The figure: comparison in the literary domain
Dr. Amalendu Chakraborty, Professeur de Français, Assam University Silchar Abstract: This study delves into the ubiquitous presence of the comparison figure in the realm of language, aptly described as a figure of analogy. Drawing from the insightful analysis of Jean Milly, as articulated in “The Poetics of Texts,” the comparison figure involves the explicit juxtaposition of a term with another, revealing shared elements of meaning. This study goes beyond contemporary perspectives by tracing the roots of this figure in Indian poetics, exploring how ancient rhetors and poeticians provided detailed interpretations centuries ago. The literary significance of the comparison figure is unraveled through various linguistic devices, such as conjunctions like “like,” “as well as,” and “just as,” as well as a nuanced system of quantitative comparisons utilizing expressions like “more than,” “less than,” “as much as,” “the same to,” “identical to,” and “analogous to.” Furthermore, verbs carrying a comparative essence, such as “to seem,” “to appear,” Read More …