Malayalam Literature

Section A: Early phase of Malayalam Language

• Various theories : Origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
• Relation between Tamil and Malayalam : Six nayas of A. R. Rajarajavarma.
• Pattu School—Definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works—Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

Linguistic features of

• Manipravalam—definition.
• Language of early manipravala works—Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works.
• Later manipravala works—medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
• Folklore—Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
• Early Malayalam Prose—Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

Standardisation of Malayalam

• Peculiarities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.
• Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
• Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam
• Malayalam as administrative language.
• Language of scientific and technical literature—media language.

Section B: Literary History: Ancient and Medieval Literature

• Pattu—Ramacharitam, Niranam Works and Krishnagatha.
• Manipravalam—early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
• Folk Literature.
• Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

Modern Literature—Poetry

• Venmani poets and contemporaries.
• The advent of Romanticism—Poetry of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol.
• Poetry after Kavitraya.
• Modernism in Malayalam Poetry.

Modern Literature—Prose

• Drama.
• Novel.
• Short story.
• Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.

• This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed and is designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Section A: Unit 1

• Ramacharitam—Patalam 1.
• Kannassaramayanam—Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
• Unnunilisandesam—Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana.
• Mahabharatham Kilippattu—Bhishmaparvam.

Unit 2

• Kumaran Asan—Chintavisthayaya Sita.
• Vailoppilli—Kutiyozhikkal.
• G. Sankara Kurup—Perunthachan.
• N. V. Krishna Variar—Tivandiyile pattu.

Unit 3

• O. N. V.—Bhumikkoru Charamagitam.
• Ayyappa Panicker—Kurukshetram.
• Akkittam—Pandatha Messanthi.
• Attur Ravivarma—Megharupan.

Section B: Unit 4

• O. Chanthu Menon—Indulekha.
• Thakazhy—Chemmin.
• O. V. Vijayan—Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

Unit 5

• M. T. Vasudevan Nair—Vanaprastham (Collection).
• N. S. Madhavan—Higvitta (Collection).
• C. J. Thomas—1128-il Crime 27.

Unit 6

• Kuttikrishna Marar—Bharataparyatanam.
• M. K. Sanu—Nakshatrangalute Snehabhajanam.
• V. T. Bhatttathirippad—Kannirum Kinavum.