Questions Answers

1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences based on your understanding of the letter.

a)        Which is considered the oldest work in Tamil? When was it written?

Tolkappiyam is considered the oldest work in tamil. It was written date back to about 200 BCE.

b)       What is the evidence that supports the finding of the oldest Tamil work?

The earliest tamil inscriptions are the evidences that support the finding of the oldest tamil work.

c)        Mention the Tamil works that date to the first two centuries of the current era.

The sangam anthologies and the Pattuppattu are the tamil works that date to the first two centuries of the current era.

d)       Name the great Tamil work that speaks volumes on ethics.

Tirukkural is one of the greatest tamil works that speaks volumes on ethics.

e)        What are the other classical languages mentioned by the author?

Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Persian and Arabic are mentioned by the author.

f)         Can you define and list the themes explored in Tamil Literature? Why?

Tamil literature has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, and its own aesthetics. Because Tamil constitutes the literary tradition indigenous to India that is not derived from Sanskrit.

g)        What is unique about Tamil and its sources?

Tamil is of considerable antiquity. It predates the literatures of other modem Indian languages by more than a thousand years.

h)       Modern Indian languages are productive on earth. Why does the author say so?

Modem Indian languages rose on preexisting traditions rather late and developed in the second millennium. So the author says that modem Indian languages are productive on earth.

i)          Which language is as old as Latin?

Tamil is as old as Latin.

j)          Why is it said that Tamil has the most independent tradition?

It is said that Tamil has the most independent tradition. Because Tamil has no influence from Sanskrit or other languages.

k)       What is the role of Classical Tamil in Modern Tamil and Malayalam?

Classical Tamil is the source language of modem Tamil and Malayalam.

2. Answer the following questions in three or four sentences each.

a)  Supreme works in Tamil elevate it to be treated as sacred as the Vedas. How?

Sanskrit vedas are generally recited in the great Hindu Temples. Tamil has its own works like Devaram and Prabandhms that are considered to be as sacred as the Vedas. They are recited alongside Vedic mantras in the great Vaisnava temples of South India. Thus Supreme works in Tamil elevate it to be treated as sacred as the Vedas.

b)  Tamil is a touchstone to understand the Dravidian’s nature and development. Elucidate.

Tamil is the most conservative of the Dravidian languages. It is the source language of modem Tamil, Malayalam and other Dravidian languages. It is the touchstone that linguists must consult to understand the nature and development of Dravidian.

c) How do you correlate the richness of Tamil language with Indian culture?

Tamil constitutes the only literary tradition indigenous to India. It is not derived from Sanskrit. It shows a sort of Indian sensibility that is quite different from anything in Sansknit or other Indian languages. Tamil contains its own extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition.

3. Answer the following in a paragraph of 100-150 words each.

a) How does the author justify the statement that Tamil is a classical language?

To qualify as a classical tradition, a language must fit several criteria: The language should be ancient. It should be an independent tradition. It arises mostly on its own not as an offshoot of another tradition. It must have extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition. Unlike the other modem languages of India, Tamil meets each of these requirements. Tamil is of the considerable antiquity. It is extremely old (as old as Latin and older than Arabic); It arose as an entirely independent tradition, with almost no influence from Sanskrit or other languages; and its ancient literature is indescribably vast and rich. It has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, its own aesthetics. So it is quite unique. Tholkappiam, Sangam anthologies, Pathupattu are the greatest works of ancient Tamil.

b) Tirukkural is a fine example of an outstanding quality of classical Tamil Literature. Substantiate.

The quality of classical Tamil literature is such that it is fit to stand beside the great literatures of Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Persian and Arabic. The subtlety and profundity of its works, their varied scope and their universality qualify Tamil to stand as one of the greatest classical traditions and literatures of the world. Tirukkural is one of the world’s greatest works on ethics and morality mainly secular ethics. This literature explores and illuminates all the facets of human existence. It contains numberless major varied topics and works which comprises the Tamil classical tradition. It is often called the masterpiece of Tamil Literature, both in its philosophical and literary caliber. The variability in the understanding of the Thirukkural proves its depth and universality. Really Tirukkural is a fine example of an outstanding quality of classical Tamil Literature.

ESSAY

❖ Introduction

❖ Oldest works in Tamil

❖ Criteria for Classical language

❖ Tamil as a classical language

❖ Conclusion

Introduction:

George Luzerne Hart, a professor of Tamil at California university, focuses on classical Tamil literature and on identifying the relationship between Tamil and Sanskrit literature in his work.

Oldest works in Tamil:

Tolkappiyam is considered the oldest work in tamil. It was written date back to about 200 BCE. Tirukkural is one of the greatest tamil works that speaks volumes on ethics. This literature explores and illuminates all the facets of human existence. It contains numberless major varied topics and works which comprises the Tamil classical tradition.

Criteria for Classical language:

To qualify as a classical tradition, the language should be ancient. It should be an independent tradition. It must have extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition.

Tamil as a classical language:

Tamil is of the considerable antiquity. It is as old as Latin and older than Arabic. It arose as an entirely independent tradition. It has no influence from Sanskrit or other languages. Its ancient literature is indescribably vast and rich. It has its own poetic theory, its own grammatical tradition, its own aesthetics. So it is quite unique. Tholkappiam, Sangam anthologies, Pathupattu are the greatest works of ancient Tamil.

Conclusion:

Thus Tamil language contains its own extremely rich and vast intellectual tradition.

Tamil is the oldest living classical language which is personified as God