By utilizing Lakoff’s conceptual metaphor theory and Fauconnier’s Blending Theory, the article explores and elaborates on three metaphors about “grapes” in The Grapes of Wrath in light of the connection between the book’s descriptions and Biblical allusions, namely, “grapes as oppressed toilers,” “grapes as hope,” and “grapes as abundance.” “Grapes are the oppressed toiling masses,” “Grapes are hope,” and “Grapes are abundance.”
Cite this paper
Hu, Y. (2023). A Study of the Conceptual Metaphor of “Grapes” in “The Grapes of Wrath”. Open Access Library Journal, 10, e881. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1110881.
Ahrens, K. (2010) Mapping Principles for Conceptual Metaphors. In: Low, G., Todd, Z., Deignan, A. and Cameron, L., Eds., Researching and Applying Metaphor in the Real World, John Benjamins Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 185-208.
https://doi.org/10.1075/hcp.26.12ahr
Gibbs, R.W., Lima, P.L.C. and Francozo, E. (2004) Metaphor Is Grounded in Embodied Experience. Journal of Pragmatics, 36, 1189-1210.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2003.10.009
