In this updated edition of his brief, engaging book, Robert J. Fogelin examines figures of speech that concern meaning--irony, hyperbole, understatement, similes, metaphors, and others--to show how they work and to explain their attraction. Building on the ideas of Grice and Tversky, Fogelin contends that figurative language derives its power from its insistence that the reader participate in the text, looking beyond the literal meaning of the figurative language to the meanings that are implied. With examples ranging from Shakespeare, John Donne, and Jane Austen to e.e. cummings, Bessie Smith, and Monty Python, Fogelin demonstrates that the intellectual and aesthetic force of figurative language is derived from the opportunity it provides for unlimited elaboration. Fogelin presents a modern restatement of the view, first put forward by Aristotle, that metaphors are to be treated as elliptical similes. He then offers a detailed defense of this "comparativist" view of metaphors in response to criticisms that have been brought against it by a series of eminent philosophers. This new edition is updated to reflect more recent work on the topic and will interest philosophers, linguists, and literary theorists. In This Book, The Author Examines Figures Of Speech That Concern Meaning--irony, Hyperbole, Understatement, Similes, Metaphors, And Others--to Show How They Work And To Explain Their Attraction. The Author Contends That Figurative Language Derives Its Power From The Insistence That The Reader Participate In The Text, Looking Beyond The Literal Meaning Of The Figurative Language To The Meanings That Are Implied. He Demonstrates That The Intellectual And Aesthetic Force Of Figurative Language Is Derived From The Opportunity It Provides For Unlimited Elaboration. Figurative Predications -- Figurative Comparisons: The Traditional View -- The Standard Criticisms Of Comparativism -- A Dilemma For Theories Of Metaphor -- A Theory Of Figurative Comparisons -- Elaborations. By Robert Fogelin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Contents 8 Preface to the First Edition 10 Preface to the Revised Edition 12 1. Introduction 14 2. Figurative Predications 22 3. Figurative Comparisons: The Traditional View 40 4. The Standard Criticisms of Comparativism 46 5. A Dilemma for Theories of Metaphor 80 6. A Theory of Figurative Comparisons 88 7. Elaborations 106 A Concluding Note 134 Works Cited 136 Index 140 A 140 B 140 C 140 D 141 E 141 F 141 G 141 H 141 I 141 J 142 K 142 L 142 M 142 O 142 P 142 Q 143 R 143 S 143 T 143 U 144 Figurative predications Figurative comparisons: the traditional view The standard criticisms of comparativism A dilemma for theories of metaphor A theory of figurative comparisons Clarifications and elaborations.
