Metaphoric And Metonymical Dimensions Of Cao Yu's Drama

Within the framework of cognitive linguistics,metaphor and metonymy are not only a method of speaking, but also a way of thinking. They are not merely figures of speech,but also figures of thought. We categorize and understand our various experiences with the assistance of metaphor and metonymy. Metaphor is a process of constructing and understanding one experience domain in terms of another domain. Metonymy is a more fundamental and common cognitive device.The present study takes a metaphorical and metonymic approach towards drama. More specifically, it is an attempt to discuss main plays of Cao Yu,a representative figure of modern Chinese drama,in the light of cognitive metaphor and metonymy. It focuses on some metaphors and metonymies, as well as their metaphorical and metonymic extensions and stylistic effects, in Thunderstorm,Sunrise,Native Beijing and Wild Land.The study is composed of eight chapters. The first chapter is a brief introduction to the research, which is followed by Chapter Two and Chapter Three providing, respectively, a comprehensive literature review and a specification of the theoretical prerequisites for the ensuing discussions. In Chapter Four, metaphors of SHANG and XIA in the Native Beijing, and metaphors derived from CONTAINER schema in the Thunderstorm are examined respectively. Chapter Five deals with metaphors and metonymies related to human body words in the plays, exploring particularly the words XIN, LIAN or MIAN and YAN in the Thunderstorm, and SHOU in the Sunrise. The temperature metaphor and brightness metaphors are examined in Chapter Six. Metonymies in the Thunderstorm are discussed in the next chapter, which provides a more theoretical account. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the metonymic approach to ironies and indirect speech acts are discussed.It is argued throughout the study that cognitive metaphor and metonymy are two very powerful means in producing and understanding literary effects of modern Chinese drama. Cognitive metonymies, temperature and brightness metaphors are effective in play illustration. The approach is capable of revealing delicate cognitive processes and motivations neglected by conventional stylistic models,but not so good at explaining the dialogicality of plays as Conversational Analysis model is.