Metaphor in work of Vladimír Holan

This doctoral thesis focuses on metaphors and their usage in literature. On basis of different theoretical approaches, the thesis describes the substitution theory of metaphor, specifically Aristotle's concept presented in his treatises Poetics and Rhetoric, then interaction theory of metaphor, initiated by Ivor Armstrong Richards and developed by Max Black. The concept of cognitive content of metaphors will be particularly analysed. The methodology section of this thesis will then focus on Donald Davidson's essay "What Metaphors Mean", John Searle's theory of speech acts and Richard Rorty's model of contingency of language. The thesis is complemented by three case studies theoretically based on methodology described in previous chapters. The studies analyse the metaphors in poetry of czech poet Vladimír Holan. They are surveying Holan's figurative language in his books from late 20s to late 40s of the 20th century, one of the studies focuses on speech initiations produced by Holan's lyric poetry, which he wrote in 30s, those initiations are tracked in contemporary reviews.