Sublime Emotions of Wonder in the Selected Poetry of Keats and Ghalib: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study, being the part of PhD dissertation, revisits the concept of Adbhuta Rasa (the emotion of wonder) in classical Indian aesthetics and philosophy, aiming to foster awe and astonishment in readers for emotional catharsis and delight amidst contemporary tensions. The study utilises the methodology of comparative literature created by Kapoor (2007), which employs a thematic approach to bolster the perspective of Rasa of Wonder. Emphasizing the importance of bhavas (emotions), the analysis incorporates Burke’s The Sublime and Beautiful and Kapoor’s perspective on Rasa within aestheticism. The researchers analysed the selected poems of Keats and Yusuf Hussain’s English translation of Ghalib’s poetry, entitled “Urdu Ghazals of Ghalib”. Keats’ and Ghalib’s poetry exemplifies a transcultural and transnational universalism by evoking the emotions of wonder and amazement or Adbhuta Rasa, which surpass ethnic, linguistic, and historical borders. Future research should explore the universal applicability of Adbhuta Rasa across various literary genres and cultures.