Discourse Analysis Of The Locked Chest-From Perspectives Of Interpersonal Metaphor And Discourse Framework

Literature and linguistics are two different subjects. Yet, since literature demonstrates the essence of language at its best, more and more scholars have been realizing the close relationship between literature and the science of language. Literary stylistics, the interface of the two subjects, accomplished a revolutionary breakthrough in the last century. Drama stylistics, one fresh branch of the literary stylistics, rises due to the development of the discourse analysis and pragmatics.This study attempted to analyze the dialogues in the one-act drama The Locked Chest by the British writer John Masefield, and intended to unfold the relationship between literary effects and linguistic patterns. As for the former, it is actually the impression on readers, and characters' personality and their relationship are the focus of our attention. As for the latter, two linguistic models are adopted, one is interpersonal metaphor put forward by M.A.K.Halliday, and the other is the notion of discourse framework suggested by M. Coulthard, and developed by D. Burton and A. B. M. Tsui. Interpersonal metaphor has some connection with speaker's personality and the relationships of the people involved in verbal interaction and discourse framework works well in interpreting verbal behaviors of the characters.Analysis of some pieces of the dialogues in the drama The Locked Chest based on the two linguistic models indicates the following findings: Thord's speeches are full of interpersonal metaphors and challenging moves, and lack supporting moves before the danger (an escaped killer)comes to their home, but the amount of both metaphors and challenging moves decline, and supporting moves get to rise when crisis emerges. While in Vigdis' speech, the metaphors and challenging moves increase with the occurrence of the danger, and supporting moves get to decrease. This is in line with our impression on the play. Thord is more powerful before the escaped killer comes to their home, and Vigdis is obedient; when the crisis occurs, Vigdis is brave and tries to get over it, while Thord loses himself, and loses the dominant position to Vigdis.This study is an explorative attempt to use interpersonal metaphor in drama stylistics and an initial account of drama with the reference to discourse framework. The discussion of this kind not only paves path for similar research, but also open new applicable areas of the two linguistic models.