Maharashtra HSC Tamil (MSBSHSE) key terms

Prose writing that presents ideas in ordinary continuous sentences rather than verse. In the HSC paper it covers the prescribed prose lessons, their themes, characters and the author's message.

The central idea a lesson or poem conveys, such as sacrifice, social reform or patriotism. Answers on theme must state the idea and support it with events or lines from the text.

The way an author builds a character through speech, action and the reactions of others. Questions often ask you to justify a character's qualities with evidence from the prescribed lesson.

The single most important thought of a passage or poem, usually expressible in one or two sentences. It differs from a summary because it names the point rather than retelling events.

A comparison that explicitly uses words such as போல, ஒப்ப or அன்ன to link two things, for example comparing a face to the moon. Recognising the comparison word is the quickest way to identify it.

An implied comparison in which one thing is described as if it were another, without a comparison word. The identification is stated directly, as when a king is called a lion.

A deliberate decorative or emphatic device used in poetry, such as simile, metaphor, alliteration or hyperbole. Appreciation answers should name the device and explain the effect it creates.

Repetition of the same initial consonant sound in successive or nearby words within a line. It gives rhythm and emphasis, and is one of the easiest devices to quote when analysing a poem.

Repetition of the same consonant sound in the second syllable of successive lines, a distinctive feature of Tamil verse. Together with மோனை it produces the musical quality of classical and modern poems.

Sound patterns produced by arranging syllables across lines of verse, including மோனை and எதுகை. Noting தொடை helps in appreciating the musical structure of a prescribed poem.

A condensed statement of the essential content of a passage, written in your own words and much shorter than the original. It must keep the main argument and omit examples and repetition.

A brief restatement of a text's main points in continuous prose, usually about one-third of the original length. Unlike a précis it may follow the original order closely.

The non-detailed textbook whose lessons are studied for overall understanding rather than line-by-line analysis. Questions usually test plot, characters, sequence of events and the lesson's moral.

An ordered account of the main events of a story, covering beginning, complication and resolution. It is the standard way to answer questions on supplementary-reader lessons.

The rules governing how two words combine and how sounds change at the join, as in பல + வகை becoming பலவகை. Identifying the original words is a common grammar task.

The specific rule that explains a sound change when words combine, such as insertion, doubling or deletion of a letter. Answers should name the rule and show the change clearly.

The basic, indivisible form of a word from which inflected or derived forms are built. Splitting a word into root plus suffix is frequently tested in grammar questions.

An ending added to a root or stem to mark case, tense, person or number. Recognising விகுதி helps in parsing words and in transforming sentences correctly.

The classes into which Tamil words are grouped, such as பெயர்ச்சொல், வினைச்சொல் and இடைச்சொல். Naming the class of an underlined word is a standard objective question.

A word that expresses an action or state, carrying tense and agreeing with its subject in person, number and gender. Correct verb agreement is essential in sentence transformation and composition.

Building grammatically well-formed Tamil sentences with proper word order, agreement and punctuation. Transformation exercises test whether meaning is preserved while the structure changes.

Rewriting a sentence into another form, for example changing direct to indirect speech, active to passive, or affirmative to negative. The original meaning must stay unchanged.

Reporting a speaker's exact words, enclosed in quotation marks and introduced by a reporting verb. Converting it to indirect speech requires adjusting pronouns, tense and place words.

Reporting what someone said without quoting the exact words, so quotation marks are dropped and pronouns and tense shift. It is the usual target of transformation questions.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as கை நிறைய. Idiom questions ask for the meaning or for a sentence using the expression correctly.

A short traditional saying that carries folk wisdom, often metaphorical, such as ஆற்றில் போட்டாலும் அளந்து போடு. Questions test the meaning and the situation in which it applies.

A colloquial, figurative expression used in everyday speech whose sense is understood by convention. It overlaps with idioms but often carries a humorous or proverbial tone.

A formal or informal written message with a fixed layout of sender, date, address, salutation, body and closing. Formal letters must keep a courteous, impersonal register.

A formal written request addressed to an authority, stating the purpose and the reason clearly and briefly. It follows the same layout as a formal letter and ends with a polite request.

A structured factual account of an event or investigation, usually with a heading, date, place and conclusion. It should be objective, in reported style, and free of personal opinion.

A connected piece of writing on a topic, organised into introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion. Marks depend on relevance, paragraph unity, vocabulary and grammatical accuracy.

Rendering a passage faithfully from one language into another while preserving meaning, tone and register. Literal word-for-word rendering is usually penalised; natural target-language idiom is expected.

Understanding an unseen passage well enough to answer questions on its facts, inferences, vocabulary and tone. Answers should be in your own words and drawn only from the passage.

The earliest body of Tamil poetry, comprising anthologies of love and heroic verse such as புறநானூறு and குறுந்தொகை. Its conventions of திணை and its ethical outlook inform several prescribed lessons.

A classical Tamil work of 1,330 couplets by திருவள்ளுவர், arranged in three sections on virtue, wealth and love. Its couplets are frequently quoted in prose lessons and essay questions.

The classification of classical Tamil poems by setting and theme, chiefly அகம் for love and புறம் for public and heroic life. Knowing the mode helps in interpreting prescribed Sangam verses.

The study of traditional songs, tales, riddles and customs transmitted orally among ordinary people. It appears in lessons on Tamil culture and in questions about folk deities and festivals.

The inherited customs, festivals, foodways, arts and social values associated with Tamil-speaking communities. Culture questions ask you to connect these practices to the prescribed texts.