Topic Research: Week 3

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For this week's project assignment, I wanted to focus on the Ramayana Zoo because I think that is my favorite of my ideas so far. This idea would be where I focus on the animals in the Indian Epics and tell a little about them, whether that be a mythical story or some facts about the foods they eat and climate they live in.

Story 1
Pashu: Animal Tales from Hindu Mythology 

This is a book that would be really helpful for this project. It is a collection of many animal stories. One that I would like to use is the story about Rama's squirrels. It tells about how the squirrels helped build a bridge from India to Sri Lanka and how they got two stripes down their back. Maybe I could even have the squirrels from the Ramayana come all the way to Norman to duel with the squirrels we have on campus.

Story 2
Jambavan
Jambavan is the King of Bears in the Ramayana. I could work him into my story by making him the king of the Ramayana Zoo. I am not sure if I would make him a good or bad king though. If he was bad, the other animals at the zoo could revolt against him.

Story 3
Suvannamaccha
Suvannamaccha is Hanuman's lover in the Ramayana. She is a mermaid. My idea for this story would be like the movie, The Shape of Water. In my story I could have Suvannamaccha being enclosed at a zoo or aquarium and Hanuman would break her out and all the other animals.