doi: 10.18178/IJLLL.2026.12.1.635
Embodiment and Cognitive Alienation in A Rose for Emily from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition
Zihan Liu
,
Hongguo Xue *
,
Chen Chao
- School of Foreign Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
- Manuscript received November 28, 2025
- accepted February 3, 2026
- published March 27, 2026
Abstract
This paper employs the theoretical framework of embodied cognition to conduct an in-depth analysis of the interactive relationship among bodily experiences, sensory perceptions, and cognitive construction in William Faulkner’s short story <em>A Rose for Emily</em>. Through a meticulous interpretation of embodied elements such as olfaction, vision, space, and bodily behaviors in the text, it reveals how the protagonist, Emily, maintains a distorted cognitive world through bodily practices. The paper explores the profound implications of the novel’s themes from the perspective of embodied cognition, offering a new academic dimension for the interpretation of the work. It finds that the theory of embodied cognition can effectively reveal the deep interaction between the body and cognition in literary texts, offering an interdisciplinary perspective integrating sensory experience, bodily practices, and cognitive science for the interpretation of classic works.
Keywords
- embodied cognition
- <em>A</em> <em>R</em><em>ose for Emily</em>
- sensory perception
- bodily practice
How to Cite
Zihan Liu, Hongguo Xue, and Chen Chao, "Embodiment and Cognitive Alienation in A Rose for Emily from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition," International Journal of Languages, Literature and Linguistics, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 84-88, 2026. https://doi.org/10.18178/IJLLL.2026.12.1.635
Copyright & License
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).