An Analysis of Metaphors in Sri Burapha’s Behind the Painting and Ma Ma Lay’s Not Out of Hate

Abstract

This research is a comparative study of metaphors in two Asian novels. A Thai novel, Sri Burapha’s Behind the Painting was first published in 1954 and a Burmese novel, Ma Ma Lay’s Not Out of Hate in 1991. It aims to understand various metaphorical patterns that influence the thematic development and interpretations of these novels. Pragglejaz Group’s (2007) Metaphor Identification Procedure, Ahrens’ (2002) The Conceptual Mapping Model, and Lakoff’s (1992) The Contemporary Theory of Metaphor are chosen as the frameworks of data analysis in this study.
The outcome endorses the idea that different metaphorical patterns are the result of interaction between words’ conventional meaning and their contexts. The top three shared themes found are the themes of LOVE, MORALITY, and IDEALISM. It is also found that the representation of Thai and Burmese cultures can be perceived through the cultural background and lifestyle of the writers via their selection of words in these two novels.