Comparative Linguistic Research

Comparative Linguistic Research

Conceptualization of “Death” in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry: A Conceptual Metaphor Theory Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
Yunes Azizian
Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
10.22084/rjhll.2026.31728.2411
Abstract
Emily Dickinson’s poetry is characterized by a distinct preoccupation with death, a theme she approaches with philosophical depth and intense original imagery. This article uses the theoretical framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory and embodied cognition, to analyze how Dickinson conceptualizes death in some of her best-known poems. The study identifies central metaphorical mappings which are rooted in bodily and cultural experiences. Through detailed textual analysis, the article shows that Dickinson reworks conventional Western metaphors of death into estranging, often unsettling, poetic figurations and constructions that invite readers to reconceptualize mortality through embodied imagination. In doing so, the article not only sheds new light on Dickinson’s poetic strategies but also advances cognitive-poetic scholarship by demonstrating the potential of Conceptual Metaphor Theory to enrich literary interpretation.
Keywords
Emily Dickinson
Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT)
embodied cognition
death
cognitive poetics
Subjects