METAPHORIC REPRESENTATION OF BINARY CONCEPTS OF OBLIVION-MEMORY (THE CASE STUDY OF JOHN GREEN’S NOVEL “THE FAULT IN OUR STARS”)

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of expressing binary concepts through the conceptual metaphors’ theory of G. Lakoff and M. Johnson in order to deepen understanding of how literary discourse reflects these fundamental aspects of human experience using linguistic means. The purpose of the article is to clarify the features of metaphorical objectification of artistic binary concepts OBLIVION-MEMORY, verbalized in the novel by J. Green “The fault in our stars”. The article analyzes recent research and publications on the subject, including works by leading Western European researchers such as P. Ricoeur, A. Assmann, and F. Ankersmit. The article provides examples of conceptual metaphors for MEMORY and OBLIVION, such as MEMORY IS A SIGN/ MARK/SCAR, CONSCIOUSNESS IS A SHIP, OBLIVION IS A SEA, and CONSCIOUSNESS IS A SHORE. These metaphors suggest that memories can be visible and tangible, like marks or scars, and that they can serve as reminders of past experiences. Special attention is paid to the use of blending theory of G. Fauconnier and M. Turner, which combines two different concepts to create a new understanding of how two domains are interconnected. The theory is based on the idea that the conceptual system that shapes our thoughts and actions is largely metaphorical in nature. Many cognitive operations, including metaphor, involve the integration of different mental structures into a single representation. The article provides examples of how these metaphors are used in the novel to describe the main character’s experience of pain and her desire to escape from it. Metaphors highlight the contrast between the experience of oblivion and consciousness, and the importance of the latter for providing stability and continuity of existence.