Polysemantic Terms of “Fear” in E.A. Poe’s “The Gold Bug”
Keywords:
Edgar Allan Poe, The Gold Bug, semantic field, polysemy, fear lexicon, literary linguistics, psychological narrativeAbstract
This study examines the polysemantic nature of fear-related lexicon in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Gold Bug," exploring how linguistic representations of fear contribute to the story's mysterious atmosphere and psychological depth. Through semantic field analysis and close textual examination, the research identifies and categorizes the multifaceted lexical items associated with fear, investigating their contextual meanings, stylistic functions, and narrative significance. The findings reveal that Poe employs a sophisticated semantic network of fear-related terminology that operates on multiple levels: physiological responses, psychological states, atmospheric conditions, and metaphorical extensions. The analysis demonstrates how Poe's nuanced semantic choices create a complex emotional landscape that elevates the narrative beyond simple horror to an exploration of intellectual anxiety and existential unease. This linguistic approach to Poe's work provides insights into his masterful manipulation of language to evoke psychological states and suggests that the polysemic nature of fear terminology constitutes a central element of his literary technique rather than merely supporting the thematic content.
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