Analysis of the Poem <i>A Clock Stopped</i>—from the Perspective of Disengagement in Cognitive Grammar

Abstract

According to cognitive grammar, language is an integral part of cognition. Thus, as the linguistic expression of a poet's spontaneous thoughts, poetry will naturally reflect the poet's cognitive activity. Emily Dickinson, an original and preeminent poet in American literature, has left us priceless heritage in poetry. And death, as one of her favorite motifs, could definitely not be passed over if one wants to have a good command of Dickinson's poems. The article attempts to analyze the conceptual metaphor in the poem A clock stopped-from the perspective of disengagement in Cognitive Grammar, and manages to reveal the theme of the poem during the process. Through the analysis, it can be safely concluded that the theories in Cognitive Grammar can forge a happy marriage with literature criticism.