Symbolic Representations of Water in British and Sri Lankan Poetry – A Comparison of John Keats and H. M. Kudaligama.

A research paper published at ICMA - International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches – University of Sri Jayewardenepura - 2021

Abstract 

Poetry is enriched with different manifestations of water. The symbolic representation of water in the poetry of British Romantic era and the poetical works of the second wave of Colombo Age is investigated in this research. The study is conducted with reference to John Keats and H.M.Kudaligama. The objectives of this research are to identify the metaphoric manifestations of water while exploring the compatibility of both poets in this regard. The references to water in their poems were extracted from a qualitative investigation of secondary materials. Purity, ferocity, power and resilience of water in their poetic manifestations can be identified as a symbolic representation which respectively draws upon impermanence, transience, fluidity, changeability, non-stagnation, renewability and complexity of life. Thus, it can be argued that there is an allegorical perception of water in both poets despite the temporal and special distinction both poets. 

 Keywords: Water, Romanticism, Symbolic Representation, Keats, Kudaligama

1.INTRODUCTION

 

Water has been vastly referred to in various contexts in almost all the genres of literature among which Romanticism holds a pivotal position. This study intended to conduct a comparative study on the concept of water in relation to British Romantic Era (End of 18^th and the beginning of 19^th century) and the second wave of Sri Lankan Romantic period (End of 19^th century). It should be noted that the latter era was influenced by the former era to a certain extent.

 

John Keats and H.M.Kudaligama can be respectively identified as representatives from each period. Despite the geographical distinction, both Keats and Kudaligama belong to the romantic period of literature in their countries. The objectives of this research are to identify the concepts related to water and to explore the points of compatibility in the representation of both poets.

 

2. METHODOLOGY

 

A comparative reading was conducted on poetry of John Keats and H.M.Kudaligama with reference to their dwelling on water. Secondary materials were utilized to collect information. Keatsian poems were explored online whilst ‘Manbandi Panhinda: The Anthology of Collected Poems of Kudligama’ was referred to find the relevant instances in the poetry of H.M.Kudaligama.

 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Among the vast scope of imagery and concepts which are abundant in Romantic poetry, water plays a pivotal role. Both Keats and Kudaligama have made several references to water in the form of direct expression and symbolism.

 

The concept of purity of water runs through the works of both of them. As manifested in the following line by Keats; ‘The moving waters at their priestlike task - of pure ablution round earth’s human shores’ (Perry,2021) whilst Keats explores the purification effect of water in that manner, Kudaligama’s portrayal of purity is related to Buddhism. The line which brings forth a poignant metaphor which equates water to the sense of salvation, ‘Nudutumi ama mahaa nadiyak oba vithara’ (Kudaligama, 2007) exemplifies it.

 

Bringing forth the soothing effect of water as ‘Kaviyak wela ohu nalawanu manavi kalu’ (Kudaligama, 2007)  Kudaligama simultaneously shows how close water is to life. It refers to the life-giving effect of water as well. Such comparisons between life and water are abundant in Keatsean poetry. The following lines by Keats recall the oriental concept which equates life to a dewdrop. ‘Life is but a day; A fragile dewdrop on its perilous way from a tree's summit.’ (Bridges,n.d.)

 

The sentence engraved on Keats’ tomb; ‘Here lies one whose name was writ in water’ (Perry,2021) is one of his most exemplary references to water. Instead of carving a name on stone which signals permanence, the act of writing on water suggests impermanence, transience of life and fluidity at large. The concept of fluidity of water has also been utilized by Kudaligama to symbolize the never-ending flow of life. His following poem;

‘Sama thanithalawala hamu wei alasakama

Nirasai atharamaga avahira nodutu bima’(Kudaligama, 2007)  further reveals the non-stagnant quality, changeability and resilience of life.

Further, the complexity of life and water is equated in the following line;

‘Kisiyam gatalu sithuvili samuduraka gili.’ (Kudaligama, 2007)  Keats introduces a metaphor of diving in water in relation to poetic inspiration as follows. ‘A poem needs understanding through the senses. The point of diving in a lake is not immediately to swim to the shore; it’s to be in the lake, to luxuriate in the sensation of water.’ (Preller, 2010) which manifests the above discussed complexity at large.

 

The mighty power of water is explicated by Keats via the following lines; ‘The open sky sits upon our senses like a sapphire crown - the Air is our robe of state - the Earth is our throne, and the Sea a mighty minstrel playing before it. (Perry,2013) while in the form of following lines;

‘Gas gal pawa peralagena maha badde

Ada maha gangak vee muwa dorakada edde’ (Kudaligama, 2007) ferocity and power of water are collectively symbolized by Kudaligama.

 

Thus, both Keats and Kudaligama have dwelt upon several concepts of water in relation to its’ purification effect, ferocity, power and resilience etc while treating water as a metaphor for life in terms of impermanence, transience, fluidity and complexity at large. Even though a linguistic distinction in the discourse of Keats and Kudaligama is visible, the discussed poems are inter-connected with a compatibility of concept of water in its multiple forms.  

 

 

4. CONCLUSION

 

Through the above comparative analysis of the poetry of Keats and Kudaligama, it was unravelled that both of them have explored different concepts related to water. Thus; it can be concluded that water plays a pivotal role in the genre of Romantic poetry; as manifested by the works of Keats and Kudaligama; two major poets from British and Sri Lankan Romantic period.

 

 

REFERENCES

 

 

Kudaligama, G. (2007) , Manbandi Panhinda, 189, 190,192, 267, 305, 355.

 

John Keats quote. (n.d.). A-Z Quotes. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/684988. 

 

(2020, November 25). The Berkshire Edge. https://theberkshireedge.com.

 

On poetry: The point of diving into a lake is to be in the lake. James Preller's Blog. (2020, April 14). http://www.jamespreller.com/2010/08/04/the-point-of-diving-into-a-lake-to-be-in-the-lake/.

Featured poem: 'on the Sea' by John Keats. The Reader. (2019, August 15). https://www.thereader.org.uk/featured-poem-on-the-sea-by-john-keats-2/.