Question

The doctrine of Correspondences means:

• A. That all poetry must be symbolic
• B. There exist inherent and systematic analogies between the human mind and the outer world
• C. Poets must imitate nature realistically
• D. There is no relation between form and content

Answer 1

Answer:

B. There exist inherent and systematic analogies between the human mind and the outer world

The Doctrine of Correspondences: An Overview

• The Doctrine of Correspondences posits a fundamental belief that there are deep, inherent, and systematic analogies or parallels between the human mind (inner world) and the outer natural world (physical reality).
• It suggests that the material world is not merely a collection of inert objects but a reflection or a symbol of spiritual truths and an individual's inner state.
• This concept implies that nature can be 'read' as a book of symbols, revealing insights into the spiritual or ideal realm.

Historical and Philosophical Roots

• The idea has ancient roots, notably in Platonic philosophy, particularly Plato's Theory of Forms, where the physical world is seen as an imperfect reflection of perfect, eternal Forms.
• It was significantly developed and popularized by the Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (18th century). Swedenborg's theological works deeply influenced later thinkers and writers.
• Swedenborg's philosophy held that 'the whole natural world corresponds to the spiritual world, and not only the natural world in general but also in every particular.'

Impact on Literary Movements and Key Figures

• The Doctrine of Correspondences had a profound influence on Romanticism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • Romantic poets often viewed nature as a source of divine revelation and a mirror of their own souls.
  • Key figures like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, while not directly Swedenborgian, embraced similar ideas of nature revealing spiritual truths.
• It was a cornerstone of Transcendentalism in 19th-century America.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson, a prominent Transcendentalist, was heavily influenced by Swedenborg. His essay 'Nature' eloquently articulates the idea that 'Every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact.'
  • Henry David Thoreau also explored these connections between nature and spiritual insight.
• Crucially, the doctrine found a powerful resurgence and reinterpretation in French Symbolism (mid-19th century).
  • Charles Baudelaire's poem 'Correspondences' is perhaps the most famous literary articulation of this doctrine.
  • Baudelaire wrote of 'perfumes, colors, sounds, correspondencies' that speak to the soul, suggesting a synesthetic and mystical connection between sensory experiences and deeper realities.
  • This poem became a manifesto for Symbolist poets, emphasizing the suggestive power of symbols over direct statement.
• The concept is closely linked to Symbolism itself, where concrete objects and events are used to evoke abstract ideas or emotions, implying an underlying connection between the physical and the metaphysical.

Relevance for Competitive Exams

• Familiarity with the term 'Doctrine of Correspondences' is vital, especially in questions related to Romanticism, Transcendentalism, and French Symbolism.
• Remember Emanuel Swedenborg as the key philosophical proponent.
• Associate Charles Baudelaire's 'Correspondences' poem as its most iconic literary expression.
• Connect it to the broader theme of nature as a spiritual mirror in Romantic and Transcendentalist literature.
• Understand its role in the development of symbolic poetry.