Characters and Expression in Narrinai

நற்றிணையில் கதைமாந்தரும் எடுத்துரைப்பும்

Abstract

Ancient Tamil literature stands as a precursor to modern literature. The thematic richness and literary techniques found in these classical works are the reasons for their pioneering status. Modern literary traditions have begun to adopt the same methods and conventions followed by ancient Tamil works. Among these literary elements, characters (kathaimanthar) play an indispensable role not only in later literature but also in Sangam literature. The nature and quality of a literary work are often understood through the characters it portrays. In agam (interior) literature, the names of characters are generally not mentioned. Similarly, modern literature today often presents characters using pronouns or indirect references rather than explicit naming. Characters are central to conveying literary ideas, and they occupy a significant position in text and interpretation.