Abstract: For most traditional linguistics, metaphor which is deemed as a figure of speech often appears on special occasions rather than ordinary language. Cognitive linguistics research demonstrates that metaphor is ubiquitous. Metaphor exists in our language and thoughts and actions. Human’s conceptual system is metaphorical in nature. The essence of metaphor is understanding an unfamiliar thing in terms of a familiar thing. Jane Eyre is a well-known autobiographical novel written by Charlotte Bronte. There are a lot of rich metaphors. But most scholars study Jane Eyre from the perspective of rhetoric, rather than from the cognitive perspective. With the development of cognitive metaphor research, linguists at home and abroad become more and more interested in it. This thesis aims to make a tentative analysis of the metaphors in discourses in Jane Eyre with cognitive metaphor theory, and better understand the process of cognition in order to learn a lot about metaphor connotation in different cultures from the cognitive perspective. Furthermore, this thesis will make a detailed analysis of metaphors in Jane Eyre through specific examples so as to comprehend how they function to construct the novel.

Key words: metaphor; cognitive perspective; Jane Eyre 

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Theoretical Basis....2

  2.1 Introduction to Cognitive Metaphor

2.2 Classification and Internal Structure of Metaphor

3. A Brief Account of Jane Eyre.3

3.1 Introduction to Jane Eyre

3.2 The Background of Charlotte Bronte

4. Metaphorical Analysis of Discourses in Jane Eyre from Cognitive Perspective...... 4

4.1 Journey Metaphor

  4.1.1Burden Metaphor

  4.1.2Resistance Metaphor

  4.2 Devil Metaphor 

  4.3 Elf Metaphor

  4.4 Weather Metaphor

  4.5 Bird Metaphor

  4.6 Sea Metaphor

  4.7 Fire Metaphor

5. Significance of the Study and Conclusion ...11

Bibliography.12

Acknowledgements..13