OLD ENGLISH NATURE RELATED SIMILES

This article explores a specific type of Old English simile where vehicles are represented by natural phenomena, shedding light on the idiosyncrasies of Anglo-Saxon associations. Simile vehicles are considered integral components of narratives, acting as auxiliary tools rather than essential plot elements. They serve to create immediate effects, drawing attention to crucial narrative moments. The impact of simile vehicles arises from short-term mental imagery triggered by both the tenor and the ground, emphasizing the importance of choosing vehicles for their strength and accuracy. The paper argues that a language’s simile corpus functions as a mental image gallery, showcasing speakers’ preferences for specific concepts and revealing their worldview. By focusing on ecomorphic similes, especially those with repeatedly used vehicles, the study analyzes a subcorpus of Old English similes to identify key aspects of the medieval English worldview. The findings highlight a penchant for natural comparisons, with the sun, snow, water, stone, and fire being the most commonly employed vehicles, forming certain clusters of related senses