The Role of Metaphor in the Stylistic Rendition of Gogol's Dead Souls

Abstract

Metaphor is probably the most useful linguistic tool in creative and imaginative literature. This is especially so with Gogol's Dead Souls. From micro images depicted in the submerged metaphor, compound metaphor, implicit metaphor and allusions, metaphorical images in the novel extend to straddle entire supra phrasal units. This paper argues that a deeper understanding of the metaphor is necessary for a better appreciation of Dead Souls which is one extended metaphor of the road. Gogol himself describes it as a noэma (poem) because of its complex and elevated thoughts encapsulated mostly in the use of the metaphor.