Metaphor as a Tool for Shaping Artistic Reality in the Works of Oksana Zabuzhko and Virginia Woolf

This study explores the role of metaphor in shaping subjective worldviews in the works of Oksana Zabuzhko and Virginia Woolf, focusing on how metaphors influence artistic world-building and reader interaction. The research employs structural and semantic analysis, cognitive linguistics, and comparative studies to identify key metaphorical models in both authors’ works. The findings reveal that Woolf uses metaphor to express fragmented consciousness, psychological states, and time, while Zabuzhko’s metaphors address national identity, feminist discourse, and social criticism. Woolf’s metaphors primarily serve expressive-emotional and cognitive functions, whereas Zabuzhko’s often carry ideological and polemical weight. The study underscores metaphor as a vital tool in constructing artistic reality and enhancing reader engagement. It also highlights the importance of further research into the cognitive mechanisms of metaphor and its role in text comprehension. The study’s practical value lies in its potential to deepen the understanding of literary texts, improve literary analysis methods, and enhance the interpretation of metaphor in teaching literature and cultural studies.