202. 226 CHAPTER IV

226 CHAPTER IV

. with convention this means, "Hamlet on the Ganges". But as the word "Ganges" conventionally means "current" and as the existence of a hamlet on a current is not possible, the word "Ganges" forcibly arouses the additional, the secon- dary meaning, the bank of the Ganges. (iii) The words stand as symbols of certain ideas. In order that they may serve their symbolic purpose, it is necessary that the ideas should be familiar to those, to whom the words in question are intended to serve as sym- bols. If there be no familiarity with the idea and the rela- tion between the symbol and the symbolised be unknown, the word fails to arouse any meaning. As for instance, the words expressive of amorous joy cannot convey the desired meaning to a girl, tco young to know the joy of conjugal life.

It has to be pointed out here that the secondary mean- ing also, in order that it may be conveyed to the hearer, presupposes some kind of convention ; though not so com- mon as that which is responsible for the arousal of the pri- mary meaning. It must, however, be very well recognised among those in whom its consciousness is intended to be aroused. It may, therefore, be called literary convention or secondary convention. Thus the opponents of the theory of the suggested meaning have been divided into the follow- ing three classes :--

1. Those who totally deny it.

2. Those who include it within the secondary meaning.

3. Those who maintain that it is not communicable.

Those of the first class can further be subdivided into the following three classes :- 1. The suggested meaning is maintained to be the main source of the literary beauty by the exponents of the