The interpretation of literary metaphors and symbols : a study of EFL students' needs
This thesis reports on an investigation of some of the skills needed by EFL students in order for them to interpret literary metaphors and symbols found in poems written in English. This exposition is divided into four parts. Part I contains two chapters which introduce this investigation. Part II provides a theoretical description of the recognition and interpretation of literary metaphors and symbols; this description is based on Eco's interpretive schema and my extension of that schema which includes an account of contextual features used for interpretation. Part III discusses subjects' responses to poems with respect to two specific hypotheses; namely, when reading poems written in English, non-native English speakers are less likely than native English speakers to 1) use intertextual referents when producing interpretations, and 2) comprehend the distinctions between literal and metaphorical levels of a poem. And finally, Part IV concludes this exposition with pedagogical implications of my experiments and suggestions for further research.
Trimarco, Paola Marie
The interpretation of literary metaphors and symbols : a study of EFL students' needs. This thesis reports on an investigation of some of the skills needed by EFL students in order for them to interpret literary metaphors and symbols found in poems written in English. This exposition is divided into four parts. Part I contains two chapters which introduce this investigation. Part II provides a theoretical description of the recognition and interpretation of literary metaphors and symbols; this description is based on Eco's interpretive schema and my extension of that schema which includes an account of contextual features used for interpretation. Part III discusses subjects' responses to poems with respect to two specific hypotheses; namely, when reading poems written in English, non-native English speakers are less likely than native English speakers to 1) use intertextual referents when producing interpretations, and 2) comprehend the distinctions between literal and metaphorical levels of a poem. And finally, Part IV concludes this exposition with pedagogical implications of my experiments and suggestions for further research.
interpretation literary metaphor symbol study efl_student need report investigation skill need efl_student order interpret literary metaphor symbols find poem write_english exposition divide_four part part_contain introduce investigation part provide theoretical description recognition interpretation literary metaphor symbols description base eco interpretive schema extension schema include account contextual feature use interpretation part_iii discuss subject response poems respect specific hypothesis namely read poem write_english non_native english_speaker less likely native_english_speaker use intertextual referent produce interpretation comprehend distinction literal_metaphorical level poem finally part conclude exposition pedagogical_implication suggestion