This article analyzes the activation of ontological metaphors in 20th century Uzbek and English poetry. The study explores metaphor as a central mechanism of poetic cognition and examines the influence of modernism and socio-historical processes on metaphorical systems. In Uzbek poetry, metaphors reflect national awakening, spiritual struggle, and identity, while in English poetry they embody industrialization, war, and existential crisis. The research applies a comparative-typological approach to selected poetic examples.

metaphor, ontological metaphor, poetic cognition, modernism, comparative literature, 20th century poetry

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