An Investigative Study of the Characteristics of Surrealism and Postmodernism as Reflected in K. K Samankamara's Short Stories: With Reference to Selected Short Stories

Abstract

The concepts of surrealism and postmodernism in the English language were prominent themes in the Sinhala language and literature. Surrealism balances the rule of realism and adds modernist features to it, showing the emergence of unconscious thought and conscious thought. Accordingly, in the Sinhala language, these concepts can be seen in all literary genres, such as novels, poems, and short stories. Due to the introduction of these elements from Western literature to Eastern literature, the Sri Lankan literary field also took a new direction. Many writers in Sri Lanka used surrealism and postmodernism in their literary works. Among them, K. K Samankumara is a genius writer who uses surrealism and postmodernism features in his works. He worked to challenge traditional Sinhala short stories and tried to use experiences outside the standard short story in his works, as well as psychoanalytically analyse the existence and experiences of the modern society complicated by modernity. The aim of this research is to study how K. K Samankumara used the features of surrealism and postmodernism in his short stories. The research problem here is to find out how Samankumara has used postmodernist features in his short stories such as Sarpayeku ha satan wedha, ektemakin mahapolowata, esanda mama bala sitiyemi. Various primary and secondary sources have been used in the qualitative research method. The conclusion that can be reached in this study is that Samankumara is an independent writer who turned the art of short stories upside down by using elements of surrealism and postmodernism in his works.