| Acknowledgements | 第4-5页 |
| Abstract | 第5页 |
| 摘要 | 第6-9页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第9-13页 |
| 1.1 Research Background | 第9-11页 |
| 1.2 Purpose and Significance | 第11页 |
| 1.3 Data Selection and Research Questions | 第11-12页 |
| 1.4 The Organization of This Thesis | 第12-13页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第13-19页 |
| 2.1 Studies on Metaphor | 第13-16页 |
| 2.1.1 The Rhetoric Approach to Metaphor | 第13-14页 |
| 2.1.2 The Semantic Approach to Metaphor | 第14-15页 |
| 2.1.3 Multi-disciplinary Approach to Metaphor | 第15-16页 |
| 2.2 Studies on Fables and Allegories | 第16-18页 |
| 2.3 Summary | 第18-19页 |
| Chapter Three Theoretical Basis | 第19-26页 |
| 3.1 Conceptual Metaphor | 第19-21页 |
| 3.1.1 Definition of Conceptual Metaphor | 第19-20页 |
| 3.1.2 Working Mechanism of Conceptual Metaphor | 第20-21页 |
| 3.2 Textual Metaphor | 第21-26页 |
| 3.2.1 A Brief Introduction to Textual Metaphor | 第21-24页 |
| 3.2.2 A Working Definition of Textual Metaphor | 第24-26页 |
| Chapter Four A Comparative Analysis of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi and Aesop's Fables | 第26-52页 |
| 4.1 An Analysis of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi | 第26-38页 |
| 4.1.1 Structural Features of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi | 第26-37页 |
| 4.1.1.1 Micro Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi | 第27-29页 |
| 4.1.1.2 Macro Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi | 第29-37页 |
| 4.1.2 Functions of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi | 第37-38页 |
| 4.2 An Analysis of Textual Metaphor in Aesop's Fables | 第38-48页 |
| 4.2.1 Structural Features of Textual Metaphor in Aesop's Fables | 第39-47页 |
| 4.2.1.1 Mirco Textual Metaphor in Aesop's Fables | 第40-45页 |
| 4.2.1.2 Macro Textual Metaphor in Aesop's Fables | 第45-47页 |
| 4.2.2 Functions of Textual Metaphor in Aesop's Fables | 第47-48页 |
| 4.3 A Comparative Analysis of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi and Aesop's Fables | 第48-51页 |
| 4.3.1 Similar Features of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi and Aesop's Fables | 第49页 |
| 4.3.2 Similar Functions of Textual Metaphor in Zhuangzi and Aesop's Fables | 第49-51页 |
| 4.4 Summary | 第51-52页 |
| Chapter Five Conclusion | 第52-55页 |
| 5.1 A Summary of the Study | 第52-53页 |
| 5.2 Limitations of the Study | 第53页 |
| 5.3 Suggestion for Further Research | 第53-55页 |
| References | 第55-57页 |
