Figurative Language

Question 1

Structural metaphors

Answer 1

A structural metaphor is a conventional metaphor in which one concept is understood and expressed in terms of another structured, sharply defined concept e.g. ‘Your claims are indefensible.’ is an example of an argument-as-war structural metaphor

Question 2

Orientational metaphor

Answer 2

Concepts are spatially related to each other e.g. Deep or shallow. Orientational metaphors can give concepts a spatial orientation e.g. concept of ‘happiness’ is orientated up.

Question 3

Are spatialization metaphors arbitrary in nature?

Answer 3

Arguably they are not, as they are often rooted in physical or cultural experience e.g. sickness and death spatially assigned with down and there is a physical basis to this - illness and death makes us lie down.

Question 4

Name five bases of genre classification

Answer 4

Formal arrangement (Texts formal properties)

Theme or topic (e.g. pastoral, crime)

Mood or anticipated response (e.g. pastoral implies nostalgic mood)

Occassion (Developed in specific historical contexts for special kinds of occasion e.g. elegy laments someones death)

Conventional agreement (Genres mimic influential texts that serve as exemplary cases)

Question 5

Identify some of the functions of genre

Answer 5

Acts as a framework for a text’s intelligibility, by providing a schema - structured assumptions that we draw on to guide reading.

Reflects the nature of fundamental human experience e.g. Fryre’s archetypal genres (comedy, romance, tragedy and satire) emotionally correspond to the four seasons which are in turn linked to perceived stages of human life).

Question 6

Collage (in genre)

Answer 6

When different genres are placed next to each other

Question 7

Pastiche

Answer 7

Undermines a seemingly authentic voice by signaling incongruous imitation, usually by merging conventions from one genre, with subject matter from another.