Erotic Metaphors in Khmer Literature : Influence of Thai Literature on Khmer Literature

Abstract

Erotic metaphors in literature were the devices used to represent the highly artistic language of poets. Sexual Symbols were used to convert obscenity to decency. Due to the conventions of the society, erotic metaphors in Khmer literature were restricted. This was different from erotic metaphors in Thai literature which were regarded as literary convention. Therefore, erotic metaphors in Khmer literature which appeared during the French colonial period were influenced by those in Thai literature in terms of content, the background of poets, as well as Khmer's social contexts at that time.