PAPER – I

(Answers must be written in Malayalam)

Section A

1- Early phase of Malayalam Language :

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

2-Linguistic features of :

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

3-Standardisation of Malayalam :

3.1 Peculiarities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.
3.2 Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
3.3 Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam; Malayalam as administrative language. Language of scientific and technical literature-media language.

Section B

LITERARY HISTORY

4-Ancient and Medieval Literature :

4.1 Pattu-Ramacharitam, Niranam Works and Krishnagatha.
4.2 Manipravalam-early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
4.3 Folk Literature.
4.4 Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

5-Modern Literature-Poetry :

5.1 Venmani poets and contemporaries.
5.2 The advent of Romanticism-Poetry of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol.
5.3 Poetry after Kavitraya.
5.4 Modernism in Malayalam Poetry.

6-Modern Literature-Prose :

6.1 Drama.
6.2 Novel.
6.3 Short story.
6.4 Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.