Literature and Drama. The best expression of the Thai literary genius is found in poetry. Thai verse contains a great variety of meters, and the tonal quality of the language provides an additional metrical device not available in non-tonal languages. Tonal measure usually takes the place of rhyme, although in at least one form, the Kap, both are employed. Thai poetry is unlimited with regard to subject, but perhaps the best known and most numerous …showed first 75 words of 506 total…

…showed last 75 words of 506 total…kind of ballet. The rabam is as a rule interpolated between the episodes of the dramas. Modern Thai theater dates from King Rama VI, who was greatly interested in Western literature and who introduced many European plays. A playwright himself, he adapted many of Shakespeare's plays to the Thai stage. Recently, some of the classical plays have been successfully revised by shortening episodes and by introducing modern stage techniques and devices. (See also Music, Oriental.)