UPSC Optional Syllabus for Malayalam Literature Paper I
Section A
Unit 1-Early phase of Malayalam Language:
1.1 Various theories: origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
1.2 Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A.R. Rajarajavarma.
1.3 Pattu school-definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works-Niranam works and Krishnagatha.
Unit 2-Linguistic features of :
2.1 Manipravalam-definition. Language of early manipravala works-Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later Manipravala works-medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
2.2 Folklore-Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
2.3 Early Malayalam prose-Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.
Unit 3-Standardization of Malayalam :
3.1 Peculiarities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu, and Tullal.
3.2 Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
3.3 Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam: Malayalam as the administrative language. Language of scientific and technical literature-media language.
Section B : Literary History
Unit-4 Ancient and Medieval Literature:
4.1 Pattu-Ramacharitam, Niranam works and Krishnagatha.
4.2 Manipravalam-early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
4.3 Folk literature.
4.4 Kilippattu, Tullal, and Mahakavya.
Unit 5- Modern Literature-Poetry :
5.1 Venmani poets and contemporaries.
5.2 The advent of Romanticism-Poetry of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol
5.3 Poetry after Kavitraya.
5.4 Modernism in Malayalam poetry.
Unit 6- Modern Literature-Prose :
6.1 Drama
6.2 Novel
6.3 Short story
6.4 Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.
UPSC Optional Syllabus for Malayalam Literature Paper-II
Section A
Unit 1
1.1: Ramacharitam-Patalam 1
1.2 : Kannassaramayanam-Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
1.3 : Unnunilisandesam-Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana
1.4 :Mahabharatham Kilippattu-Bhishmaparvam.,
Unit 2 :
2.1 : Kumaran Asan-Chintavisthayaya Sita.
2.2 : Vailoppilli-Kutiyozhikkal.
2.3 : G. Sankara Kurup-Perunthachan.
2.4 : N.V. Krishna Variar-Tivandiyile Pattu.
Unit 3 :
3.1 : ONV -Bhumikkoru Charamagitam
3.2 : Ayyappa Panicker-Kurukshetram.
3.3 : Akkittam-Paudatha Messanthi
3.4 : Attur Ravivarma-Megharupan.
Section B
Unit 4 :
4.1 : O. Chanthu Menon-Indulekha
4.2 : Thakazhy-Chemmin.
4.3 : O V Vijayan-Khasakkinte Ithihasam.
Unit 5 :
5.1 : MT Vasudevan Nair-Vanaprastham (Collection).
5.2 : N S Madhavan-Higvitta (Collection).
5.3 : C J. Thomas-1128-il Crime 27.
Unit 6
6.1 : Kuttikrishna Marar-Bharataparyatanam
6.2 : M. K Sanu-Nakshatrangalute snehabhajanam
6.3 : V.T. Bhattathirippad-Kannirum Kinavum.