Kiselyova A. Concept "Femininity" in Victorian linguoculture

The thesis is dedicated to the study of concept "Femininity" in Victorian linguoculture. Femininity is viewed as one of the basic concepts of Victorian culture. The work contains the analysis of the novels written by Victorian writers. The thesis presents the detailed analysis of lexico-semantic, socio-linguistic and linguo-poetic levels (representations) of the concept. The contextual meanings of nuclear and peripheral nominations of the concept were investigated. The groups of lexical units representing the concept were analyzed within the frames "Womanhood", "Woman", "Feminine". The gender and diachronic factors were also taken into consideration. The major social roles and status of the Victorian woman were studied with the help of the frame analysis. The Victorian stereotypes of femininity were represented as the frames "Married woman", "Single woman", "Mother", "Working woman". The investigation revealed the metaphorical relations of the concept "Femininity" with other conceptual spheres such asnature, beauty, and mythology. The research showed the ambiguous attitude to woman in the Victorian period, existence of stereotyped as well as non-typical ideas of femininity.