Time in Rubaiyat of Khayyam: A Study from the Perspective of Conceptual Metaphor Theory

The present study aims at investigating and examining the concept of TIME in quatrains (Rubaiyat) of Khayyam through Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) to illustrate the poet's attitude(s) towards this important concept and examine his philosophy regarding it. Drawing on methods presented by Pragglejaz Group and Steen, all quatrains including conceptual metaphors of TIME were extracted and probed through CMT to answer the following questions. Regarding the conceptualization of TIME in Rubaiyat of Khayyam, what is/are the main attitude(s) of Khayyam towards the concept of TIME? Is there any conceptual relationship between conceptual metaphors of TIME in the quatrains? The results of the research show that the concept of TIME in the quatrains has been differently conceptualized but there is a degree of consistency among these conceptualizations. In addition, this consistency can indicate that most of these quatrains display a single thought, attitude, and philosophy which may be that of Khayyam.