'Parable' Tellers in The Tolkapiyam Theory of Statements

Abstract

Tolkappiyam, which is an ancient grammar book of Tamil, is not only a grammar book, but it also has the nature of presenting the theory of poetics and can present the theory of poetry in detail. The Tolkappiyam, which has mainly described the Thinai literary tradition, the ancient literary tradition of Tamil, as a theory, has effectively documented the literary heritage of Tamil, i.e., the Thinai literary tradition, by describing it as a poetic theory of how the Agatthinai-Puratthinai literature, which are the components of the Thinai tradition, should be fabricated. In this way, the word "Parable" receives a lot of attention in the context of narrative theory in Agathinai poetics. That is to say, the fact that Tolkappiyam defines the principle of how the parable should be presented or expounded when the claimants make a statement gives rise to various social understandings. On this basis, this thesis explores the gender-social backgrounds that are focused on telling the parable.