An Investigative Study of the Magical Realism Literary Traits in Saddharmalankara (With Selected Tales)

Abstract

The main purpose of a classical Dharma discourse is to direct people to the path of Dhamma and to give them an understanding of Dharma. Dharmakirti Sangharaja Thero's Saddharmalankara can be recognized as a Dharma commentary work recognized in this way. To accomplish the purpose of writing these books, the authors have used various literary techniques. Magical realism can be identified as a literary technique employed in this way. In this research, is was done by identifying the apparet Magical realism literary features of Saddharmalankara and examining how the magical realism literary features have helped to achieve the purpose of that work. The research problem here is how the magical realism literary features of Saddharmalankara affect the achievement of the purpose of writing those books. The main purpose of the research is to read classical Sinhala literature through modern literary criticism and thereby study how those critical literary features have been used to achieve the objectives of the work. The research methodology is to analyze the data obtained through the use of libraries and the Internet through the qualitative research method based on Magical realism literary. Here, it was revealed that in order to direct the readers and disciples to the path of Dharma, during the preaching of the Dharma, instances, events and characters in the Tat Grant were used to portray Magical realism characteristics. It can also be said that since those characteristics are presented with an all-time value, the reader and disciple are more inclined towards classical literature. It was also revealed that classical texts such as Saddharmalankara can be explored for new meanings by studying them through the current of modern critical thinking, not just as a Dharma explanation. Accordingly, this research can conclude that classic