This interview discusses the transmission and narratology of the Ramayana. John Brockington explores the epic with substantiated insights and observations, revealing essential aspects of the Ramayana’s narratology and transmission that are often overlooked. The transmission of the epic occurred across diverse times, places, cultures, and philosophies, drawing parallels with epics like the Iliad and Odyssey. Brockington extensively covers the historical context and the causality of developments. The transmission of the epic occurs through different means such as oral, written, and performative accounts. Narratology analyses the themes, character development, and narrative structures of the epic. This interview offers a comprehensive exploration of narratology incorporating themes such as dharma, devotion, kingship, and moral ambiguity. It traces the evolution of characters like Ram and Sita, and shifts in narrative structures across eras from the Valmiki Ramayana to later devotional variants like Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas. Brockington provides researchers with a practical framework for textual analysis and comparative studies. He emphasises understanding cultural adaptations, especially in academic circles of literature, anthropology, and performance studies. Finally, he reaffirms its profound and living significance to the world through art and literature.
S et al. (2026) studied this question.