Title: The Representation of Death in Ghassan Kanafani’s Men in the Sun through the Lens of Lakoff and Johnson’s Cognitive Metaphor Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Master’s Program, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, University of kharazmi, Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Kharazmi , Karaj, Iran.

10.22080/ltcat.2026.32739.1012

Abstract

As one of the most complex ontological concepts, death has consistently been a focal point for literary creators, appearing in diverse representations across various texts. Given the abstract nature of death, cognitive linguistics posits that humans comprehend this concept by employing conceptual metaphors to link it with tangible, bodily experiences. The present study aims to examine the representation of death in Ghassan Kanafani’s novel *Men in the Sun* (*Rijal fi al-Shams*) through the lens of Lakoff and Johnson’s cognitive metaphor theory, seeking to determine how the author utilizes metaphorical patterns to embody this concept within the work's narrative and political contexts.Furthermore, the depiction of death in this work is inextricably linked to concepts such as the loss of homeland, homelessness, and political voicelessness; indeed, death here signifies not only the end of life for Arab society and its individuals but also reflects the collapse of existence and the loss of Arab and Persian identity amidst crisis and migration.

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