Empty Metaphor in selected Eminem’s rap song lyrics
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2 Adjectival Metaphor
Adjectival metaphor lies somewhere between a noun and a verb. In addition, adverbial metaphor is also used to give a sense to a noun that its modify.
In these song lyrics, there is only one adjectival metaphor that has been found. It is “wicked.”
a Wicked
I have; I‟ve been protested and demonstrated against
Picket signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times
2
nd
stanza, line 3 In this metaphor, the situation in first line “I have; I‟ve been protested and
demonstrated against ” is compared to the situation in the second line “Picket
signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times .” The situation in the first line is
labeled as A Primary subject and the situation in the second line is labeled as W Secondary subject. In addition, in the second line, the adjec
tive “wicked” is considered to have a literary meaning. It is used to attract the noun “rhymes” in
these song lyrics. As the result, it can be categorized as an adjectival metaphor.
3 Adverbial Metaphor
Adverbial metaphor is less universally applicable than the adjectival metaphor because it usually qualifies a bland action in order to make it more
specific. In these song lyrics, there are 2 adverbial metaphors which have been found. They are “In the morning” and „In the evening”
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a In the morning
Keep kicking ass in the morning
2
nd
stanza, line 8
In this metaphor, the phrase “Keep kicking ass” and the phrase “in the morning” are compared. The first phrase is labeled as A Primary subject and the
second phrase is labeled as W Secondary subject. Hence the literary meaning is found in the second p
hrase “in the morning.” This phrase is included to an adverb. Therefore, it can be categorized as an adverbial metaphor. It is because it is used
to give a specific description of the action “kicking ass.”
b In the evening
….and taking names in the evening
2
nd
stanza, line 8
In this metaphor the phrase “Taking names” and the phrase “in the evening” are compared. The first phrase is labeled as A Primary subject and the
second phrase is labeled as W Secondary subject. In addition, the literary meaning i
s found in the second phrase “in the evening.” This metaphor has the same case with the metaphor above. The phrase “in the evening” is also included
to an adverb. Consequently, this metaphor is also categorized as an adverbial metaphor. It is because it is used to give a specific description of the action
“taking name.”
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