The Relevance of Metaphor: Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop and Seamus Heaney

This book explores the use of metaphor in the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Seamus Heaney through the lens of relevance theory, which suggests that communication is influenced by the context and the speaker's intentions. It examines how these poets use metaphor to convey meaning and explore the relationship between language and reality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book delves into the realm of metaphor as a communicative phenomenon within the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Seamus Heaney, drawing upon the framework of relevance theory, which was first established by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson in the 1980s. The first half of the book provides an introduction to relevance theory, contextualizing it within the realm of literary criticism. It then surveys the historical trajectory of metaphor in literary studies, evaluating relevance theory's account of metaphor, including recent advancements such as Robyn Carston's notion of "the lingering of the literal." The second half of the book explores the role of metaphor in the works of three nineteenth- and twentieth-century poets through the lens of three central terms in relevance theory: inference, implicature, and mutual manifestness. This volume is of significant interest to students and scholars engaged in literary studies, pragmatics, stylistics, as well as relevance theorists.

Introduction:
In the field of communication, metaphor has long been recognized as a powerful tool for conveying meaning and evoking emotions. However, its role in poetry has received less attention, despite its potential to enhance the aesthetic and expressive qualities of literary works. This book aims to explore the significance of metaphor in the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Seamus Heaney, in light of the relevance theory account of communication first developed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson in the 1980s.

Relevance Theory:
Relevance theory is a cognitive framework that emphasizes the importance of context in communication. It posits that the meaning of a message is not fixed or predetermined but is constructed through the interaction between the sender and the receiver. The theory emphasizes the role of inference, implicature, and mutual manifestness in communication, which are key concepts that will be explored in this book.

Literary Studies and Metaphor:
The history of metaphor in literary studies is rich and diverse, dating back to ancient times. Over the centuries, metaphor has been used by poets to convey complex ideas, create vivid imagery, and evoke emotional responses in their readers. In recent years, relevance theory has provided a new lens through which to analyze metaphor in literary works.

Inference, Implicature, and Mutual Manifestness:
Inference, implicature, and mutual manifestness are three terms central to relevance theory that will be used to analyze the role of metaphor in the poetry of Dickinson, Bishop, and Heaney. Inference refers to the process by which the receiver draws inferences about the meaning of a message based on the context and the sender's intentions. Implicature refers to the indirect or implied meaning of a message that is not explicitly stated but is inferred by the receiver based on the context and the sender's intentions. Mutual manifestness refers to the shared understanding between the sender and the receiver of the meaning of a message.

The Poetry of Emily Dickinson:
Emily Dickinson was a nineteenth-century American poet who is renowned for her unique and enigmatic style. Her poetry often employs metaphor to convey complex ideas and emotions in a concise and subtle manner. In this book, we will examine how Dickinson uses metaphor to explore themes such as nature, mortality, and the human condition.

The Poetry of Elizabeth Bishop:
Elizabeth Bishop was a twentieth-century American poet who was known for her precise and evocative language. Her poetry often employs metaphor to create vivid imagery and convey complex ideas about the nature of love, loss, and the human experience. In this book, we will explore how Bishop uses metaphor to explore themes such as the relationship between the self and the world, the complexities of human relationships, and the power of language.

The Poetry of Seamus Heaney:
Seamus Heaney was a twentieth-century Irish poet who was recognized for his poetic craftsmanship and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience. His poetry often employs metaphor to convey complex ideas and emotions in a deeply personal and evocative manner. In this book, we will examine how Heaney uses metaphor to explore themes such as identity, history, and the nature of the human condition.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book aims to demonstrate the significance of metaphor in the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Seamus Heaney, in light of the relevance theory account of communication. By exploring the role of inference, implicature, and mutual manifestness in these poets' works, we hope to shed light on the ways in which metaphor can enhance the aesthetic and expressive qualities of literary works. This volume will be of interest to students and scholars working in literary studies, pragmatics, stylistics, as well as relevance theorists.

Weight: 554g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030839536
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021