Mysticism and Metaphor: Spiritual Imagery in Medieval Poetry

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate relationship between mysticism and metaphor in medieval poetry, emphasizing how spiritual imagery served as a conduit for expressing divine experiences, religious devotion, and the human longing for union with God. Rooted in Christian theology and mystic traditions, medieval poets used metaphor and allegory to articulate the ineffable nature of spiritual truths and transcendence. By examining key works such as Hildegard of Bingen’s visionary texts, Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, The Pearl by the anonymous Pearl Poet, and selected tales from Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, this study highlights the profound use of light, darkness, nature, and celestial imagery as symbols of divine grace, sin, suffering, and redemption. Hildegard’s poetic visions employed natural metaphors like light and flowers to represent God’s creation and divine love, while Dante’s The Divine Comedy utilized allegory to map the soul’s journey from sin to salvation. Similarly, The Pearl explores themes of loss and spiritual perfection through its symbolic representation of the afterlife, and Chaucer blended religious symbolism with social critique to reflect both genuine devotion and hypocrisy in medieval society. The paper situates these texts within their theological and cultural contexts, arguing that spiritual imagery was not only a literary device but also a reflection of medieval faith, serving as a pathway to the sacred and a tool for introspection. By merging mysticism with metaphor, medieval poets created a rich, symbolic language capable of addressing profound existential and theological questions, offering readers a glimpse into the mystery of divine transcendence and the human desire for spiritual fulfillment.