CUET Tamil 2027 — Sangam, Bhakti & Modern Literature, Grammar Tradition & 30 MCQs

The CUET Tamil 2027 language paper opens admission to multiple central and state university programmes — including BA Tamil Honours and Tamil Studies at University of Delhi, Pondicherry University, Tamil University Thanjavur, Bharathidasan University, Madras University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. CUET Tamil tests two clear sub-skills: (1) reading-comprehension across Sangam, Bhakti, and modern Tamil prose/poetry, and (2) literary-historical knowledge of major works, authors and grammar tradition. This guide covers the syllabus, the canonical text list, and 30 practice MCQs (10 inline + 20 PDF + 10 interactive).

CUET Tamil 2027 Paper Pattern

The Three Eras of Tamil Literature — Map of the Syllabus

Era 1: Sangam Literature (c. 300 BCE – 300 CE)

The earliest stratum of Tamil literature, traditionally believed to have emerged from three Sangam (literary academies) hosted by Pandya kings. Two main anthologies survive:

• Ettuthokai (‘Eight Anthologies’): Akananuru, Purananuru, Kuruntokai, Natrinai, Aingurunuru, Kalittokai, Paripadal, Patirruppattu.
• Pattupattu (‘Ten Idylls’): Tirumurukatruppadai, Porunaratruppadai, Sirupanatruppadai, Perumpanatruppadai, Mullaippattu, Maduraikkanji, Nedunalvadai, Kurinjippattu, Pattinappalai, Malaipadukadam.

Two thematic strands: Akam (interior — love, marriage, separation) and Puram (exterior — war, valour, kings, ethics). The five tinai (landscapes) of akam: Kurinji (mountain), Mullai (forest), Marutham (cropland), Neithal (coast), Palai (desert).

Era 2: Post-Sangam & Bhakti Period (c. 300 CE – 1300 CE)

• Aimperumkappiyam (5 great Tamil epics): Silappatikaram (Ilango Adigal), Manimekalai (Sattanar), Civaka Cintamani (Tirutakkadevar), Valayapathi, and Kundalakesi.
• Tirukkural — 1,330 couplets by Thiruvalluvar (c. 5th century CE) on Aram (virtue), Porul (statecraft and wealth), and Inbam (love). Translated into 100+ languages.
• Saiva Bhakti: 63 Nayanars; key figures — Karaikkal Ammaiyar (earliest, 6th cent.), Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, Manikkavacakar. Compiled in Tirumurai (12 books).
• Vaishnava Bhakti: 12 Alwars; key figures — Nammalwar (greatest), Andal (only female alwar), Periyalwar, Kulasekara. Compiled in Naalayira Divya Prabandham (‘Four Thousand Divine Verses’) by Nathamuni.
• Kambar (12th century CE): Kambaramayanam — Tamil retelling of Valmiki’s Ramayana in 10,500+ verses.

Era 3: Modern Tamil Literature (1800 CE onwards)

Tamil Grammar Tradition

• Tholkappiyam — oldest extant Tamil grammar (c. 5th cent. BCE – 3rd cent. CE), attributed to Tholkappiyar. Three sections: Eluthu (orthography/phonology), Sol (morphology), Porul (poetics/conduct).
• Nannool (12th century CE) by Pavananti Munivar — the medieval grammar successor.
• Iraiyanar Akapporul — treatise on the akam (love-poetic) tradition.
• Yapparungalam — treatise on Tamil prosody.

Tamil Reading Comprehension Strategy for CUET

The CUET Tamil RC section gives 1-2 passages from any of: Sangam-era poem (with translation help), modern Tamil prose, news article, or essay. Each passage is followed by 4-6 questions on:

• Central idea (Mukkiya karuthu / Pradhana karuthu)
• Inference (Anumaname seydhal)
• Tone of the author (Aasiriyarin manopavanai)
• Meaning-in-context (Sortha porulvilakkam)
• Synonym / antonym substitution (Otra vethariyam / Edhirpadi)

Strategy: spend max 4-5 minutes per passage. Read the questions FIRST, then scan the passage. For poetry passages, read the translation provided alongside, then map question stems to specific lines.

10 Practice MCQs (Inline)

1. Oldest extant Tamil grammar work:
   (A) Tholkappiyam (B) Nannool (C) Iraiyanar Akapporul (D) Yapparungalam — Answer: A
2. Number of works in Ettuthokai:
   (A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) 10 — Answer: C
3. Author of Silappatikaram:
   (A) Ilango Adigal (B) Sattanar (C) Tholkappiyar (D) Kambar — Answer: A
4. Number of couplets in Tirukkural:
   (A) 1080 (B) 1180 (C) 1300 (D) 1330 — Answer: D
5. Mahakavi of modern Tamil:
   (A) Bharathidasan (B) Subramania Bharati (C) Kannadasan (D) Avvaiyar — Answer: B
6. Compilation of 12 Alwars’ hymns:
   (A) Tirumurai (B) Naalayira Divya Prabandham (C) Tevaram (D) Tiruvaimoli — Answer: B
7. The 5 tinai (landscapes) of akam poetry include all EXCEPT:
   (A) Kurinji (B) Mullai (C) Marutham (D) Janapada — Answer: D
8. Karaikkal Ammaiyar belongs to which period?
   (A) 3rd century CE (B) 6th century CE (C) 9th century CE (D) 12th century CE — Answer: B
9. Tamil New Year (Puthandu) falls in:
   (A) Chithirai (B) Vaikasi (C) Margazhi (D) Thai — Answer: A
10. Pavendar (Dravidian movement poet) was:
    (A) Bharathiyar (B) Bharathidasan (C) Kannadasan (D) Avvaiyar — Answer: B

Tamil is one of several CUET language papers. For overall CUET prep, see our CUET 2026/27 Complete Syllabus Guide. For weekly free language-section mocks, our CUET 2027 free resources page is updated every Sunday.

Recommended Books & Resources

1. Tamil Nadu State Board Class 11 & 12 Tamil textbooks (the single most-aligned source for CUET Tamil, freely available at tnschools.gov.in)
2. NCERT Class 11 & 12 Tamil bridge textbooks (for CBSE-stream students)
3. Sangam Tamil Literature: An Introduction by S Sundaramurthy — Sahitya Akademi reference
4. Bharathiyar Padalgal (collected works) — Sahitya Akademi pocket edition
5. Tirukkural with English translation by P S Sundaram (Penguin India)
6. The Hindu Tamil Thisai — daily editorial in Tamil for current vocabulary

Frequently Asked Questions

Test Yourself: 10 Interactive MCQs

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