I Was So Much Older Then - Change and Self-Reflection in the Tropology of Bob Dylan's Lyrics, 1962-66

Bob Dylan's mastery of the pen is a perennial source of intrigue to fans and scholars alike. Here, the author explores various functions of figu-rative language in Dylan's 1960s lyrics. Focusing on the period in which the artist rose to fame as a critically acclaimed performer and songwriter, this book reveals matters of metaphor and tropology to be at the very heart of the constant changes and artistic metamor-phoses so characteristic of Dylan's career. Founded on influential modern accounts of metaphor in literary theory, the study follows certain key recurring metaphors as the usage evolves through Dylan's 1960s works. Through the book, the author traces these changes in the deployment of metaphor, from its origins as a foremost rhetorical tool in Dylan's "topical" lyrics, towards functioning as a self-reflective literary device in his later "psychedelic" phase. As an academic approach to a popular theme, the work should be of interest to scholars interested in the workings of metaphor in litera-ture, and song lyrics in particular, as well as to those who crave fur-ther insight into the lyrical universe of one of the most acclaimed lyricists in popular music.

Author: Alexander Unhjem

Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller E.K.

Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008

Number of Pages: 100 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: 3639039157

ISBN-13: 9783639039153