Semantic Variability of the Word ‘Creature’ in Elizabethan Prose Fiction - Acta Universitatis Sapientiae

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Philologica, 16, 2 (2024) 176–192

DOI: 10.47745/ausp-2024-0023

Abstract. The present research focuses on the exploration of the meaning of the word ‘creature’ in the context of Elizabethan prose fiction. The inherent vagueness and ambiguity of the lexeme ‘creature’, comprising diverse meanings, yields its multiple readings and interpretations.The aim of this study is to determine who or what this word denotes in narrative contexts, thereby elucidating its varied meanings and delineating the scope of its referents within the framework of denotational semantics.Through a comprehensive analysis of the compiled corpus of Renaissance narratives, employing qualitative and quantitative methodologies, this investigation establishes a range of meanings of the word ‘creature’ and identifies its referents in the corpus texts.The referential domain of this word encompasses humans, nonhuman beings, and unspecified entities. The findings reveal a distinct preference among Elizabethan authors to perceive “creature” as a human being, aligning with the biblical interpretation of this word.This research highlights the impact of biblical motifs on Elizabethan fiction, contributing to our better understanding of this literary era within its historical, cultural, and religious background.

Keywords: creature, corpus, Elizabethan fiction, meaning, referent