Exercises

Pure poetry

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

On June 26, Thais will celebrate Sunthorn Phu�s birthday. Sunthorn Phu was one of the most beloved poets and storytellers in the country. He penned many classic poems and epic stories, including Phra Buddha Ba and Khun Chang and Khun Phan. On this special occasion, Student Weekly takes a look at the poem Sunthorn Phu is best remembered for, Phra Aphaimanee. It is a fantasy full of giants, mermaids and princely romance.

Sunthorn Phu�s true rise to fame began in 1807, when he was just 21 years old. He had already established himself as a poet, having written several popular stories. But more success was soon to follow.

King Rama II � himself a keen writer � appointed Sunthorn to the post of royal poet and honoured him with the title Khun Sunthorn Vorharn.

Because of an argument that Sunthorn had with the King�s brother, later to become King Rama III, the writer�s VIP status did not last long. The disagreement caused the poet to fall out of favour with the King, and he soon found himself in jail.

PRISONER TO TEACHER

In the end, Sunthorn Phu�s imprisonment proved to be a blessing in disguise. With time on his hands and his imagination running riot, Sunthorn Phu dreamed up the poem that would go down in history and make him famous.

It took Sunthorn Phu 20 years to complete Phra Aphaimanee (although some say it remains unfinished). The poem was so popular that he was able to sell short extracts while in jail and make himself a small fortune.

The King eventually pardoned Sunthorn Phu, who became a royal teacher and literary adviser.

Exercises

Work with a friend to answer the following reading comprehension questions.

1. What is Phra Aphaimanee full of?

2. Why was Sunthorn Phu sent to jail?

3. What title did King Rama II give Sunthorn Phu?

4. How long did it take Sunthorn Phu to finish Phra Aphaimanee?

5. What did Sunthorn Phu sell while he was in jail?

	pen (v): to write something epic (n): a long poem about the actions of great men and women or about a nation�s history keen (adj): enthusiastic about an activity or idea, etc. appoint (v): to choose somebody for a job or position of responsibility pardon (v): to forgive somebody for something they have said or done IDIOMS fall out of favour: to lose the respect of someone blessing in disguise: something that seems to be a problem at first, but that has good results in the end run riot: if your imagination, a feeling, etc. runs riot, you allow it to develop and continue without trying to control it