The Role of Metaphors in Contemporary English Literary Discourse

This article examines the role of metaphors in contemporary English literary discourse, focusing on their linguistic, cognitive, stylistic, and communicative functions. Metaphors are not merely decorative elements of literary language; they are important tools for constructing meaning, expressing emotions, developing characters, and presenting abstract ideas through concrete images. The article explores how contemporary English writers use metaphorical expressions to represent identity, time, memory, social relationships, and psychological experiences. It also discusses the relationship between metaphor and readers’ interpretation of literary texts. The analysis demonstrates that metaphors contribute to the richness of literary discourse by creating multiple layers of meaning and encouraging readers to engage actively with a text.