Maharashtra HSC Telugu (MSBSHSE) key terms

Telugu prose writing, as opposed to verse; in the HSC syllabus it covers essays, short stories and character sketches studied for theme, characterisation and textual detail.

Telugu verse composition, typically in classical metres, studied for meaning, imagery, figure of speech and metrical structure in the poetry section.

The way a writer builds a character through speech, action, motive and the reactions of others; answers often ask you to justify a character's qualities with textual evidence.

The central idea or message a prose or poetry passage conveys; stating it in one or two sentences is a common short-answer requirement.

The emotional sense or import of a verse or passage, distinct from its literal wording; appreciation answers usually begin by stating the bhavam.

The aesthetic flavour or emotional relish a literary work evokes, such as karuna (compassion) or veera (heroism); naming the dominant rasa strengthens appreciation answers.

A figure of speech that ornaments literary language; the syllabus expects identification of the figure used in a given line and a brief reason for the identification.

Simile: an explicit comparison of two things using words such as 'like' or 'as' (వలె, లాగా, పోలి), where the comparison is stated rather than implied.

Metaphor: an implied comparison in which one thing is identified with another without a comparative word, so that the object is spoken of as the image itself.

Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration for effect, where an object is described as far greater or smaller than reality to intensify the impression.

A figure in which a single word or phrase yields two or more meanings at once, often producing wit; identification requires showing both senses.

Repetition of the same syllable or word group with a different sense in successive positions of a verse, a sound-based ornament tested in poetry questions.

Telugu prosody: the system of metres defined by syllable count, position of short and long syllables, and divisions called ganas within each line.

A metrical foot of three syllables classified by their light (ల) and heavy (గ) pattern, such as భ, ర, త, య; scanning a line into ganas identifies its metre.

A heavy or long syllable in prosody, counted as two matras; it arises from a long vowel, a consonant cluster following a vowel, or a final syllable in a line.

A light or short syllable in prosody, counted as one matra; it consists of a short vowel not followed by a conjunct consonant.

A prescribed pause or caesura within a metrical line, falling at a fixed syllable position; violating the yati breaks the metre even when the ganas are correct.

Alliteration required in many Telugu metres, where the second syllable of each line begins with the same consonant; failure of prasa is treated as a metrical fault.

Euphonic junction: the rules by which a final sound of one word combines with the initial sound of the next, producing a single joined form that must be split for explanation.

The sandhi in which అ, ఆ or ఎ meets ఇ, ఈ, ఉ, ఊ or ఋ and the result is ఏ, ఓ or అర్ respectively, as in రామ + ఆలయం becoming రామాలయం.

The sandhi in which two similar vowels combine into their corresponding long vowel, as in దేవ + ఆలయం becoming దేవాలయం.

A compound word formed by joining two or more words into one unit; candidates must split the compound and name its type, such as tatpurusha, dvandva or bahuvrihi.

A compound in which the first member qualifies the second and the whole refers to the final member, as in రాజభవనం (the king's palace).

A compound joining two or more words of equal rank, all of which are retained in meaning, as in తల్లిదండ్రులు (mother and father).

A compound whose meaning points to something other than its members, usually a possessor of the described quality, as in పద్మాక్షి (she whose eyes are lotus-like).

A synonym; vocabulary questions ask you to supply an equivalent word or to choose the correct synonym from a list for a word met in the text.

A word carrying several distinct meanings depending on context; identifying the intended sense is a frequent vocabulary item in language study.

Etymology: the origin and derivation of a word, showing the root and the process by which the present form and meaning developed.

A Telugu idiom whose meaning is figurative rather than literal; usage questions require the idiom to be inserted correctly in a sentence or explained.

A proverb or traditional saying expressing folk wisdom; candidates are asked to match a proverb with its meaning or complete a sentence with it.

An essay: a structured composition with introduction, developed body paragraphs and conclusion, written on a given topic within a set word limit.

A letter; formal and informal letter formats are tested, including sender's address, date, salutation, body and closing, in appropriate register.

A factual account of an event or investigation, written with a heading, date and place, and an objective third-person style covering what, when, where and outcome.

Condensing a passage to about one-third of its length while retaining the central ideas, written in your own words without copying sentences or adding opinion.

Translation between Telugu and Marathi or English, requiring faithfulness to meaning, correct grammar in the target language and natural idiom rather than word-for-word rendering.

A passage not from the prescribed textbooks, followed by comprehension questions; answers must be drawn from the passage and expressed in complete sentences.

The non-detailed text component, where stories and essays are studied more broadly for plot, characters and message rather than line-by-line textual analysis.