Abstract
This comparative study explores the symbolism of water imagery in Jeremy Chow's The Queerness of Water and Andri Snare Magnason'sOn Time and Water, revealing the intricate relationships between time, memory, and the human experience. Existing scholarship has examined the role of water imagery in individual works, but this paper provides a fresh analysis of the convergences and divergences in the deployment of water symbolism across these two texts. Using a qualitative close reading approach, this study examines the ways in which water imagery serves as a conduit for exploring themes of identity, temporality, and environmental consciousness. The findings of this study reveal that water imagery in both texts functions as a powerful metaphor for the fluidity of time, the fragility of human memory, and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Water imagery showcases the authors' emphasis on the urgent need for environmental stewardship and a reevaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world. This study concludes that the water imagery in The Queerness of Water and On Time and Water offers a profound reflection on the human condition, inviting readers to contemplate the intricate web of relationships between time, water, and life.
Keywords: Water Imagery, Time, Memory, Environmental Consciousness, Identity, Comparative Literature
