Brown proposes a theory of poetic metaphor that attempts to account for literature's complex role in the discovery and creation of significant patterns within both language and life. He shows that while poetic and conceptual modes of discover are different, they are nevertheless mutually interdependent. In particular, Brown offers a new view of the way in which theological and metaphysical concepts grow out of, and are transfigured by, metaphoric expression. This view is expressed in a detailed and original analysis of the structure and dynamics of T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets that lies at the heart of the study. Originally published in 1983. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.