A Cognitive Stylistic Analysis Of To The Lighthouse

The present paper aims at presenting a cognitive stylistic analysis of the discourse structure and the conceptual meaning construction of To the Lighthouse,a novel by Virginia Woolf noted for its prominent technique of stream-of-consciousness.The analysis is conducted by employing mental space theory,the theory of conceptual metaphor proposed by Lakoff and Johnson,and the theory of conceptual blending(also conceptual integration) proposed by Fauconnier and Turner.The paper assumes that despite the complex and chaotic lexico-grammar and discourse structure of the novel,there are certain fabricating patterns underlying the seemingly chaotic surface of narration,which is based on time and consciousness with erratic and endlessly flowing stream of consciousness.Therefore,if the interpretation of the novel is based on common cognitive construction,the readers will be able to experience the numerous and complicated life intuition and perception of the characters.To validate this assumption,the present paper has analyzed the novel from a cognitive stylistic perspective.The analysis is conducted in two dimensions:first,to differentiate base space from characters' hierarchical spaces of consciousness to build up mental space networks and thereby working out the discourse structures of the novel;and second,to reconstruct the cognitive operations of Woolfs verbalization of the pre-verbal consciousness and thereby realizing the conceptual meanings mapped by individualized imagery representations and open symbolic representations of characters' consciousness.In the first instance,the analysis has resorted to common human empirical schemas and extemporaneously obtained discourse schemas,and taking diverse space builders(typographic and linguistic signs) as triggers.In the second instance,the analysis has made use of the theories of conceptual metaphor and conceptual blending.The integration of cognitive structural analysis and conceptual meaning construction is meant to help readers find out the underlying themes of the novel,and to enhance their aesthetic reading experience.By applying the theories of mental space,conceptual metaphor and conceptual blending to analysis of fiction,the present research hopes to provide a new perspective for interpreting and appreciating stream-of-consciousness discourse in literary texts.