Ο νεκρός ως δέντρο στα ελληνικά μοιρολόγια : Η μεταφορά στην παραδοσιακή προφορική ποίηση τελετουργικού χαρακτήρα
Part of : Ελληνικά : φιλολογικό, ιστορικό και λαογραφικό περιοδικό σύγγραμμα ; Vol.48, No.1, 1998, pages 61-85
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61-85
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The dead as a tree in Greek laments : The use of metaphor in ritual oral poetry
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Drawing on theoretical paradigms from the fields of anthropology and oral poetics, this article proposes a new approach for the study of metaphor in ritual oral poetry, exploring at the same time the complex dialogic interrelationships between metaphor and metonymy, as these manifest themselves in ritual oral songs. More specifically, this paper focuses on the metaphor of the dead as plants, particularly trees, in Greek ritual laments. After categorizing and systematically discussing the main types of this metaphor, the article investigates its iconic/symbolic connotations. The emphasis is put not on the textual dimensions of these songs but on their performativity, which, as this article argues, invests the already dynamic trope of metaphor with a particular dramatic potentiality. The performative context of ritual songs calls for an analysis of metaphor in general and the metaphor of the dead as plants in particular as a condensed linguistic, and potentially dramatic, expression of traditional cosmologica! beliefs.
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