Thursday, May 19, 2005

Objective Correlatives and Acacias

T.S. Eliot coined the term "Objective Correlative" and provided a framework definition:
The only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is by finding an "objective correlative"; in other words, a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular emotion; such that when the external facts, which must terminate in sensory experience, are given, the emotion is immediately evoked.
Objective correlatives are excellent ways to "show, not tell." They keep writers from being excessively wordy and melodramatic. Here is a good example, where the object of Acacias stands for something deeper.

Acacias
Strolling many years ago
Down a street taken over by acacias in bloom
I found out from a friend who knows everything
That you had just gotten married.
I told him that I really
Had nothing to do with it.
I never loved you
--You know that better than I do --
Yet each time the acacias bloom
-- Can you believe it? --
I get the very same feeling I had
When they hit me point-blank
With the heartbreaking news
That you had married someone else.

-- Nicanor Parra (Translanted by David Unger)

What do you think of this poem?

4 Comments:

At Thu May 19, 10:10:00 AM PDT, Blogger Lorie said...

I like it.

 
At Thu May 19, 12:53:00 PM PDT, Blogger Bobby said...

His use of understatement is powerful.

 
At Thu May 19, 07:13:00 PM PDT, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like he has issues... lol Seizure later...

 
At Fri May 20, 12:56:00 PM PDT, Blogger Bobby said...

All poets are "hot messes," to use your term, Mr. Will. But not as much as graphic artists, actors, or singers.

 

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