Abstract
The article is dedicated to the analysis of cognitive metaphors used to depict the Danube River Concept Sphere in the story «The Willows» by A. Blackwood. Metaphorical expressions are analysed in the framework of the Cognitive Metaphor Theory as cognitive mechanisms. The special attention is paid to ontological metaphors, in particular, River is a Person, River is a Constructor / Destroyer, River is a Giant. In this aspect a key concept of the river as a physical entity acquires certain human feelings, characteristics and activities.