The Structural Metaphor “WAR IS A FEROCIOUS BEAST” in Wayne Karlin’s Work Wandering Souls

Authors

  • Thu Hang Pham Tay Do University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1507.36

Keywords:

conceptual metaphor, conceptualization, war, ferocious beast, mapping

Abstract

This paper analyzes the metaphor WAR IS A FEROCIOUS BEAST in Wandering Souls by Wayne Karlin, which recounts the memories of an American veteran of the Vietnam War. The study identifies eight projection paths from the source domain FEROCIOUS BEAST to the target domain WAR, along with forty-five metaphorical expressions depicting the characteristics of a wild beast. The concept of WAR is mapped through aspects such as brutality, madness, destruction, and death. The novelty of this paper lies in its approach: instead of focusing on the source domain, as it commonly done, it explores the metaphor from the perspective of the target domain. This analysis provides deeper insight into the war ferocity of war and its enduring consequences for humanity.

Author Biography

Thu Hang Pham, Tay Do University

Faculty of Social Sciences & Communication

References

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Published

2025-07-07

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Section

Articles