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Lesson 1 (from Book 1, Bhagavadgita: Chapter 1, The Distress of Arjuna)

Objective

Book 1, Bhagavadgita: Chapter 1, The Distress of Arjuna

In The Bhagavad Gita, the story of Arjuna and Sri Krishna is told by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra. This lesson will explore the influence of this particular narrative choice on the work as a whole.

Lesson

1) NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: Discuss different traditional methods of constructing a narrative with the class, briefly outlining each.

2) Class Discussion: The story of Arjuna and Sri Krishna comes to the reader through Sanjaya's account to Dhritarashtra of the events that transpired on the "field of dharma." This is a a very specific way of relating the story. How does this choice influence the reader's perspective? How does it make the reader feel?

3) Small Group Discussion: In groups of 3 or 4, discuss how the Bhagavad Gita would be different if the story were narrated by Krishna? What about Arjuna? What about an unidentified, omniscient narrator?

4) In-Class Writing: Write...

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