Book: R.K. Narayan, The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2000.

Attempt one question: 50 points

I: What are the major underlying themes in the Mahabharata?

II. What is the implication of ‘dharma’ in the Mahabharata? 

III. What is the allegorical significance of the war? 

The format of your essay:

Your essay should include the following:

• A title

• A clear thesis

• A clear introduction

• A clear direction

• A clear conclusion

• At least two direct quotes from the text

• Do some analysis

Your essay should be 3-4 pages in length and should be argumentative rather than descriptive.

Give at least two quotes from the book in your response essay.

When quoting the author, please use the following citation style:

R.K.Narayan The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version of the Indian Epic, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2000, page number.

Please bring a hard copy of your essay to class on 9/28, and send it to me as an attachment on webcourses. 

In class section - 

Section II Attempt any one of these questions:   25 points

I: Evaluate the contributions of the Indus Valley civilization in the history of South Asia. 

II: Discuss the importance of Indo-Aryans in the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent. 

Section III: Short answers (25 points)

Five out of eight will be on the test, and  for each person, place, term, event etc give:

• Significance/Contribution in terms of date, definition, function etc

Vedas, Nirvana,  Caste System, Pashupati Siva,  Harappa, Mother Goddess, Sapta Sindhu,  Indo-Aryans.

If you have any questions, please let me know.