Verbalized integration of the archetypal concepts AIR and EARTH

Abstract

The article outlines the peculiarities of the verbalized integration of the archetypal concepts AIR and EARTH in W. Golding’s prose fiction. The research suggests the definition of the segment of correlation, and describes its structure; it also specifies the key, conditionally key, and basic lexemes to verbalize the addressed concepts within the segment of correlation.Given the general trend to desyncretization of the archetypal concepts of the elements at the general cultural level, the systemization of the selected unites in W. Golding’s prose fiction reveals they are largely integrated. The research provides the term “the segment of correlation” to describe the area where the two archetypal concepts overlap. Structurally, the segment of correlation falls into sections of the correlation and groups of nominative units. The lexemes to represent the studied mental phenomena are classified as key, conditionally key, and basic, depending on their share in the verbalization of the concept. The segment of correlation of the archetypal concepts AIR and EARTH features three sections: one with the dominating “air” component, one with the dominating “earth” component, and the section “the prototypical axis”, with the latter being represented most expensively. The section “the prototypical axis”, in its turn, is subdivided into such groups of nominative units as “the mountain”, “the tree”, “the axis”, and “the movement along the axis”. The key lexemes to represent the integrated verbalized concepts AIR and EARTH are the following: tree, cliff, rock, and wall. The paper suggests that the dominative nature of these units can be explained by the episodes of Golding’s biography (e.g. his joining the Naval Service), which were consequently reflected in his works too.