1

CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN EMILY DICKINSON’S

SELECTED POEMS

Tran Thi Le Dung*, Nguyen Thanh Binh*

Hoang Thuy Nga*, Pham Thi Minh Phuong*

Date received the article: 2/08/2022

Date received the review results: 03/02/2023
Date published the article: 27/02/2023

Abstract: This study is an investigation of conceptual metaphors of social life in Emily

Dickinson’s selected poems in the framework theory of Lakoff and Johnson (1980/2003),
Kovecses (2010). In this paper, the structural metaphors, orientational metaphors and
ontological metaphors will be analyzed to reflect the opinions of theirs about life, love, and
sadness in the lyrics of the poets. The study is mainly carried out through the documentary
analysis and descriptive study with the support of qualitative and quantitative approach. The
results of this research show that there are twenty source domains of conceptual metaphors
used to express social life. Finally, the research showed that conceptual metaphor is being in
our everyday life.
Keywords: metaphor; conceptual metaphor; life; love; sadness; selected poems.
I. Introduction understand, perceive and conceptualize
Since metaphor is believed as a the work. According to Sandstrom [9],
component of figurative language, it isone metaphors allow people to enhance the
of those figures of speech in languagethat language .
should be interpreted figuratively. Using Lakoff and Johnson [6, p.5] defined
metaphor in poem is one of the most metaphor as “Understanding and
fascinating and creative works of the poet. experiencing one kind of thing in termsof
According to Ullmann [11] metaphor is so another “. The authors also explain that
intimately connected with the texture of “Every experience takes place within a vast
human speech that people have previously background of cultural presuppositions”
encountered it in a variety of forms: as a (p.57). Lakoff and Johnson [6] clearly
significant motivator, a short of synonym stated their position about metaphor:
and polysemy, a meaning of filling a gap “Metaphor is pervasive in everyday life,
in lexicon, and a variety of other not just in language but in thought and
functions. Metaphor is no longer a matter action”. What is more, Ungerer and Schmid
of language, but a tool of human being to [12] thought that conceptual metaphors

