Image, Symbol and Myth in Sri Aurobindo’s Poetry

This book is an exhaustive study, critically and thoroughly explaining Sri Aurobindo’s use of image, symbol and myth in his voluminous poetry, especially in his early lyrics, sonnets, longer poems, etc. In fact, the special feature of the book lies in its thorough dealing with this bolk that unfortunately hitherto slipped from the critical eye. Hence the focus is on the usage of rhetorical, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, kinaesthetic and abstract, etc. images. Sri Aurobindo’s addition of visionary aspect to them is clearly reminiscent of Romantic poetry, particularly the Shelleyan approach to it. The use of symbols reveals living truth or his inward vision and seeks expression only through symbolic images. And, the myths, both the Eastern and the Western employed, clearly unveil the veiled reality, revealing the godhead in man. Prof. Manoj Das, Editor. The heritage (Madras) remarks, "The Scholar (Dr. G.S. Pakle) has succeeded in putting forth ideas clearly and in a systematic way. He has done so not only with academic knowledge of the principles, laws and traditions of imagery and symbolism etc., but also with a sense of Shraddha indispensable for exploring the creative domain of a great poet like Sri Aurobindo.