Metaphor and Conceptual Blending in Ted Hughes’ The Hawk in The Rain: A Cognitive Stylistic Analysis

Abstract

The aim of the study is cognitive stylistics analysis of the metaphor and the conceptual blending in Ted Hughes’ poem The Hawk in The Rain. This research seeks to examine how Hughes uses the tools of metaphor and conceptual blending in the creation of the poem and how the knowledge of cognitive processes helps in understanding the poet’s style and the workings behind it. The focus of the research lies in the analysis of essential metaphors and blending patterns that reveal the reinforcement of primary senses and the construction of the multifaceted poet’s mental worlds. The conclusion successfully conveys how Hughes’ metaphors do not only portray nature but also require the readers to ponder on the subject. Future research should compare the text with other Hughes’ poems or other contemporary poets in order to draw additional conclusions on how cognitive stylistics can be used in contemporary poetry.