* Faculty of English, Hanoi Open University

2

are organized in a system of thoughts and and dead-on May 15, 1886. She is now
not particularly in language. Metaphorical regarded as one of the most influential
expressions reflect how we regularly think personalities in American poetry. Her
about things and how we usually use one poetry has been published all over the
kind of experience in a certain context to world through various media. The most
understand another kind of experience intriguing aspect of Emily Dickinson’s
during a different circumstance. Thus, poetry is her distinctive writing style. This
approaching language towards cognitive is interested the researcher in how
linguistics is a new direction in which conceptual metaphor is applied and what
more current linguists and supporters are kind of conceptual metaphors in her
interested. For these reasons above, this paper
A poem is a piece of writing chooses Emily Dickinson’s poems as the
composed of short lines that uses sound subject of the research in the framework
and rhythm to express thoughts and theory of Lakoff and Johnson [6] and
feelings. Wordsworth [13] stated poetry is Kovecses [5] to show that there are
the spontaneous overflow of powerful conceptual metaphors of social life in her
feelings: it takes its origin from emotion poems.
recollected in tranquility. Gill [1] stated II. Literature review
that poem is a charming collection of
words that contain deep meaning. Also, 2.1. Conceptual metaphor
Tomlinson [10, p.38] thought that “Poetry Metaphor plays a fundamental role
is the expression of ideas and feelings in the language and imagination. It is a
through a rhythmical composition of best choice of describing reality and ideas
imagination and beautiful worlds selected when literal language can not. Metaphor
for their sonorous effects”. develops meaning by describing a certain
It is apparent that metaphorical feature about one thing in terms of
language stimulates the imagination, another. John Peck and Mertin Coyle [3,
allowing the writer to express more p.141] said that “ It is able to create an
emotions and sensations. Metaphor reveals effect of defamiliarization and challenge
complexities for which there is no standard our normal way of thinking about things,
word and encourages readers to think restructure our perceptions.”
abstractly. Most people choose metaphor Lakoff and Johnson [6] have drawn
to delivered messages because it is an their attention to the exclusive meaning
effective way to transmit vivid imagery of metaphor: “Metaphor is for mostpeople
that goes beyond literal words, resulting in a device of the poetic imagination and the
visuals that are simpler to comprehend and rhetorical flourish – a matter of
respond to than literal language. As a extraordinary rather than ordinary
poet, Emily Dickinson is very well- language”. They link or expresses one
known for her use of figurative language, concept to another concept in different
especially metaphor in her works. She was terms metaphorically. Metaphors not
born in Amherst on December 10, 1830, only help people think more vividly,
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but also help organize our perceptions which the tenor is being described; and
in our minds. Also, Kamaliah [4]states ground is the similarities and/or analogies
that metaphor which serves to illustrate involved, or the basis on which topic and
an idea decoratively and catches an vehicle could be put together. For
attention of the audience is call conceptual example, in the statement “Bob is a tiger
metaphor. Conceptual metaphor sustains in debate”, “Bob” is the tenor and “Tiger”
its metaphorical value, so it is necessary to is the vehicle. The analogy between Bob
make an effort to comprehend the meaning and tiger, which is possibly the way Bob
of a conceptual metaphor. arranges his arguments, cunning andstrong
Punter[8]definedtheterm‘metaphor’ like a tiger, make it difficult to rebut by
that it is a process of mapping between two others, becomes the ground.
different conceptual domains”. Moreover, Conceptual metaphors are perhaps
it is interesting to observe that another often seen as the means for simplifying
linguist Kövecses [5, p.4] also proves the and explaining abstract conceptual
similar idea that: “A conceptual metaphor domains. Lakoff and Johnson [6] argued
consists of two conceptual domains, in that “ The use of conceptual metaphors
which one ___domain is understood in terms is not always a conscious choice, but
of another. A conceptual ___domain is any something used automatically” (p.3).
coherent organization of experience”. Because conceptual metaphors are such
Conceptual metaphor structures are fundamental and deeply integrated parts of
analyzed as systematic and firm relations language and thought, they are used
between two conceptual domains with continually to a great extent without
correlative mappings written in small people realizing it. Therefore, describing
capitals. Correlative mapping indicatesa one conceptual ___domain via another may
projection of A structure over B one. This not be as uncommon as one first maythink.
mapping result in the organizationof our
A standard definition adopted in
outlooks on appropriate categories in the
this present paper is that “A conceptual
B target ___domain, in the forms of A source
metaphor is understanding one ___domain of
___domain. Commonly, categories in the
experience (that is typically abstract)in
source ___domain are more specific.
terms of another (that is typically
Meanwhile, those in the target ___domain are
concrete)” [Kovesces, 5, p.13].
more abstract. This means that the writer
base on their experiences about human 2.1.1. Structural metaphors
beings, things and specific daily events to Structural metaphor is a metaphor
conceptualize abstract categories. where one concept is expressed in terms of
According to Goatly [2], regarding another structured or concept. These
the way metaphor worked, there are three involve the structuring of one kind of
terms which constitute a metaphor: topic experience or activity in terms of another
(tenor), vehicle and ground. Topic is the kinds of experience or activity. Lakoffand
subject of metaphor or the intended idea to Johnson [6] argued that the cognitive
be expressed; vehicle is another idea by
4

