Analysis of Comparative Constructions as Means of Reconstructing the Author’s Consciousness

Abstract

One of the components of the grammatical structure of the art text - comparative construction - is considered. The authors believe that through the analysis of the comparisons it is possible to comprehend the peculiarities of the worldview and language of the writer. The research urgency is caused by the fact that the study of grammar in the cognitive aspect is based on the anthropocentric direction of modern linguistics. The novelty lies in the combination of structural-semantic and cognitive methods of analysis of language units with the aim of reconstructing the author’s consciousness. The definitions for the components of the structure of comparative constructions are given. Comparative constructions selected by continuous sampling from Esenin’s “small” poems and his poem “Pugachev” are comprehensively considered: from the point of view of formal-semantic organization, as a means of organizing the artistic image and in the light of the theory of conceptual metaphor. Structural-semantic classification of comparative constructions are developed. In addition, they are seen as a means of creating a syncretic art image. In this case attention is paid to their relationship with such tropes, as metaphor, metamorphosis, impersonation. The result of the cognitive analysis the field-target and area-sources of all selected comparative constructions are described. The study reveals the dominances of Esenin’s author consciousness and traces their change.

Keywords

• comparative construction
• author’s consciousness
• tropes
• theory of conceptual metaphor
• cognitive analysis