Question

The Ramayana: Based on this selection, which of the following statements best describes an aspect of the poem’s structure?

133 With Ocean, Ra´ma’s interview; 134 The bridge that Nala o’er it threw. 135 The crossing, and the sitting down 136 At night round Lanka´’s royal town. 137 The treaty with Vibhi´shan made: 138 The plan for Ra´vana’s slaughter laid. 139 How Kumbhakarna in his pride 140 And Meghana´da fought and died. 141 How Ra´vana in the fight was slain, 142 And captive Si´ta´ brought again. 143 Vibhi´shan set upon the throne; 144 The flying chariot Pushpak shown. 145 How Brahma´ and the Gods appeared, 146 And Si´ta´’s doubted honour cleared.
A. The poem is divided into stanzas with equal numbers of lines.
B. The poem has an irregular meter and an irregular rhyme scheme.
C. The poem punctuates the end of most lines to suggest different types of pauses.
D. The poem uses periods and capitalization within the lines to indicate scene shifts.

Answer 1

The structure of the Ramayana features the use of periods and capitalization within lines to suggest scene shifts, which underscores the epic's episodic nature and aids in narrative clarity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the selection provided from the Ramayana, it suggests an aspect of the poem's structure that incorporates periods and capitalization within lines to indicate scene shifts or significant narrative progressions. Each line or couplet represents a distinct event or action in the story, such as the building of a bridge, the siege of a city, or a battle between characters. This structural choice underscores the episodic nature of the epic, with each line almost serving as a shorthand for a larger, more expansive narrative that unfolds throughout the epic poem. This form of structure allows the readers to receive key information in a compacted manner, making it easier to follow the story's progression.