function of these metaphors is to enable According to Kovecses [5, p.37],

speakers to understand target A by means ontological metaphors provided much less
the structure of source B. Structural cognitive structuring for target concepts
metaphor involves “imposing part of one than structural ones do. Ontology is a
gestalt structure upon another” (p.178). brand of philosophy that has to do with the
nature of existence. “Ontological
Lakoff and Johnson analyze the
conceptual metaphors enable speakers to
ARGUMENT IS WAR metaphor as an
conceive of their experiences in terms of
example of a structural metaphor “When
objects, substances, and containers in
people debate, what people do and how
general, without specifying further the
people comprehend what people are doing
kind of object, substance, or container”
is structured. ARGUMENT is constructed,
(p.328). In general, ontological metaphors
understood, performed, and discussed in
enable people to see more sharply
part through the lens of WAR. The concept
delineated structure where there is very
is structured metaphorically, the activity is
little or none. To put it another way, people
structured figuratively, as a result, the
classify unbounded and unstructured
language is structured metaphorically.”
events, activities, ideas and emotions as
[6, p.5]. This metaphor is reflected in our
concrete entities and substances.
everyday language by a wide variety of
expression as it expressed in some 2.1.3. Orientational metaphors
sentences such as:
Lakoff and Johnson [6] considered
“Your claims are indefensible.” “He that orientational metaphor deals with
attacked every weal point in my spatial orientations. An orientational
argument.” metaphor is a metaphor which is based on
the orientation of space. It is made from
“His criticism was right on target”’ spatial relationship concepts such as up-
What is more, examples of this down; in-out; on-off; and front-back. The
metaphor are when people discuss the relationship is normally based on our
concepts of love, social organization, experiences of the physical space we have.
theory, life, etc. 2.2. Poem
Someone when talking about her Poems are as widespread and nearly
love may say “I don’t think our as ancient as language. The most primitive
relationship is going anywhere”, “We’re people used it, and the mostsophisticated
at a crossroads” or “We are stuck”. There people cultivated it for its pleasure-giving
exists in this sentence a metaphor “LOVE properties. People haveread, listened to, or
IS JOURNEY”. Another example is recited it because they enjoy it. Perrine [7,
IDEAS ARE FOOD. This metaphor can p.3] stated that “Poem might be defined as
be used in “I can’t digest all these fact”, “I a kind of language that says more and says
just can’t swallow that claim” or “Let me it more intensely than does ordinary
stew over that for a while”. language “. That is, the poetry makes use
2.1.2. Ontological Metaphors of specific
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language. This is not everyday language. analysis and description are examples of
Meanwhile, Wordsworth defined poem qualitative approaches. The research
as” the spontaneous overflow of powerful employs a descriptive technique to describe
feelings: it takes its origin from emotion the meanings of conceptual metaphors in
recollected in tranquility: the emotion is Emily Dickinson’s selected poems.
contemplated till, by a species of reaction,
In this study, the researcher collects
the tranquility gradually disappears, and
data using a documentary approach. The
an emotion, kindred to that which was
study’s data sources are four poems which
before the subject of contemplation, is
are If you were coming in the fall, The
gradually produced, and does itself
brain is wider than the sky, I felt a cleaving
actually exist in the mind”. The particular
in my mind and Exultation is the going.
language employed in the poems is chosen
Thus, to make it easier for the researcher
for its beauty. This is crucial since poems
to collect the data, the three poems stated
written in everyday language will have
above with Emily Dickinson’s lyrics were
little impact on the readers.
acquired from the website Genius.
Death, agony, and suffering are not
joyful in real life, but they can be in Lakoff and Johnson’s conceptual
poetry. They will be more pleasurable for metaphor theory was chosen as a paradigm
intelligent readers if they are conveyed of language metaphor expression. The
through the medium of art. A poem can writer uses a distributional strategy
only be recognized through the response combined with a substitutional
of a good reader who has developed some methodology to analyze the data. The
sensitivity to the poetry. However, there distributional technique is an approach to
is a catch in reading the poem. There are data analysis that considers the language
several ways to learn more about it, itself. Substitutional method is a technique
including the following: for swapping out specific pieces for others.

1. Read a poem more than once. To its end, the author needs to answer
the following questions: 1) What types of
2. Keep the dictionary close at hand
metaphors are found in Emily Dickinson’s
and make use of it.
selected poems?; 2) What are the meanings
3. Read so as to hear the sounds of of conceptual metaphors used in Emily
the words in the mind. Dickinson’s selected poems?
4. Always pay close attention to IV. Findings and discussions
what the poetry is communicating.
4.1. Structural metaphors in Emily
5. Practice reading aloud a poem. Dickinson’s selected poems
III. Methodology In terms of structural metaphors,
This study uses both a qualitative there are nine kinds of structural metaphors
and quantitative research design, as well in Emily Dickinson’s four poems. This
as descriptive and contrastive analytic table below shows the meanings of these
methods, to achieve its goal. Contrastive kinds of metaphors.
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Table 1. Structural metaphors in Emily Dickinson’s selected poems

Structural
No Lyrics Meaning Poem title
Metaphors
If you were coming TIME/ SEASON IS The speaker looks forward to If you were
1
in the fall LOCATION the return of the one she loves. coming in the fall
The speaker believes that if
I’d brush the summer TIME / SEASON IS If you were
2 their lover arrives, she will
by OBJECT coming in the fall
dismiss the time he was gone.
If the lover has arrived, the
I ’d wind the months speaker will overlook the
in balls, TIME / SEASON IS entire period of waiting. If you were
3
And put them each in OBJECT Because the length of his coming in the fall
separate drawers absence is irrelevant as long as
he returns, and they reunite.
If I could see you in TIME /SEASON IS The speaker expects her If you were
4
a year LOCATION lover’s arrival in a year. coming in the fall
This metaphorical expression
when this life was If you were
5 LIFE IS MONEY means if the time of her death
out, coming in the fall
had come.
I ’d toss it yonder The speaker would willingly
If you were
6 like a rind, TIME IS FRUIT die if they would be together
coming in the fall
And taste eternity forever.
I tried to match it -
In her thoughts, the speaker
Seam by Seam I felt a cleavage
7 MIND IS PUZZLE attempts to connect one
But could not make in my mind
thought to the another.
them fit.
But sequence
During the waiting period, the
ravelled out of Sound If you were
8 MIND IS OBJECT speaker makes considerable
Like Balls - upon a coming in the fall
effort to prevent falling apart.
Floor.
Exultation is the The metaphor implicates the
Exultation is the
going DEATH IS elation of death moment when
9 going
Of an inland soul to DEPARTURE the soul leaves the parochial
sea limits to the eternal.

