LIGHT LEXEMES IN FRANK PERETTI’S NOVEL THE VISITATION: STRUCTURAL AND SEMANTIC CHARACTERISTICS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/gph2025.855-856.166-174Keywords:
semantics of light, stylistic function, literary discourse, symbolism, linguistic imageryAbstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of linguistic means denoting light phenomena in Frank Peretti’s novel The Visitation. The aim of the study is to identify and describe the lexico-semantic, morphological, and syntactic features of light-related lexemes in the literary text. The material consists of occurrences of such units as light, lantern, lamp, glow and their derivatives, which are investigated in terms of frequency, distribution, and functional diversity.
The methodology combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study applies methods of lexico-semantic grouping, component analysis, morphological examination, and syntactic contextual analysis. Such an approach makes it possible to trace how different linguistic forms represent semantic nuances, stylistic functions, and symbolic meanings of the image of light in narrative contexts.
The findings reveal that light lexemes in the novel perform multifunctional roles: from establishing spatial and temporal coordinates of the fictional world to shaping symbolic and emotionally expressive layers of meaning. The analysis also demonstrates that morphological flexibility (the ability to function as both nouns and verbs) enables the author to vary descriptive strategies and enrich the dynamic texture of narration.
The conclusions suggest that light-related lexemes in Peretti’s prose not only enhance imagery and atmosphere but also acquire a deeper symbolic dimension, often linked with revelation, truth, or spiritual struggle. Thus, the research confirms the significant role of lexical choices in constructing thematic motifs and opens perspectives for further exploration of the semantics of light in modern English prose.
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