Classifications of Tamil Literature

Classifications of Tamil Literature in a simple chronological order are as follows

1. 
   
   1. 
      

      1. Patinenmel kanakku (Pre 18 anthologies) and

      2. Patinenkil kanakku (Post 18 anthologies)

   Patinenmel kanakku (Pre 18 anthologies) is one of the oldest surviving Tamil poetry(between 100 BCE and 200 CE) which is roughly, sub categorised as:

A. Ettu Thogai or Eight anthologies . B. Pattup Pattu or Ten anthologies.

Ettu Thogai  or Eight anthologies are

i) Aingkur Nuru

ii) Aga Na Nuru

iii) Pura Na Nuru

iv) Kalith Thogai

v) Kurun Thogai

vi) Nattrinai

vii) Pari Paatal

viii) Pathitrup Paththu

Altogether this anthology consists of 2,371 poems varying from three lines to forty lines per stanzas.