Erotic emissions in Greek poetry: A generic integration network.

Abstract

I use the network model of Blending Theory to present a conceptual generalization over several case studies of imagery, belonging to three different periods of Greek love poetry: ancient Greek lyric, medieval folksongs, and two 20th century poets, Ritsos and Elytis. All these linguistic expressions intend to convey an immediate emotional response to an erotic stimulus. In order to enhance the cause-effect vital relation, they prompt for the construction of a number of conceptual blends, all sharing a generic integration network of erotic emission. Variation in the realization of the pattern crucially relies on assigning the role of the emitter to the loved person or to an external agent, and on selecting a specification for the EMISSION image schema, like light, wind, or an object Culture and context impose further constraints that can be studied systematically.