The Life is a Journey Metaphor in Emily Dickinson’s Individual Conceptual Framework

Abstract

The features of the LIFE IS A JOURNEY complex conceptual metaphor in Emily Dickinson’s cognitive arsenal were traced in the article. A comparative analysis of the functioning of the metaphor in the author’s conceptual universe and the conceptual framework of the cultural community she belonged to was carried out. This type of analysis is considered as a valuable tool for the identification of cognitive mechanisms underlying the integration of complex conceptual metaphors into individual conceptual frameworks. The analysis is performed according to the paradigm of cognitive linguistics.