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Impressions
This anthology of accessible written and visual texts provides sets of activities for Years 7-8 English students which bring rich insights into diverse Asia and opportunities to enhance speaking and listening, reading and viewing, and writing skills.
Alignment to the Australian Curriculum is provided for resource activities.
- Index
- The Author of The Ramayana
Impressions: The Author of The Ramayana
What To Do
- The text for this task is found in the biographies section of the Free India Website: http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/valmiki/. Under the heading 'Maharshi Valmiki', you will find a short statement about Valmiki. Click on the [Next] links of at the bottom of this and the next page to read more about Valmiki and the story of how he came to write the Ramayama. Compare this description with what is provided in Wikipedia as a biography of Valmiki.
- Prepare a class presentation explaining the importance of the story about Valmiki and his work. Consider the questions below:
Reading for Understanding
- Do you think that this story of Valmiki is a biography? Why/why not?
- Rama is a god, so are his unusual powers believable?
- Why do you think Valmiki's story sounds almost as 'magical' as Rama's? Is this because Valmiki, a mortal, through his efforts brings himself closer to Rama, a god?
- How did Valmiki first make his living?
- What did his wife say when he asked her if he should continue in this 'work'? Did she tell him what he should do?
- What was his decision?
- How does this story tell us about the importance of people taking responsibility for improving their lives?
- 100 million Indians watched the TV series of the Ramayana in the 1980's
Why do you think the Ramayana is still important to many Indians today?
