THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SYMBOLIC AND COGNITIVE FRAMES IN REPRESENTING REALITY AND SHAPING FAIRY-TALE PLOTS
Keywords:
cognitive frames, symbolic representation, fairy tales, cognitive linguistics, literary discourse, narrative structure, symbolism, conceptualization, fictional reality, metaphorical thinking.Abstract
This article examines the significance of symbolic and cognitive frames in representing reality and shaping fairy-tale plots from the perspective of cognitive linguistics and literary analysis. The study focuses on how symbolic structures, cultural images, and cognitive frames influence the construction of fairy-tale narratives and readers’ interpretation of fictional reality. Fairy tales are analyzed as literary texts that reflect human experience, moral values, and social beliefs through symbolic representation and cognitive modeling.
The research investigates the role of cognitive frames in organizing events, characters, and narrative situations within fairy tales. Particular attention is given to symbolic elements such as magical objects, natural phenomena, mythical characters, and spatial images that function as conceptual tools for representing abstract ideas and emotional experiences. The study demonstrates that cognitive frames help structure the plot and guide readers’ understanding of conflict, transformation, and moral development in fairy-tale discourse.
The findings reveal that symbolic and cognitive frames play a crucial role in shaping the narrative structure and ideological meaning of fairy tales. They contribute to the representation of reality through imagination, symbolism, and metaphorical thinking while reflecting universal cultural and psychological patterns. The article concludes that symbolic and cognitive framing is an essential mechanism in the creation and interpretation of fairy-tale plots and literary meaning.³
