Paper Outline

1. Connectivity: The use of cognitive metaphor in Proust's "The Cookie" and Cavendish's "The Circle of the Brain Cannot be Squared"

2. Introductory paragraph:

Metaphor is a common literary technique that has been used by various authors across the centuries. Metaphors allow authors to compare an object to another object with which a reader may have more familiarity. Another function of the metaphor is to give the reader another frame of reference regarding the object, often to guide a reader’s interpretation. Although metaphor is most commonly seen in literature, cognitive metaphor is a type of metaphor utilized by individuals unconsciously. Cognitive metaphor theory states that individuals process abstract ideas by relating them to a more concrete idea. In Proust’s “The Cookie” and Margaret Cavendish’s “The Circle of the Brain cannot be squared”, the authors use cognitive metaphor to assist the reader with their interpretation of both pieces of literature. Cognitive metaphor in these two pieces also present the reader with comparison’s of the brain as a whole in Cavendish and specifically the concept of memory in Proust’s. Both the brain and memory are both complicated concepts; although both are concrete in that individuals are aware of them, they are extremely abstract in that very little is known about the brain and memory and how each works. In addition, both pieces of literature are evidence of bridging the gap between the arts and sciences, two fields of study assumed to be unrelated. In reality, the study of the arts and the study of science are closely interrelated, to the extent that neither can exist without the other. Proust’s “The Cookie” and Cavendish’s “The Circle of the Brain Cannot be Squared” utilize cognitive metaphor in order to assist the reader’s understanding of the literature and demonstrate the interdependence of different fields of study, specifically the arts and the sciences.

3. Metaphor is most commonly recognized as a literary technique; however, our brains subconsciously utilize metaphor on a daily basis.

 

Proust’s “The Cookie” exemplifies not only literary metaphor, but also discusses cognitive metaphor as utilized by the brain.

The idea of metaphor arises as Proust anthropomorphizes memory by stating “the memory revealed itself” (Proust).

I have been working on the paragraphs regarding Cavendish's poem; however, I'm re-working the paragraphs because I haven't been happy with how I originally wrote them. 

4. I'm also re-writing my conclusion but the general premise is an extension of how the two pieces of literature create a direct relation between the arts and the sciences. Cavendish's entire poem is centered around this theme, while Proust's narrative also does the same, but in  a less obvious way. 

After I have finished up the paragraphs and conclusion, I will post those.