Traditional Malaysian Literature

7/28/2019 Traditional Malaysian Literature

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Genera l Overv iew

Discuss ion andAnalys i s o f Works

Su mmary an dConclus ion

TRADITIONALMALAYSIAN

LITERATURE


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Ended by the end of the 19 th Century

Reflection of traditionalvalues and functionsthrough the usage oflanguage

KesusasteraanAdherence to grammaticalexpressions, whether inprose or poetry

GENERAL BACKGROUND


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A Malay defines literary composition to be a stringing

together (karangan) of beautifulwords and sayings; he describes a

story as a necklace of pearls or acrown of diamonds or a garland of

flowers or an ordered garden full of ponds and par terres. He does not consider the parts of a story to be

mere accessories to the story as awhole; they are the pearls, while

the narrative is the necessary thread.

- Wilkinson 1903

GENERAL BACKGROUND


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What about the authors?

Oral tradition

Stories : belong to the wholesociety and not to theindividual storyteller

Tales passed fromgeneration to generation

Humour and wit stories,myths, legends, sayings,

pantuns, folk songs, etc.

GENERAL BACKGROUND


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Written tradition startedonly after the coming ofIslam marked by the

adoption of the Jawi scriptBefore: Oral tradition andmostly in verse or poetryforms

Full of myths and legends,especially the first half ofthe story

GENERAL BACKGROUND


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Objectives: entertainment,instruction, and humour

Role of maintainingcohesion in society

Works inculcate the societyto be obedient to the ruler

who in exchange serves thesociety as a symbol of unity,strength, and national pride

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE


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Proved that old society had itsconcept of history

Source of national pride and

strength

Provided the cultural andhistorical background ofMalaysia



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OBJECTIVES:

To explain the origin of theruler of the state

To endorse the power ofthe ruler over the stateand the people



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To relate to the latergenerations the history oftheir ruler and the state

To clarify to the latergenerations what had

happened in the past, sothey may learn from themistakes of the past



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PANTUNS


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WHAT ARE PANTUNS?

Most outstanding form ofpoetry in the collection ofMalay oral literature

Love Verse

To express an endless rangeof emotions

Peasant community

No individual ownership


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WHAT ARE PANTUNS?

A poem of four lines withfour words per line

ABAB or AAAA or a slightlydifferent combination ofend-rhymes

First two lines: pembayang

or sampiran foreshadower Last two lines: maksudmeaning


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Why attempt to light a lantern,

If the wick should not be in it?Why attempt to smile and wanton,

If you do not really mean it?

PANTUN NO. 1


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I lose a pearl, amid the grass

It keeps its hue, though low it lies I love a girl, but love will pass,

A pearl of dew that slowly dies.

PANTUN NO. 2


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Large ants in the bambu-cane,

A flasket filled with rose-water;

When passion of love seizes my frame,

From you alone I can expect the cure .

PANTUN NO. 3


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HIKAYAT HANG

TUAH


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WHAT IS A HIKAYAT?

Arabic: All kinds ofhistories

Story or The story of

epics, stories of heroic andreligious characters, andhistories

The term encompasses theoral, handwritten andprinted forms.


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HIKAYAT HANG TUAH


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HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

I remember Sang Adiputra once foretold that Jebatwould have been a greater warrior than Tuah but hisown recklessness will be his downfall. Jebat wasclearly a stronger warrior than Tuah. But he wasimpatient at times and where Tuah lack in strength,he made it up with tremendous agility and cunning.Thus, a stronger warrior does not mean a better one. Itwas there in one of the caves in Gunung Ledang that

Tuah was made our leader. Sang Adiputra told Jebat tolisten to Tuah and never doubt his actions . To Tuah, headvised him to be sincere and serve Melaka as hesees fit. Above all, he wanted all of us to take care of

each other. (p. 1)


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HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

I realized the minute I saw Jebat s face after hisrendezvous with Tuah that he will plot vengeance.When Tuah was about to be executed by the orders

of the Sultan, his last words to Jebat was buatbaik berpada pada (do a lot of good), but before hecould finish the sentence, Jebat furiously screamedat him with words - buat jahat biar kepalang ! (yetunleash a lot of evil) and then left him abruptly.Jebat had always been the brooding type. He wasmore temperamental and sarcastic in nature ascompared to the mild mannered Tuah.

(p. 3)


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HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

Until this day, the day I find rest at last, I am gladto have Hang Tuah as my brother. His steadfastloyalty and unwavering stance to protect the

system was like a beacon in the days weweathered through. Tuah was given a terriblechoice which he then chose as he saw it fit.Hopefully, the new Bendahara, Tun Mutahir will

find new breed of young Malay warriors to protectwhat we have now against the dark days ahead .

(p. 5)


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HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

Loyalty and sincere servicesof a citizen towards his kingand state

Hang Tuah: symbol of Malayloyalty towards the ruler

Role of epics


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THE

MARONGMAHAWANGSA


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MARONG MAHAWANGSA


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MARONG MAHAWANGSA


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MARONG MAHAWANGSA


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TUHFAT AL-NAFIS


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TUHFAT AL-NAFIS


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TUHFAT AL-NAFIS


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SUMMARY

Writings are a source ofnational pride and strength

Rich historical background

Own civilizations andheritage long in the past

Rich cultural heritage

Cultural and historicalbackground of Malaysia

Documents

Traditional Malaysian Literature