Mapping Our Reality

In his article Verbiage for Poems, Jorge Luis Borges claims that, "language constructs reality."  Well if that's true, then literature is our map of that reality, which, when carefully studied, can open our minds to possible alternatives.

I made this little visual aid as an example.  It shows how St. Augustine has mapped out the word "love" in Book II of Confessions.  I chose Confessions for my example because in it, St. Augustine uses lots of repetition of words to play with their various meanings.  He opens by saying: "I will now call to mind my past foulness, and the carnal corruptions of my soul; not because I love them, but that I may love Thee, O my God.  For love of Thy love I do it..."