About this collection

Rhetoric is the art of using language effectively for composing prose, verse, figures of speech and oratory to please or persuade. Use of literary devices, such as figure of speech, is one method for this purpose. It is also the study of the technique and rules for using language effectively.

Literary devices (=உத்தி, structural and thematic devices in a composition) are used by authors in their intellectual works and discourses in accordance with the rules of exegesis, that is, explanation or critical interpretation or “that go in tune with the norms of thematic unity” (Tolkappiam. p. 656). In compositions, literary devices have “a universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which readers / listeners can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze.” … They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres.” (Braiman, 2007).

Tolkappiam (Murugan, 2000) ; Tamil Lexicon (University of Madras, 1929-1934, 6 v. + Supplement), also accessible online from the website of the University of Chicago, Dictionaries of South Asian Languages (http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/tamil-lex/

Braiman, Jay (2009), Literary devices. www.mrbraiman.com [visited Dec. 2009]

Murugan, V. (2000). Tolkappiam in English: Translation, with the Tamil text, Transliteration in the Roman script, Introduction, glossary and illustrations. (Project Director: Dr. G. John Samuel). Chennai: Institute of Asian Studies. ISBN 81-87892-05-6

How to access records in the Tamil Literary Devices Collection?

Briefly, the collection can be accessed from the GSDL opening page, by clicking on the desired language – Tamil or English. This will take you to a list of 10 LD categories list: Click on the desired category name; it will take you to a list of sub-categories, if any. Click on the icon (Word document); it will take you to the related record. Each record gives Category Name, at the top followed by a brief description of the device.

How to find information in the Tamil Literary Devices collection

There are 3 ways to find information in this collection:

• search for particular words that appear in the text by clicking the Search button
• browse documents by Category (English) by clicking the Category (English) button
• browse documents by வகை (தமிழ்) by clicking the வகை (தமிழ்) button