Literary History and Major Authors
What is tested
You must match authors, works, genres and languages, and explain the literary significance of each major text. The exam favours exact pairings and genre labels over plot summary.
Core list
- Hala (traditional): Gaha Sattasai / Gathasaptashati, an anthology of single-gatha lyrics in Maharashtri, mainly shringara and ethical observation.
- Pravarasena: Setubandha (Ravanavaho), a mahakavya on Rama's bridge, in Maharashtri.
- Kouhala: Lilavai, a narrative poem about King Hala's love, showing courtly and magical motifs.
- Rajasekhara: Karpuramanjari, a natika (minor drama) whose songs and women's speech are in Maharashtri; the play is a standard example of Prakrit in drama.
- Vakpatiraja: Gaudavaho, a historical poem in Prakrit, often classified as Maharashtri.
- Jain writers such as Svayambhu and Vimala composed Maharashtri narratives; their language is sometimes called Jain Maharashtri.
Worked example
Pair “Karpuramanjari” with Rajasekhara and identify its genre as natika. Reasoning: the title means “camphor cluster”; the heroine is Karpura-manjari; the play mixes Sanskrit and Prakrit according to character and song. A bare title without author or genre earns only part credit.
Traps
Do not attribute the whole Gaha Sattasai to Hala as personal composition; it is an anthology with a traditional compiler. Do not call Karpuramanjari an epic. Do not confuse Setubandha with Valmiki's Ramayana.