Teacher Packets

In this unit, students are introduced to the basic background of Balinese Hinduism and to one of its main texts, the Ramayana. Students compare visual and literary analyses of the main characters, and explore a key Balinese theme—that opposing forces must exist to keep harmony in the universe. In Bali, good and evil, or “good guys” and “bad guys,” take on a different meaning from the usage with which students may be familiar. Good guys are at times bad; bad guys are at times good. These counterparts are equally valued, as both must exist to maintain balance in the universe. Students will find evidence of this principle in the stories and art of Bali, and apply it to today’s world by imagining their own characters and bringing them to life through art, performance, and music.