Conceptual blending theory in poetry discourse analysis: the case study of Pärnu Elegies (1981) by David Samoylov
- Pages
- 40-50
Abstract
The article deals with the cognitive analysis of poetic images based on the critical approach to the conceptual blending theory (G. Fauconnier, M. Turner), taking into account the findings of the biographical analysis ensuring an in-depth interpretation of the blended spaces. The study aims to show that the semantic complexity of the poetic image goes beyond the conceptual transfer between the source and target mental spaces. Examining the case of Pärnu Elegies (1981) by David Samoylov, the article demonstrates the necessity of completing the conceptual blending method by the poet’s diaries and personal correspondence data. Adhering to the interdisciplinary transfer theory (V. V. Feshchenko) the article borrows the literary studies category of hypotext (G. Genette) to perform the linguistic analysis. Combining the MIP(VU) (Metaphor Identification Procedure), the conceptual blending method and the biographical analysis, the article introduces the hypotext and biographical input spaces that participate in creating the poetic image. The article explicates the correlations between the elegies’ blended spaces and the poet’s life perception and life circumstances. The author determines that the poetic image cannot be reduced to the conceptual projection result, its conceptual space being synthesized from the physical, emotional and intellectual experience.