The metaphorical construction of spaces in the novel Ricardo Nixon School (2016) by Cristian Geisse: A linguistic-literary study

Abstract

The article it´´ s about the analysis of metaphors related to the spaces described in the novel Ricardo Nixon School (2016) by Cristian Geisse, adopting an interdisciplinary approach. It utilizes categories from cognitive linguistics, specifically conceptual metaphor, according to the works of Lakoff and Johnson [1980] (2001) and Kövecses (2010, 2020), also integrating insights from literary studies. It’s proposed in the article that the configuration of spaces represents the degradation process of the protagonist, Arturo Navarro, as the novel establishes a consistent metaphorical system based on the general metaphor EXPERIENCING A STATE IS BEING IN A PLACE. Within this metaphorical system, the following metaphors are identified: THE SCHOOL IS A HOUSE OF ORPHAN CHILDREN, LIFE IS A JOURNEY, and GOOD IS UP – BAD IS DOWN.