Natural Metaphor and Cognition in Virginia Woolf’s Ecological Novels

Abstract

Animal images are important components in Virginia Woolf’s ecological novels, which are part of natural metaphor. This thesis is an exploration of the process of the cognition in Woolf’s literary creation through the analysis of the usage of the metaphorical images in her novels. Two major animal images—snail and moth—are examined following a biographical study, which can contribute to exploring Woolf’s ecological consciousness and the adoption of her concepts in her ecological writing.