The metaphor and metonymy in poetic and literary creation

from structural linguistics to the french literature

Abstract

This article explores the relationships between metaphor and metonymy in language, particularly in the context of literary creation, based on the theories of Saussure and Jakobson. It discusses the concepts of signifier, signified, syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations, as well as the impact of these concepts on the articulation of poetic and literary language. Jakobson proposes that metaphor is linked to selection, while metonymy refers to combination, both being fundamental to understanding the functioning of language. The text also highlights the coexistence of metaphor and metonymy in poetic and literary creation, using examples from French literature such as Victor Hugo, Marcel Proust, Albert Camus, and Ghérasim Luca.