4.2. Ontological metaphors in Emily Dickinson’s selected poems

Ontological metaphor is used in the analyzed lyrics of Emily Dickinson’s selected

poems which are shown in the table 2 below.

Ontological
No Lyrics Meaning Poem title
Metaphors
The speaker expresses a little If you were
With half a smile and EXPRESSION IS
1 bit happy and a little bit anger coming in the
half a spurn CONTAINER
when her lover has arrived. fall
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Ontological
No Lyrics Meaning Poem title
Metaphors
The author is describing a
I felt a Cleaving in my
psychological experience, such I felt a
Mind - MIND IS
2 as a lapse into irrationality, a cleaving in my
As if my Brain had CONTAINER
breakdown, or the forgetting of mind
split -
a thought or word.
The one the other will
Our minds are so enormous The brain is
contain MIND IS
3 that they can take in the entire wider than the
With ease- and you- CONTAINER
universe. sky
beside
The one the other will Our mind’s has impressive
The brain is
absorb MIND IS size to be able incorporate the
4 wider than the
As sponges –Buckets- CONTAINER universe into itself, and thereby
sky
do even to absorb an ocean.
I felt a
The thought behind I The speaker attempted to keep
5 MIND IS HUMAN cleaving in my
strove to join her thoughts from separating.
mind
The speaker emphasizes the
I felt a
Unto the thought SOUL IS heroic efforts she exerted in
6 cleaving in my
before CONTAINER order to keep herself from
mind
falling apart.
A landlubber feels exhilarated
Of an inland soul to SOUL IS Exultation is
7 about to embark on a voyage to
sea CONTAINER the going
the open sea

4.3. Orientational Metaphor

Orientational metaphor is used less than structural metaphors and ontological metaphors
but depending on different purposes in use, orientational metaphor is used in typical ways
shown in the table 3 below:
Table 3. Orientational metaphors in Emily Dickinson’s selected poems
Orientational
No Lyrics Meaning Poem title
Metaphors
The mind is able to absorb,
The Brain - is wider than The Brain is
interpret, and subsume
1 the Sky MORE IS DEEP wider than the
perceptual and experiential
For - put them side by side sky
nformation.
The mind can contain
and carry thoughts of all
The Brain is deeper than
the oceans. The mind has The Brain is
the sea
2 MORE IS DEEP capacity to synthesize wider than the
For - hold them - Blue to
information and think about sky
Blue
itself and the world, not its
actual breadth.
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Orientational
No Lyrics Meaning Poem title
Metaphors
All the woman’s concerns
But now, all ignorant of If you were
MORE IS during the time she waited
3 the length coming in the
LONG for her lover to arrive have
of time’s uncertain wing fall
vanished.
This metaphor serves to
bring the depth of the sea
Into deep Eternity - Exultation is the
4 MORE IS DEEP to mind while emphasizing
going
how the spirit’s journey is
infinite.
4.4. Summary ontological metaphors, and 4 orientational
The findings of the research are from metaphors, according to the findings. The
four Emily Dickinson’s selected poems: The results are presented in appendix 1, 2, and 3,
brain is wider than a sky (1), Exultation is the with the first column indicating the number
going (2), I felt a cleaving (3) and If you were of conceptual metaphors discovered, the
coming in the fall (4). All the poems were second column indicating the lexeme found
analyzed based on the theory of Lakoff and in the lyrics as conceptual metaphors, and
Johnson (1980) about conceptual metaphor. the third column indicating the number
There are 20 conceptual metaphors in of coded poems. In the appendices, all the
total, including 9 structural metaphors, 7 findings were bolded.

Figure 1. Types and frequencies of conceptual metaphor in Emily Dickinson’s selected poems

The figure shows that structural V. Conclusion

metaphors are the most common in the Based on the findings of the study
selected poems, accounting for 45%, and a discussion of the differenttypes of
ontological metaphors for 35%, and metaphors discovered, the researcher
orientational metaphors for 20% of the concludes some points about the
total number of conceptual metaphors conceptual metaphor in four Emily
found. Dickinson’s selected poems. Additionally,
 9

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