COLOR SYMBOLISM AND COGNITIVE INTERPRETATION IN “THE KITE RUNNER” BY KHALED HOSSEINI
Keywords:
symbolic use of color, color contrast, visual symbolism, emotional cognition, symbolic cognition.Abstract
This research analyzes the application of color symbolism in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner via a linguo-cognitive framework. The objective is to ascertain the roles of color terms within the narrative (symbolic, emotional, cultural), their connections to foundational conceptual metaphors, and their contributions to the formation of memory, guilt, emotional conflict, and identity. The findings suggest that color imagery in the novel operates not merely as descriptive detail but as a cognitive mechanism through which readers access the psychological and cultural layers of the characters’ experiences. The study concludes that color terms in The Kite Runner capture both culturally specific Afghan associations and universal cognitive metaphors, giving the book a multifaceted interpretive depth.
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