THE ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS IN THE BREXIT SAGA

Abstract

The article deals with the analysis of concepts of natural phenomena which are employed to verbalize the concept of Brexit from the perspective of cognitive linguistics. The research is performed using different approaches: from etymological origin to functional dynamics. For this purpose the archetypal symbols of Light and Darkness are chosen. The study is based on the online resources of modern English language media, covering the issues related to politics and economy. Correspondingly, the aspects of the concept of Brexit which are illustrated through the prism of archetypal symbols and are consequentially analyzed scrutinize the consequences of the Brexit transition period. As a matter of fact, the archetypal symbols of Light and Darkness are referred to so as to determine the characteristic features of the emotional, epistemological, ethical, religious and ontological aspects of the withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union. The ensuing issues of this complicated process are also elucidated. Their etymological specificity and semantic functions are analyzed along with the description of their distinguishing characteristics. It has been established that the archetypal symbols under consideration are not mutually exclusive, but on the contrary are closely intertwined and complementary, thus giving a more vivid, complete and understandable description of multiple aspects of Brexit.