COGNITIVE PATTERNS AND POETIC LANGUAGE: A CORPUS ANALYSIS OF METAPHOR IN SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS

Muritala Imam Suleiman, Dr Hamzah Abdulraheem , Dr Toyin Shittu and  Dr Salahudeen, W.O

Volume 1 Issue 2 | Published Online : May, 2025 | ISSN 1595-5087

This study explores metaphorical language in selected plays by William Shakespeare using a corpus-based approach. While previous scholarship has illuminated the figurative richness of Shakespeare’s language, many studies lack empirical rigour and generalisability due to their reliance on close reading. This research addresses these gaps by compiling a stratified corpus of nine Shakespearean plays three each from the genres of tragedy, comedy, and history and applying the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIPVU) to annotate metaphorical expressions systematically. The study integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the frequency, distribution, and cognitive patterns of dominant conceptual metaphors across genres and characters. Findings reveal that metaphors such as life is a journey, power is a burden, and Knowing is seeing recur with high frequency and serve key stylistic and psychological functions. Tragedies exhibit higher metaphor density than comedies and histories, and metaphor usage reflects distinctions in character roles, social status, gender, and dramatic function. This research contributes to Shakespearean studies, cognitive linguistics, and digital stylistics by demonstrating that metaphor in Shakespeare is not merely decorative but conceptually motivated. It also provides a replicable analytical framework for studying metaphor in early modern texts using corpus tools. The findings have implications for performance analysis, pedagogy, and the digital humanities.

Keywords: Shakespeare, Metaphor, Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Corpus linguistics.

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Muritala Imam Suleiman is a lecturer in the Department of General Studies at Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, Nigeria, specializing in language education and academic activities. His research focuses on reading comprehension, metacognition, and language learning strategies, with particular emphasis on innovative approaches to language therapy for children with disorders. He has published on AI-assisted interventions in Nigerian educational contexts, advocating for technology-enhanced methods to improve language acquisition and educational outcomes in diverse learning environments.

Dr. Hamzah Abdulraheem is a senior lecturer and Head of the Department of Languages at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, with expertise in English language and literature. His scholarly work examines linguistic structures, literary analysis, and educational linguistics, contributing to publications on language teaching methodologies and cultural narratives. A native of Ilorin with a PhD from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he emphasizes the integration of local contexts in language education to enhance student engagement and academic performance in Nigerian higher education.

Dr. Toyin Shittu is a senior lecturer in the Department of Languages (English Programme) at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, renowned for her contributions to African literature and dramaturgy. Her research explores satire, social vision, and narrative techniques in contemporary African plays, as evidenced in her PhD dissertation on the works of Femi Osofisan. She has published on literary criticism and the role of drama in societal commentary, promoting critical thinking and cultural awareness through literature in Nigerian academic settings.

Dr. W.O. Salahudeen is a senior lecturer in the Department of Languages (English Programme) at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, with a focus on language instruction and literary studies. His work addresses English language pedagogy, historical linguistics, and the intersection of literature with cultural identity in Nigerian contexts. With educational roots spanning primary to tertiary levels since the 1970s and 1980s, he advocates for inclusive teaching practices that foster linguistic proficiency and critical analysis among students in faith-based universities.

  • Suleiman, Muritala Imam, et al. “Cognitive Patterns and Poetic Language: A Corpus Analysis of Metaphor in Shakespearean Plays.” Michad-Pechez Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 1, no. 2 (2025): 1–25.

© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Michad – Pechez Journals.