Abstract:
The main objective of this study is to appraise the literary value in terms of various aspects as contained in the Sepa Khunchang-Khunphan. This covers both the explicit and implicit values. Chapter I deals with the appraisal of the work; starting from the motivation underlying the need to conduct the study and ending with the application of this study. This literature is claimed to be the best of Sepa, and has become one of the most popular work to both Thais and foreigners. In addition it has been selected as the textbook for the Thai literature at different levels. This literature reflects clearly the Thais' common way of life, thoughts, values and the condition of living in the past; this study in effect tends to dwell at large on the analytical approach in the literary value which has made it one of the most interesting work. Chapter II conscious mainly with the history of Khunchang Khunphan. It is said that this is a true story which happened in the reign of King Rama II of Sri Ayutthaya,but the book we are reading now was written in the reign of King Rama II of Rattana kosin Period. Besides the chapter intends to describe the charac¬teristics of Sepa, romance, musical instruments accompanying the recitation of Sepa, and the interesting remarks on the rhymes of this Sepa. Chapter III takes into consideration the value of the rhymes in different aspects; the beauty of the language, Imagery, Emotion and the poets vision. Using the principles of rhetoric and theory in practical criticism, the writer studies the poet's techniques, the theme and the characters. Its main theme relates to the Buddhists moral precept based on the belief that everything in the world is uncertain, birth evolves into death and vice versa in the form of cyclical change. In the study of characters, the writer discovers that different types of characters are presented. The behavior of those characters who are commoners reflects the traditional Thai ways of life and thought provoking for a better end. The characters' behavior is capable of moving the readers to the threshold of emotion build-up and empathy. In the last part of the chapter, the writer attempts to describe the structure of the society, social values as appeared in the story by applying the principles of social science in making the analytical study. Mention was made to the administrative system, the importance of the Buddhism in Thai society and the major aspect of Buddhists philosophy. Chapter IV is the conclusion on the literary values of Khunchang-Khunphan. Recommendations were given to those who wishudhaya, but the book we are to study this important piece of literature ะ that they study Sepa by relying on the knowledge of music and study the different styles of writing by applying the knowledge of comparative literature.