According to T.S. Eliot, an "objective correlative" in poetry is a set of objects, situations, or events that serve as a formula to evoke a specific emotion in the reader, rather than directly stating that emotion; essentially, it's a way to express a character's feelings through concrete details instead of explicit description, allowing the audience to experience the emotion themselves through the presented imagery and context.
Key points about the objective correlative:
Indirect expression:
The poet does not directly state the emotion, but uses external details to trigger the desired emotional response in the reader.
"Formula for emotion":
Eliot describes the objective correlative as a "formula" that represents a particular emotion through concrete elements.
Example from "Hamlet":
Eliot famously criticized Shakespeare's Hamlet for not fully utilizing an objective correlative, arguing that Hamlet's internal turmoil was too directly expressed and not adequately conveyed through external situations.
