Singapore University of Social Sciences

Didactic literature is one of the literary genres. The aim of this is to instruct a man and improve his morals. In this type of literature, poetry has been used as a medium for teaching and preaching embodying information about the moral values of human life. The great poets who have devoted most of their time and energy to compose imaginative literature have never failed to express the cherished moral ideals of the Tamil people in some form or other. Tamil literature contains an abundance of didactical poems contributed by various poets. These poets have emphasized the need for an ethical way of living. Most popular among the rich collection of didactical literature are Thirukural, Naladiyar and Aathisudi. These are pithy 1- to 4-line poems which contain a depth of meaning.