Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies English-language Translation Mgr. Anežka Vasková Figurative Language in Daphne du Maurier’s Novel Rebecca and Its Czech Translations Master’s Diploma Thesis Supervisor: Mgr. Lucie Seibertová, Ph. D. 2019 I declare that I have worked on this thesis independently, using only the primary and secondary sources listed in the bibliography. …………………………………………….. Author’s signature Acknowledgement I would like to thank my supervisor, Mgr. Lucie Seibertová, Ph.D., for her kind and patient support, professional insights and valuable advice. Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 1 Introducing Daphne du Maurier and Her Novel Rebecca ................................................... 12 1.1 Daphne du Maurier ..................................................................................................... 12 1.1.1 Life ....................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.2 Writing and Style ................................................................................................. 13 1.2 Rebecca ....................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.1 Why Rebecca? ..................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2 Rebecca’s Specifics .............................................................................................. 16 2 Theory of Metaphorical Thinking in Language .................................................................... 19 2.1 Metaphors, Language and Mind ................................................................................. 19 2.1.1 Varying Imagery ................................................................................................... 20 2.2 The Life of a Metaphor ................................................................................................ 22 2.2.1 How do Metaphors Function ............................................................................... 23 2.3 Concise Typology of Metaphors .................................................................................. 24 2.4 Metaphors in Translation ............................................................................................ 25 2.4.1 Partial Understanding .......................................................................................... 27 2.4.2 The Translator’s Role ........................................................................................... 28 2.4.3 Handling the Text by a Translator ....................................................................... 30 2.4.4 The Process of Translating Metaphors and Their Possible Modifications .......... 32 2.5 Other Tropes ............................................................................................................... 33 2.5.1 Personification ..................................................................................................... 33 2.5.2 Specific Type — Metonymy ................................................................................. 34 2.5.3 Simile ................................................................................................................... 35 3 Analysis ................................................................................................................................ 36 3.1 Analysed Material........................................................................................................ 36 3.2 Analysed Czech Translations ....................................................................................... 37 3.2.1 Shifts between the Two Newer Translations ...................................................... 38 3.3 Analysed Features ....................................................................................................... 39 3.3.1 Definition of Metaphor ....................................................................................... 40 3.3.2 Personification ..................................................................................................... 41 3.3.3 Simile ................................................................................................................... 42 3.4 Hypotheses .................................................................................................................. 42 3.5 General Remarks ......................................................................................................... 43 3.6 Tropes — Metaphors................................................................................................... 44 3.6.1 Preserved Metaphors .......................................................................................... 45 3.6.2 Intensified Metaphors ......................................................................................... 47 6 3.6.3 Use of a Different Metaphor ............................................................................... 48 3.6.4 Special Cases: Metonymy .................................................................................... 49 3.6.5 Special Cases: Synecdoche .................................................................................. 50 3.6.6 Lost and Added Metaphors ................................................................................. 51 3.7 Tropes — Personifications .......................................................................................... 52 3.7.1 Nature ................................................................................................................. 52 3.7.2 The House............................................................................................................ 55 3.7.3 Body Parts ........................................................................................................... 55 3.7.4 Abstract Concepts ............................................................................................... 57 3.7.5 Other Things and Objects .................................................................................... 58 3.7.6 Lost and Added Personifications ......................................................................... 59 3.8 Tropes — Similes ......................................................................................................... 59 3.8.1 Changed Similes .................................................................................................. 61 3.8.2 Metaphor in a Form of Simile ............................................................................. 62 3.9 Shifts of Meaning ........................................................................................................ 63 3.9.1 Wrong Translations ............................................................................................. 64 3.9.2 Well-written Modifications ................................................................................. 65 3.9.3 Border Cases ....................................................................................................... 66 3.10 Individual Tropes Summary......................................................................................... 66 3.11 Specific Concepts ........................................................................................................ 69 3.11.1 Time ..................................................................................................................... 70 3.11.2 Feelings and Emotions ........................................................................................ 71 3.11.3 Memory and Mind .............................................................................................. 72 3.11.4 Words .................................................................................................................. 73 3.11.5 Playing Roles ....................................................................................................... 74 3.11.6 Specific English Concepts .................................................................................... 75 3.11.7 Specific Czech Concepts ...................................................................................... 75 3.11.8 Shared Concepts ................................................................................................. 76 3.12 Evaluation of the Translations .................................................................................... 79 3.12.1 J. B. Šuber ............................................................................................................ 79 3.12.2 Jaroslava and Jiří Pobers ..................................................................................... 81 3.12.3 Czech Translations Summary .............................................................................. 82 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 83 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 88 Primary sources ....................................................................................................................... 88 Secondary sources .................................................................................................................