THE ROLE OF THE METACONCEPT “LIFE EXTENSION” IN THE REFLECTION OF THE AUTHOR’S LINGUISTIC PERSONALITY (BASED ON THE MATERIAL OF SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS)

Abstract

The article analyses conceptual and semantic information of William Shakespeare’s sonnets on the basis of one of discourse-comprising concepts – LIFE EXTENSION. This concept performs functions of a metaconcept as it is an external concept consisting of internal concepts EGOISM, EXTRAVAGANCE, YOUTH – OLD AGE, CHILD. The metaconcept under study is an element of the author’s linguistic identity, reflecting their worldview and world-modelling. There are various descriptors of this metaconcept which elaborate on its meaning and highlight social, ethical and moral values. For instance, egoism is considered to be a social evil, while ageing evokes in Shakespeare violent aversion caused by his own impotence over this inevitability. In the author’s world view beauty must live forever. One of the crucial concepts for correct interpretation of the metaconcept LIFE EXTENSION is concept CHILD. It is the CHILD that is the basis for understanding Shakespeare’s world view and represents his idea of extending beauty.