4) Falling Action: The helpful bird Jatanyu fights Ravana, but ultimately he dies trying.

5) Resolution: Ravana continues flying away with Sita uninterrupted.

Bibliography: Part B, Page 8, Stories 72-80 of Tiny Tales from the Ramayana by Laura Gibbs