TRADITIONAL MALAYSIAN LITERATURE

G e n e ral Ove r view D i s c ussio n a n d An a l ysis o f Wo rk s Sum m a r y a n d Co n c lusion

GENERAL BACKGROUND
Ended by the end of the 19 th Century Reflection of traditional values and functions through the usage of language Kesusasteraan Adherence to grammatical expressions, whether in prose or poetry

GENERAL BACKGROUND
A Malay defines literar y composition to be a stringing together (karangan) of beautiful words and sayings; he describes a stor y as a necklace of pearls or a crown of diamonds or a garland of flowers or an ordered garden full of ponds and par terres. He does not consider the par ts of a stor y to be mere accessories to the stor y as a whole; they are the pearls, while the narrative is the necessary thread. - Wilkinson 1903

GENERAL BACKGROUND
Malay peninsular, southern part of Thailand, southern part of the Philippines, and the whole of Indonesia Works composed and written in old Malay All the centers of the Malay kingdoms became the centers of Islam and Malay literature

GENERAL BACKGROUND
What about the authors? Oral tradition Stories: belong to the whole society and not to the individual storyteller Tales passed from generation to generation

Humour and wit stories, myths, legends, sayings, pantuns, folk songs, etc.

GENERAL BACKGROUND
Written tradition started only after the coming of Islam marked by the adoption of the Jawi script Before: Oral tradition and mostly in verse or poetry forms Full of myths and legends, especially the first half of the story

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Objectives: entertainment, instruction, and humour Role of maintaining cohesion in society

Works inculcate the society to be obedient to the ruler who in exchange serves the society as a symbol of unity, strength, and national pride

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

Proved that old society had its concept of history Source of national pride and strength

Provided the cultural and historical background of Malaysia

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

OBJECTIVES:
To explain the origin of the ruler of the state To endorse the power of the ruler over the state and the people

PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

To relate to the later generations the history of their ruler and the state

To clarify to the later generations what had happened in the past, so they may learn from the mistakes of the past

PANTUNS <3

WHAT ARE PANTUNS?

Most outstanding form of poetry in the collection of Malay oral literature Love Verse

To express an endless range of emotions

Peasant community

No individual ownership

WHAT ARE PANTUNS?

A poem of four lines with four words per line ABAB or AAAA or a slightly different combination of end-rhymes First two lines: pembayang or sampiran foreshadower Last two lines: maksud meaning

PANTUN NO. 1

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. 2

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. 3

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 .

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

WHAT IS A HIKAYAT?
Arabic: All kinds of histories Story or The story of epics, stories of heroic and religious characters, and histories The term encompasses the oral, handwritten and printed forms.

WHAT IS A HIKAYAT?
Not the work or creation of any particular person The result of the developments experienced by the whole society for generations Royal and ruling class State rules and regulations

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

I remember Sang Adiputra once foretold that Jebat would have been a greater warrior than Tuah but his own recklessness will be his downfall. Jebat was clearly a stronger warrior than Tuah. But he was impatient 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. It was there in one of the caves in Gunung Ledang that Tuah was made our leader. Sang Adiputra told Jebat to listen to Tuah and never doubt his actions. To Tuah, he advised him to be sincere and serve Melaka as he sees fit. Above all, he wanted all of us to take care of each other. (p. 1)

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

I realized the minute I saw Jebats face after his rendezvous 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 buat baik berpada pada (do a lot of good), but before he could finish the sentence, Jebat furiously screamed at him with words - buat jahat biar kepalang ! (yet unleash a lot of evil) and then left him abruptly. Jebat had always been the brooding type. He was more temperamental and sarcastic in nature as compared to the mild mannered Tuah. (p. 3)

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

Until this day, the day I find rest at last, I am glad to have Hang Tuah as my brother. His steadfast loyalty and unwavering stance to protect the system was like a beacon in the days we weathered through. Tuah was given a terrible choice which he then chose as he saw it fit. Hopefully, the new Bendahara, Tun Mutahir will find new breed of young Malay warriors to protect what we have now against the dark days ahead . (p. 5)

HIKAYAT HANG TUAH

Loyalty and sincere services of a citizen towards his king and state

Hang Tuah: symbol of Malay loyalty towards the ruler

Role of epics

THE MARONG MAHAWANGSA

MARONG MAHAWANGSA

MARONG MAHAWANGSA

MARONG MAHAWANGSA

TUHFAT AL-NAFIS

TUHFAT AL-NAFIS

TUHFAT AL-NAFIS

SUMMARY
Writings are a source of national pride and strength Rich historical background Own civilizations and heritage long in the past Rich cultural heritage Cultural and historical background of Malaysia