*Note: This post does not apply to the current syllabus. New reading material has been selected.
Many of my friends did not want to take up Tamil Literature, saying that Tamil alone was sufficient, too many subjects were a burden and it was a waste of time as you are not going to use it unless your career plans are going in that direction. I've heard it all.
As for Tamil Lit. SPM 2007 onwards, 3 books are to be studied : -
1. A novel - Ponn Vilangu by N. Paarthasaarathy
2. A drama - Kaaviya Naayagi by R.Palanisamy
3. 14 Poems - Kavithei Poongkothu compiled by S. Seeni Naina Mohd.
I'll discuss the formats in a separate post.
1. The novel
The author speaks of a young man in India, how he faces personal challenges and social pressure as he is from a middle-class family, his well-built character and weaknesses (yes, he is not perfect) and how he deals with the people around him.
Frankly, I am not one to just pick up a 600+ page novel. By studying this novel, it not only gave me a change in perspective but I also learnt how to analyse reading materials. The character, the decisions they make, their social settings that define them, etc.
Clearly, the author introduces the different classes in a society and how far people are willing to go to achieve their goals, be it the protagonist or the antagonist. The story line itself has its twists and turns as readers cannot expect anything. A tragic ending it has but reality speaks through the author's work.
Beautiful quotes and critical thinking abilities are showcased. This way, I learnt of scholars (the protagonist is an avid reader of Tamil books), their thoughts and how rich the language is. Every event is something worth thinking. I definitely learnt not to accept things at the surface level but to think and think about why, how, who, etc.
2. The drama
It is set during the reign of the great kings, Seran, Sozhan and Paandiyan. Using a female poet as the centre of his piece, the writer narrates using flashbacks in a post-war time.
By reading this book, it was as if I had been transported back in time, where knights on horses and great kings ruled huge empires and protected their people by all means. Treason, love, loyalty, courage, etc. is clearly brought up, adding to the flavour.
By the time you finish this book, you would have a better glimpse of that era, how great wars were started, kings that rose and fell, ministers who tried to overthrow their king, etc.
The script talks about a young female poet who seeks justice for her husband, the Seran king, after a war. Her plight is brought up to the Sozhan king who had just won the war by stabbing his enemy in the chest but, the sword goes in through and through until it reaches the Seran king's back. It is said that only a coward will have a wound in his back as he would have been trying to escape when he was stabbed. Ashamed that he will be seen as a coward, the Seran king dies in the battlefield after asking his wife to seek justice in his name.
The script showcases alot of traditions, many that are unknown by today's generation, and family ties that hold strong even in stormy weathers.
3. The poems
All 14 poems are written by various poets from India and Malaysia. Using a wide array of themes, the poems have been carefully selected for the students to be exposed to. From loyalty to the country, to the love of the Tamil language, the poems instil values and bring about a different view of the world.
Honestly, some poems are tougher to understand than others. This is where enhancement of vocabulary comes in. By using a simple guide written by S. Seeni Naina Mohd. himself, students will be able to understand the poems word for word.
One of the new things that I've learnt by analysing the poems are the rules used to write them. Who would have thought that so much energy is given to writing each and every word and line. The poems have underlying meanings which are not easily detected by one on the first read, thus the interest to study it evolves.
When I was studying these poems, I used to think how much others were losing out by not knowing all of these. I realised that not many are aware of the properties used to write a traditional poem, a heritage that was not properly passed down. I do still feel grateful for being exposed to the wonders of the language and one day, hope to pass it on.
Many of my friends did not want to take up Tamil Literature, saying that Tamil alone was sufficient, too many subjects were a burden and it was a waste of time as you are not going to use it unless your career plans are going in that direction. I've heard it all.
As for Tamil Lit. SPM 2007 onwards, 3 books are to be studied : -
1. A novel - Ponn Vilangu by N. Paarthasaarathy
2. A drama - Kaaviya Naayagi by R.Palanisamy
3. 14 Poems - Kavithei Poongkothu compiled by S. Seeni Naina Mohd.
I'll discuss the formats in a separate post.
1. The novel
The author speaks of a young man in India, how he faces personal challenges and social pressure as he is from a middle-class family, his well-built character and weaknesses (yes, he is not perfect) and how he deals with the people around him.
Frankly, I am not one to just pick up a 600+ page novel. By studying this novel, it not only gave me a change in perspective but I also learnt how to analyse reading materials. The character, the decisions they make, their social settings that define them, etc.
Clearly, the author introduces the different classes in a society and how far people are willing to go to achieve their goals, be it the protagonist or the antagonist. The story line itself has its twists and turns as readers cannot expect anything. A tragic ending it has but reality speaks through the author's work.
Beautiful quotes and critical thinking abilities are showcased. This way, I learnt of scholars (the protagonist is an avid reader of Tamil books), their thoughts and how rich the language is. Every event is something worth thinking. I definitely learnt not to accept things at the surface level but to think and think about why, how, who, etc.
2. The drama
It is set during the reign of the great kings, Seran, Sozhan and Paandiyan. Using a female poet as the centre of his piece, the writer narrates using flashbacks in a post-war time.
By reading this book, it was as if I had been transported back in time, where knights on horses and great kings ruled huge empires and protected their people by all means. Treason, love, loyalty, courage, etc. is clearly brought up, adding to the flavour.
By the time you finish this book, you would have a better glimpse of that era, how great wars were started, kings that rose and fell, ministers who tried to overthrow their king, etc.
The script talks about a young female poet who seeks justice for her husband, the Seran king, after a war. Her plight is brought up to the Sozhan king who had just won the war by stabbing his enemy in the chest but, the sword goes in through and through until it reaches the Seran king's back. It is said that only a coward will have a wound in his back as he would have been trying to escape when he was stabbed. Ashamed that he will be seen as a coward, the Seran king dies in the battlefield after asking his wife to seek justice in his name.
The script showcases alot of traditions, many that are unknown by today's generation, and family ties that hold strong even in stormy weathers.
3. The poems
All 14 poems are written by various poets from India and Malaysia. Using a wide array of themes, the poems have been carefully selected for the students to be exposed to. From loyalty to the country, to the love of the Tamil language, the poems instil values and bring about a different view of the world.
Honestly, some poems are tougher to understand than others. This is where enhancement of vocabulary comes in. By using a simple guide written by S. Seeni Naina Mohd. himself, students will be able to understand the poems word for word.
One of the new things that I've learnt by analysing the poems are the rules used to write them. Who would have thought that so much energy is given to writing each and every word and line. The poems have underlying meanings which are not easily detected by one on the first read, thus the interest to study it evolves.
When I was studying these poems, I used to think how much others were losing out by not knowing all of these. I realised that not many are aware of the properties used to write a traditional poem, a heritage that was not properly passed down. I do still feel grateful for being exposed to the wonders of the language and one day, hope to pass it on.
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