Sufi Symbolism in Diverse Literary Traditions

The Persian poetry enriched with Sufi symbolism has left an enduring legacy that spans generations. Regardless of the religion, language, or region, writers from various backgrounds have contributed to this legacy. This paper aims to trace the borrowing of Sufi symbols, like “wine” and “Beloved,” in the selected works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Emily Dickinson, and Allama Iqbal. Poets from diverse cultural, linguistic, and historical backgrounds reinterpret these symbols to craft their own potent poetic ideologies. Goethe recast these symbols to create poetry that espoused universal humanism, while Dickinson's poetry is contemplative; Allama Iqbal's poetry embodies metaphysical nationalism. The study employs comparative literature methodology and intertextual analytical tools to uncover thematic and metaphorical connections. The primary textual analysis compares selected poems by Goethe, Emily Dickinson, and Allama Iqbal to determine which Persian poetry lineages they derive from and what forms of continuity and change they employ. The method examines each poet's “strong misreading” as the site of creative resistance and reinvention using Harold Bloom's “anxiety of influence” framework. This paper will follow the cross-historical life of Persian poetical symbols through three divergent voices across history, showing that, although they may share common symbols, their varied imagery leads to different interpretations of spirituality and universality, thereby illuminating the lasting impact of Persian mysticism on world literature.