Devils, Serpents, Zebras: Metaphors of Illness in Contemporary Swedish Literature on Eating Disorders

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Abstract

The present paper explores the metaphors of illness in Swedish narratives on eating disorders, published between 1987 and 2005. The authors use the metaphors of powerful beings such as serpents or devils to name their illness, and these metaphors can be analysed as being part of the master metaphors of battle, territory and intruders. This paper discusses the metaphors used to envision the flesh and the self, as well as three important “intruders”: compulsive starvation, food, and the urge to eat.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSocial Studies of Health, Illness and Disease. Perspectives from the Social Sciences and Humanities
EditorsPeter L Twohig, Vera Kalitzkus
PublisherRodopi
Pages95-111
Volume49
ISBN (Print)978-90-420-2405-2
Publication statusPublished - 2008

Publication series

Name
Volume49

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Languages and Literature

Free keywords

  • Metaphors of illness
  • eating disorders
  • anorexia
  • Swedish literature.
  • bulimia

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