Subproject C07

Morning Splendor of Eternity: Form-based Properties of Metaphors in Hymns and Other Religious Texts

Subproject C07 investigates how the formal structure of language contributes to the creation of religious meaning through metaphor. Focusing on German hymns, sermons, and other religious texts, the project explores how metaphors and comparisons are shaped not only by their content, but also by their linguistic form and position within a text.

Building on earlier research into the syntactic patterns of metaphorical expressions, C07 examines how metaphors are embedded in larger textual structures. Particular attention is paid to hymns, where poetic form, stanza structure, and recurring imagery can influence the unfolding of metaphorical meaning. A key example is the hymn Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit (“Morning Splendor of Eternity”), in which images of dawn and sunlight gradually develop across several stanzas before their religious significance becomes fully apparent.

Combining linguistic analysis with manual and computational annotation, the project studies the interaction of syntax, distribution throughout the text, and metaphor. By investigating how metaphors are organized within texts, C07 contributes to a deeper understanding of the linguistic foundations of religious meaning-making and the role of form in shaping religious experience.