Narrative Structure in the Pathinen Keelkanakku Texts

பதினெண் கீழ்க்கணக்கு நூல்களில் கதைப்பின்னல்

Abstract

Among the Tamil literary works that followed the Sangam period, the Pathinen Keelkanakku texts hold a significant place. The term Pathinen Keelkanakku does not mean “lowly texts.” According to textual studies, these works often employ simple and concise language, primarily in plain meter or venpa forms, to convey the essential moral, economic, and emotional truths. The quality of storytelling in these texts relies heavily on the narrative structure, which forms the backbone of the tales. This article aims to explore the presence and nature of narrative structures within the Pathinen Keelkanakku texts.