The Anglo-Saxon mind, metaphor and common sense psychology in Old English literature

grantor: University of TorontoThe rich mental vocabulary of Old English plays a central role in the portrayal of mental and emotional processes in Anglo-Saxon literature. An understanding of how this vocabulary reflects the Anglo-Saxon concept of mind is the central concern of this thesis. Chapter One considers various approaches to the study of mental vocabulary. Most OE mental terms are polysemous and are used interchangeably, and are therefore difficult to distinguish semantically. Focusing on metaphors rather than on individual words may therefore be more fruitful. Chapter Two outlines the cognitive theory of metaphor which suggests that metaphor has a greater role in patterns of human conceptualization than previously realized. One function of metaphor is to provide epistemic access to otherwise elusive concepts, so that a concept such as mind is typically metaphorized in terms from the physical world. Chapter Three is a survey of the Anglo-Saxon metaphors of the mind. Physical attributes projected onto the mind such as spatial orientation, texture, size, etc. are considered together with specific metaphors such as 'mind as container' and 'mind as body'. The question of whether these metaphors reflect a distinctly Anglo-Saxon concept of mind is discussed. Chapter Four examines the particular place in Anglo-Saxon culture of the metaphors of fastening and foundation. The role of these metaphors in the expression of spiritual endeavour is considered in wisdom poetry, hagiography and monastic practice. Chapter Five considers the contribution of the cognitive approach to the study of the Anglo-Saxon mind, focusing on literary criticism, historical physiology, historical psychology and philology. Arguing that a more sophisticated approach to language is necessary if the Anglo-Saxons' worldview is to be reconstructed, the thesis concludes with theoretical considerations, and suggestions for further research.Ph.D