Tamil Literature

Section A — Part 1: History of Tamil Language

• Major Indian Language Families—The place of Tamil among Indian Languages in general and Dravidian in particular—Enumeration and Distribution of Dravidian languages.
• The language of Sangam Literature—The language of medieval Tamil : Pallava Period only—Historical study of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs—Tense markers and case markers in Tamil.
• Borrowing of words from other languages into Tamil—Regional and social dialects—difference between literary and spoken Tamil.

Section A — Part 2 : History of Tamil Literature

• Tolkappiyam-Sangam Literature—The division of Akam and Puram—The secular characteristics of Sangam Literature—The development of Ethical literature—Silappadikaram and Manimekalai.

Section A — Part 3 : Devotional Literature (Alwars and Nayanamars)

• The bridal mysticism in Alwar hymns—Minor literary forms (Tutu, Ula, Parani, Kuravanji).
• Social factors for the development of Modern Tamil Literature
• Novel, Short Story and New Poetry—The impact of various political ideologies on modern writings.

Section B — Part 1 : Recent trends in Tamil Studies

• Approaches to criticism : Social, psychological, historical and moralistic—the use of criticism—the various techniques in literature
• Ullurai, Iraicchi, Thonmam (Myth) Otturuvagam (allegory), Angadam (Satire), Meyappadu, Padimam (image), Kuriyeedu (Symbol), Irunmai (Ambiguity)—The concept of comparative literature-the principle of comparative literature.

Section B — Part 2 : Folk literature in Tamil

• Ballads, Songs, proverbs and riddles—Sociological study of Tamil folklore.
• Uses of translation—Translation of Tamil works into other languages-Development of journalism in Tamil.

Section B — Part 3 : Cultural Heritage of the Tamils

• Concept of Love and War—Concept of Aram-the ethical codes adopted by the ancient Tamils in their warfare-customs beliefs, rituals, modes of worship in the five Thinais.
• The Cultural changes as revealed in post sangam literature—cultural fusion in the medieval period (Jainism and Buddhism).
• The development of arts and architecture through the ages (Pallavas, later Cholas, and Nayaks).
• The impact of various political, social, religious and cultural movements on Tamil Society.
• The role of mass media in the cultural change of contemporary Tamil society.

• The paper will require first-hand reading of the text prescribed and will be designed to test thecritical ability of the candidate.

Section A — Part 1 : Ancient Literature

• Kuruntokai (1—25 poems)
• Purananuru (182—200 poems)
• Tirukkural Porutpal : Arasiyalum Amaichiyalum (from Iraimatchi to Avaianjamai).

Section A — Part 2 : Epic Literature

• Silappadikaram : Madhurai Kandam only.
• Kambaramayanam : Kumbakarunan Vadhai Padalam.

Section A — Part 3 : Devotional Literature

• Tiruvasagam : Neetthal Vinnappam
• Tiruppavai : (Full Text).

Section B — Modern Literature — Part 1 : Poetry

• Bharathiar : Kannan Pattu
• Bharathidasan : Kudumba Vilakku
• Naa.
• Kamarasan : Karappu Malarkal

Section B — Modern Literature — Prose

• Mu. Varadharajanar : Aramum Arasiyalum
• C. N. Annadurai : Ye! Thazhntha Tamilagame.

Section B — Modern Literature — Part 2 : Novel, Short Story and Drama

• Akilon
• Chittairappavai
• Jayakanthan : Gurupeedam
• Cho : Yaurkkum Vetkamillai

Section B — Modern Literature — Part 3 : Folk Literature

• Muthuppattan kathai Edited by Na. Vanamamalai, (Publication : Madurai Kamaraj University).
• Malaiyaruvi, Edited by Ki. Va Jagannathan (Publication : Saraswathi Mahal, Thanjavur).