Ethological and Cognitive Foundations of Zoo-Symbols in Literary Discourse

Abstract

This study examines how animal symbols (zoonyms) in literature reflect both ethological principles and cognitive processes. We combined Tinbergen’s ethological framework with cognitive metaphor theory to analyze French and Uzbek literary passages featuring animal imagery. Each instance of animal symbolism was categorized into one of five motivational bases – instinctive, emotional, archetypal, initiatory, or moral – guiding a cross-cultural comparison. Applying Tinbergen’s four questions (function, phylogeny, mechanism, ontogeny) revealed that many animal metaphors share biological roots (e.g., a universal fear of predators) yet carry culturally specific nuances. The findings indicate that literary zoo-symbols are not arbitrary; they arise from innate animal behaviors interpreted through human cognitive and cultural lenses. Ultimately, the research highlights an integrated ethological–cognitive approach to understanding how animal imagery conveys meaning, offering insights for future cross-cultural literary studies.