THE ANALYSIS OF MENTAL METAPHORS IN LEILA ABOULELA’S NOVEL “MINARET”
Keywords:
mental metaphor, cognitive analysis, culture, novel, character, theme, symbolAbstract
This article examines the role of mental metaphors in Leila Aboulela’s
novel Minaret, analyzing how cognitive linguistics can uncover deeper layers of meaning
in the protagonist’s experiences. Through a detailed study of metaphorical expressions
related to faith, displacement, and self-identity, the research highlights the cognitive
mechanisms that shape the protagonist’s perception of her journey. The study draws upon
Conceptual Metaphor Theory to explore how abstract emotions and cultural
transformations are mapped onto concrete experiences. The findings demonstrate that
Aboulela employs mental metaphors to depict the protagonist’s psychological evolution,
reinforcing the novel’s themes of spiritual awakening and cultural hybridity. This analysis
contributes to cognitive literary studies by illustrating how metaphor serves as a cognitive
bridge between personal experience and broader socio-cultural realities.
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