Karnataka II PUC Telugu (KSEAB) key terms

Telugu prose writing, including essays, short stories and novel extracts studied in the non-poetry sections. Questions ask about theme, characters and the author's purpose rather than metre.

Telugu verse composition. Each lesson poem has a fixed metre and rhyme scheme, and candidates must identify the metre, the poet and the meaning of individual lines.

The science of Telugu prosody: rules governing syllabic weight, feet (gaṇas), pauses and rhyme that determine whether a line belongs to a given metre such as kandam or āṭaveladi.

A group of three syllables classified as guru (heavy) or laghu (light). The eight possible combinations are named ya, ra, sa, ta, bha, ja, na and la, and they build every Telugu metre.

A heavy syllable in prosody, counted as two units. It usually contains a long vowel, or a short vowel followed by a conjunct consonant or by a pause at the end of a line.

A light syllable in prosody, counted as one unit. It consists of a short vowel not followed by a conjunct consonant, and its placement decides the metre of a line.

A required pause or caesura at a fixed syllable position within a line of verse. In kandam it falls after the sixth syllable of each half-line, and breaking it counts as a metrical fault.

The second-syllable rhyme found in classical Telugu verse: the consonant beginning the second syllable of each line in a stanza must be the same throughout that stanza.

The most common Telugu metre, built from four half-lines of alternating gaṇa patterns with fixed yati positions. It is used for narrative and didactic verse and appears frequently in exam anthologies.

A Telugu metre of four lines in which the first and third lines follow one gaṇa pattern and the second and fourth follow another. It is often paired with tētagīti in verse lessons.

A four-line Telugu metre with a distinctive fixed gaṇa sequence in every line. Poets use it for reflective and moral statements, and candidates must recognise it by its syllabic pattern.

A figure of speech or poetic ornament that heightens expression, such as simile, metaphor or alliteration. Exam questions ask candidates to name the ornament and justify the identification with an example.

Simile: an explicit comparison of two things using words such as 'like' or 'as'. The four elements are the subject, the object compared, the common quality and the comparative word.

Metaphor: an implied identification in which the subject and the object of comparison are fused without a comparative word. The qualities of one are directly attributed to the other.

Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or humour, where a statement is stretched beyond literal truth. Recognising it helps candidates explain tone in poetry and prose passages.

A figure of speech in which one word or passage carries two or more meanings at once, producing wit. Candidates must show both readings and explain how the double sense is achieved.

Antonym: a word whose meaning is opposite to another, such as light and dark. Vocabulary items test whether candidates can supply the correct opposite within a sentence context.

Synonym: a word that shares the core meaning of another, for example the several words for water or king. Exam items ask for one or more equivalents of a given word.

A word with multiple distinct meanings depending on context, such as 'hari' or 'kari'. Candidates must give the meaning that fits the sentence rather than the most familiar one.

A Telugu proverb expressing folk wisdom in fixed wording. Items ask candidates to complete a proverb or to choose the situation where it applies appropriately.

An idiom whose overall meaning cannot be derived from its individual words. Candidates must explain the figurative sense and often use it in an original sentence.

The vocabulary component of the paper: synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, proverbs and idioms. It rewards memorising word families and practising them inside complete sentences.

The rule-governed joining of two words in which the final sound of the first and the initial sound of the second combine or change. Candidates must split a given compound correctly and name the rule.

A compound word formed by combining two or more words into a single unit, classified as tatpuruṣa, dvandva, bahuvrīhi and so on. Questions ask for the compound's type and its expanded form.

Telugu grammar as tested in the paper: sandhi, compounds, parts of speech, case endings and verb forms. Answers must show the rule applied, not merely the corrected word.

A case ending attached to a noun to show its grammatical relation to other words, such as subject, object or possession. Recognising the case helps explain sentence structure and meaning.

A verb form expressing action, state or tense. Candidates identify whether a form is finite, participial or imperative, and match it to the subject in a sentence.

The subject or doer of an action in a sentence. Identifying the kartā is essential when converting between active and passive voice or explaining agreement with the verb.

Translation, usually from English into Telugu or the reverse. Marks depend on accuracy of meaning, natural Telugu word order and correct technical vocabulary rather than word-for-word rendering.

The sense or intended meaning of a passage, as distinct from its literal wording. Comprehension answers must capture the bhāvam in the candidate's own Telugu sentences.

The meaning of a word, phrase or line in context. Questions on prose and poetry ask for meaning explained in simple Telugu, not a loose paraphrase that loses the original nuance.

A major narrative or devotional poetic work, often of substantial length and unified theme. Knowing which prabandham a prescribed poet belongs to helps answer authorship and context questions.

A collection of one hundred or more verses on a moral, devotional or ethical theme, usually with a refrain. Candidates should know the poet, the theme and the refrain of any prescribed śatakam.

The author introduction printed with each lesson: birth, period, region, major works and literary place. Short-answer items ask for these facts, so candidates should learn them lesson by lesson.

A character in a story, novel extract or play. Questions ask how a character behaves, speaks and develops, and what that reveals about the lesson's theme.

A narrative with plot, setting and characters, as found in the supplementary reader. Candidates summarise events, identify conflict and state the lesson or moral the story conveys.

A letter written in the prescribed format: sender's address, date, salutation, body in clear paragraphs and closing. Marks are given for format, relevance and correct polite Telugu.

A short essay on a given topic, organised with an introduction, two or three developed points and a conclusion. Candidates should plan briefly and use connected, formal Telugu sentences.

The composition section of the paper: letters, essays, reports and short paragraphs. It tests organised thought, appropriate register and grammatical accuracy under time pressure.

A summary or gist of a passage or poem, written in the candidate's own words and shorter than the original. It must keep the central idea and drop illustrative detail.