| Summary: | Modern Singapore, originating under British colonial rule, struggled its way in an independent country. Great transformations occurred in the first two decades of the fledgling republic, and the different ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay, Indian and others) have merged into a new nation with a common identity. However, as far as the Chinese are concerned, their once overlapped political and cultural orientation towards China has to undergo profound changes. It is generally accepted that the Singapore Chinese vernacular literature owed its existence to the literary revolution of 1917 in China. From that period on, a pragmatic concept has prevailed, that is, the sense of social responsibilities. This appeal considers literature as a vehicle to fulfill the propaganda of ideas and it should keep a plain, easy-to-understand style. This view, together with an expressive one, have exerted great influence on the poems later on.
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