Teaching T. S. Eliot’s Poetic Theory “Objective Correlative” in Korean College EFL Classrooms

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of the objective correlative theory and its application in T. S. Eliot’s poetry, as well as to examine how this theory can be taught in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms, particularly in Korean college settings. Eliot’s objective correlative theory, which posits that the emotions in a work of art are not dependent on the personality of the artist but are instead conveyed through concrete elements within the poem, has significantly influenced both his own work and the broader landscape of modernist poetry. This study seeks to clarify the definition of the objective correlative, analyze its use in Eliot’s poetry, and discuss its pedagogical implications. By providing practical strategies for teaching this theory in EFL classrooms, the study aims to enhance students’ understanding of Eliot’s poems and encourage critical engagement with modernist poetry. The findings of this paper are intended to offer valuable insights into how teachers can use the objective correlative as a tool to foster literary analysis skills and deepen emotional and symbolic comprehension among EFL learners. (Mokwon University)