Motives and Trends of Tamil Medieval Literature

Abstract

There is innumerable literature that have appeared in our Tamil language which is the most ancient language in the world. Tamil literature has reached various stages of development from the Tholkappiyar period to the twentieth century. During the Sangam period, Sangam literature, Sangam literature during the Maruviya period, epics during the Chola period and Medieval literature during the Nayakas period were well understood. Each period in which Tamil literature appeared reflected the social, political, cultural and economic backgrounds of the time. Literature also needs to change according to social background as time goes on. It is the literature that appears to bring about such change that is enduring. Conceived in the Tholkappiya Noorpa, the Sangam literature have undergone various stages of development in the devotional literature, and the epics that have evolved into separate literary genres which have multiplied beyond the tradition of ninety-six epics during the Nayakas period. Some of the best-known literature of a given period stops its developmental stage with that period. However, Medieval literatures have been revived in the twentieth century with various changes in the subject matter and structure of society.