According to Ānandavardhana, what is the essence of poetry?
AWordplay
BDhwani
CAlankara
DGrammar
Answer:
B. Dhwani
Read Explanation:
According to Ānandavardhana, the essence of poetry is dhvani, or the suggested meaning of the words. Dhvani is a Sanskrit word that literally means "suggestion".
Dhvani is a key concept in Sanskrit aesthetics and poetics. Ānandavardhana, a 9th century literary theorist and rhetorician, is considered a leading exponent of dhvani. His work, Dhvanyaloka, introduced the dhvani theory of suggestion.
Ānandavardhana believed that the suggested meaning of a work of art is more important than its literal meaning. He argued that dhvani is the soul of poetry, while other elements like figures of speech and aesthetic emotions are secondary.