Symbolism

                        The word symbolism is derived from the Greek word “symbollein” which means ‘to throw together, mark, emblem, token or sign’. The verb symbol is an object which can be animate or unanimated. Symbols represent or stand for something different.

                Definitively manifesto of symbolism was published in September 1886 in an article ‘le Figaro’ written by Jean Mores’. He founded the symbolist school whose members were Baudelaire, Mallarme, and Verlaine etc. Other famous followers include Reme Ghil, Griffith and Gustavo khan. According to critic M.H.Abrahm

               “In the usage of literary historian, symbolist movement designates specifically a group of French writers beginning with Charles Baudelaire”.

              Now there might be question that what can be effective and universal symbols in literary writing. To answer the question critic J.A.Cuddon suggest that any object and action can be symbol in literary writings.

EXAMPLE- in literature there are many objects commonly used as symbols by writers.

1)   SCALE- symbol of justice

2)   MONARCHY- symbol of rule

3)   DOVE- symbol of peace

4)   A GOAT- symbol of lust

5)   THE LION- symbol of strength and courage

6)   THE ROSE- symbol of beauty

7)   THE LILY- symbol of purity

8)   CROSS- symbol of christianity

9)   THE SWASIKA- Nazi in German

10)                  BLOOD- mourn and violence.

                     As critic J.A.Cuddon rightly quotes that

“Action and gestures are also symbols”

EXAMPLE- The clenched fist in aggression and anger, beating of breast signifies remorse and pain. An arm raised denotes surrender hands clasped suggest prayer or request.

                  While taking about symbol in literature critic J.A.Cuddon says,

       “a literary symbol combines an image with a concept. It may be public or private, universal or local...”

           Public and universal symbols are almost similar to one another. They are known everywhere.

EXAMPLE- Dove and peace, Red rose and loves etc.

                 In the history of English literature the masters of using public symbols are Virgil, Dante, James Joyce etc.

     While private symbols are limited to perticular class community, state or country. some literary works known for symbollism.

Dante is master of using various symbols in effective way

“Divine commedia” this work is structurally symbolic in the history of English literature.

 Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear.

           In the Macbeth, there is recurrence of blood which symbolises guilt and violence. While in ‘Hamlet’ weeds and disease symbolise corruption and decay. Finally in the King Lear, clothes symbolise arrearence and authority.

“Rime of the ancient Mariner”- S.T.Coleridge

              Here in this book the shooting the bird albatross is symbol of sin and lack of respect for natural order.

“Metamorphosis’’ - Kafka

“The west land”- T.S.Eliot

“Ash Wednesday”- T.S.Eliot.

                All these works are full of private a symbol which naturally evokes the interest and brighten the story.

                 Finally there was much use of symbolism in French poetry during 19^th century. Poets like Baudelaire and Mallarme have highly developed symbolism through their poetry. Baudelaire and his followers believed that the poet is a kind of seer. So that the duty of poet is to see through and beyond the real world. They believed that the poet has to create “other world” by suggestion and symbolism.

            Some of the major symbolist poems are as below.

‘Correspondence’

‘Sleen’

‘La chevalier’

‘Le voyage’- Baudelaire

‘La Bonne Chamson’

‘Romances sons paroles’- Verlaine

‘Apparition’

‘Poesies’- Mallarme

          

             All these French poets have highly influence the next generation of poet in French as well as outside the French.

              The main “heirs” of symbolist movement outside French are W.B.Yeats, Ezra pound, T.S.Eliot, R.M.Rike, Stefan George etc.