Mental Spaces And The Cognition Of The Meaning Of Literary Texts

In Cognitive linguistics, language is considered as the representation of cognition; therefore, language research and cognition research should be combined together. Literary texts, consisting of language, undoubtedly involve cognitive process so that cognitive factors are sure to be part of literary research. The Mental Space Theory proposed by Gilles Fauconnier concentrates on the process of meaning construction on the basis of cognitive activities. Fauconnier made a systematic analysis of the relationship between language and cognition, and he thinks that language being a part of cognition is the reflection of it. Furthermore, he points out that meaning construction is realized by the integration of mental spaces. In recent years, Mental Space Theory attracted much attention in academic researches. It was applied in the analysis of language phenomenon such as reference and grammar. In addition, it was used to analyze literary texts such as poems and short stories. It is obvious that Mental Space Theory, providing a new angle for literary research, has promoted the combination of literature and cognition.From the application of Mental Space Theory in literature, we can learn that most of them are specific examples, such as the analysis of figures of speech in poems and discourse in short stories. There is not a systematic method for the meaning construction in literary texts. This thesis based on previous researches aims to make a comprehensive and in-depth discussion about the meaning construction of literary texts and the cognitive activities of readers in the framework of Mental Space Theory. Then, the thesis analyzes Doris Lessing's novel"love, again". Finally, it makes a conclusion that meaning construction is the dynamic and cognitive process in which readers establish mental spaces and make integration.The thesis is divided into five parts. The first part introduces the methodology and main contents as well as making a literary review. The second part discusses the meaning of literary texts in different frameworks of theory. The third part is the core of the thesis, which elaborates the meaning construction of literary texts and readers' cognition from the angle of Mental Space Theory. The forth part discusses the establishment of mental spaces and meaning construction of the novel"love, again". The last part concludes that meaning construction of literary texts is closely related to readers'cognition. As readers'cognitive activities, the establishment and integration of mental spaces make various comprehension of literary texts possible.