Abstract:

Function of உவமை Comparison of similarity உவமை (upama in Sanskrit, simile in English) is a literary concept and technique found in literary theories found in every language that has literate poetry. The concept is based on the notion of similarity (ஒப்பு, ஒப்புமை) between two things. The verb from which these nouns are derived (ஒப்பிடு) means ‘compare’. Similarity between things is never total; it is always partial (ஒருபுடை ஒப்புமை). பேராசிரியர் (S 1) explains this with the example tiger-like warrior, which excludes from similarity having a tail, four legs etc. Similar features for comparison are selected not just by natural similarity; the cultural convention about the significance of a feature or some features of things plays a crucial role as well. Comparison of the beauty of a woman with the beauty of the bird parrot is specific to Tamil (may be, Indian) culture, but is unacceptable in European culture. So, acceptable and unacceptable உவமை is culture specific and consequently, language specific. This, however, does not rule out உவமைs that are universally acceptable.