Alexander Unhjem

I Was So Much Older Then: Change and Self-reflection in the Tropology of Bob Dylan's Lyrics, 1962-66 Alexander Unhjem

Bob Dylan`s mastery of the pen is a perennial source of intrigue to fans and scholars alike. Here, the author explores various functions of figurative language in Dylan`s 1960s lyrics. Focusing on the period in which the artist rose to fame as a critically acclaimed performer and songwriter, this book reveals matters of metaphor and tropology to be at the very heart of the constant changes and artistic metamorphoses so characteristic of Dylan`s career. Founded on influential modern accounts of metaphor in literary theory, the study follows certain key recurring metaphors as the usage evolves through Dylan`s 1960s works. Through the book, the author traces these changes in the deployment of metaphor, from its origins as a foremost rhetorical tool in Dylan`s `topical` lyrics, towards functioning as a self-reflective literary device in his later `psychedelic` phase. As an academic approach to a popular theme, the work should be of interest to scholars interested in the workings of metaphor in literature, and song lyrics in particular, as well as to those who crave further insight into the lyrical universe of one of the most acclaimed lyricists in popular music.