Thematic Analysis Of To The Cuckoo By Wordsworth.
THEMATIC
ANALYSIS OF “
TO THE CUCKOO
” BY
WORDSWORTH
BY:
PUTU AYU TRESNA DEWI
1218351028
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND CULTURE
UDAYANA UNIVERSITY
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Fulfillment to obtain S1 degree
At the English Department
Faculty of Letters and Culture, Udayana University
Approved by the Examining Board of
English Department,
Faculty of Letters and Culture, Udayana University
Denpasar, January 2016
Chairperson, Secretary,
Ni Ketut Alit Ida Setianingsih, S.S., M.Hum. Ni Made Ayu Widiastuti, S.S., M.Hum. NIP. 19741225 200312 2 001 NIP. 19820423 200812 2 002
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the Almighty God for His love and blessing that I am encouraged to finish this last assignment.
In this occasion, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Dean of Faculty of Letters, Udayana University, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati Beratha, M.A. the Head of English Department, Non-Regular Program, Dr. Ni Luh Ketut Mas Indrawati, M.A. and Non-Regular Program Coordinator, Dr. I A Made Puspani, M.Hum.
My gratitude is also delivered to Drs. I Gde Putu Sudana, M.A. as my academic supervisor and all the lecturers for the knowledge delivered to me.
I also like to dedicate my great thanks to Ni Ketut Alit Ida Setianingsih, S.S., M.Hum. as my first supervisor and Ni Made Ayu Widiastuti, S.S., M.Hum. as my second supervisor for all their guidance and suggestion in completing this writing.
To my beloved parents, for their love, patience, support, and encouragement, and all they have given and done to me. Thank you so much, without you all I am nothing. To all of my friends whom I cannot mention one by one, thanks for your kind support.
Finally I really wish this writing would be worthwhile for those who are interested in developing analysis in literature, especially poetry.
Denpasar, January 2016
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This paper entitled Thematic Analysis of To the Cuckoo by Wordsworth. It is a poem of joy and happy memories. The little song-bird, cuckoo comes to England in early spring. Wordsworth hears the twofold shout of the cuckoo and looks around but the bird is nowhere to be seen. He rejoices to hear the old familiar cry of joy that passes from hill to hill. It casts a spell over him and he is back in his childhood. It was the period of joy, wonder and innocence. In those days the songs of the cuckoo fascinated him. He wandered through greens and woods to catch a glimpse of the bird. He looked for the cuckoo in tree, bushes and in open skies. But it was never seen by the poet. Even now when he is hearing it talk to the valley, he cannot see it. He wonders whether this is a real bird or only a wandering voice. This wandering voice still makes him forget everything and enter the world of imagination. The everyday world turns into a fairyland, and he becomes a child once again full of joy and wonder.
There are two main theories being adopted in this study. First is Knickerbocker who states that as the first step in understanding a poem, it is very helpful to make a paraphrase of its plain sense. The meaning of each part of the poem helps to determine the meaning of the whole poem, and in turn the whole poem helps to determine the meaning of each part. And the second
is Wellek and Warren’s theory about biographical approach in term of extrinsic analysis, to find
the relationship between the real life of the poets and the story they tell in their poems.
This study focused on the poem itself by looking at the message within the poems. Extrinsically, this writing concerned with the life of William Wordsworth and his life affected the poem as achieved through biographical approach.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………...
ABSTRACT………..
TABLE OF CONTENTS ………... CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study ……….. 1.2Problems of Study ………. 1.3The Aims of Study ………. 1.4Scope of Discussion ……….. 1.5 Research Method ………..
1.5.1 Data Source ……… 1.5.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data ………. 1.5.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing ………
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW, CONCEPTS, AND
THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Review of Literature ………. 2.2 Concepts ……….. 2.2.1 Meaning of Word ………. 2.2.2 Conceptual Meaning ……… 2.3 Theoretical Framework……….. 2.3.1 Poem ……….. 2.3.2 Concept of Poetry ……….
i ii iii 1 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 12 12
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2.3.4 Kinds of Poems ……….. 2.3.5 Poetic Diction ……….
CHAPTER III THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF TO THE CUCKOO BY
WILIAM WORDSWORTH
3.1 Introduction ………... 3.2 Life of William Wordsworth ………. 3.3 Data Analysis ………. 3.3.1 The Story of The Solitary Reaper ……… 3.4 The Analysis of the Poem as a whole ……….. 3.4.1 A Line by Line Explanation of the Identification of the Poetic
Device ……… 3.4.2 Childhood and Memory ………. 3.5 Theme ………. 3.5.1 Language ……… 3.5.2 Nature and Symbolism ………..
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION ………. BIBLIOGRAPHY 14 16 23 25 29 30 36 36 42 44 45 45 48
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of Study
Language, both written and spoken, is very important to human being.
People need language for interaction with others in every situation. Through
language can express felling and represent one’s thought into words both spoken and written language. Certain people use different kinds of language for
transferring their impression about something, especially in written works. The
purpose is to give special emphasis on the content of their ideas. This different
language, in semantic study, is called figurative language.
For another function, language plays an important role in poetry.
Nowadays, poetry has been a part of life. It is common to be recited; it is a part of
life style. The meaning of poem can either be explicit or implicit. A lot of poems
reflect the reality, fact of social life, and experience of the poets. Poets work with
words, while artists work with a variety of media including paint, ink, paper,
canvas, clay, and metal. But both poets and artists offer pictures that reflect their
responses to images, experiences, people, places, emotions that observed,
remembered, or imagined (Stamford, 2006 : 1235). Poetry is narrative, which tells
a story. It conveys the meaning in ways that are different from those found in
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paraphrase that statement, realizing however that the paraphrase is not the poem
itself. Most poetry has a formal structure that differentiates it from prose. The
language of poetry is characterized by a greater intensity than a prose. It is likely
to be more metaphorical and connotative. Discovering and describing meaning in
a poem seems to be the goal in analyzing poetry.
Knickerbocker and Reninger (1955: 309) state that as the first step in
understanding a poem, it is very helpful to make a paraphrase of its plain sense.
The meaning of each part of the poem helps to determine the meaning of the whole
poem, and in turn the whole poem helps to determine the meaning of each part.
According to Wellek and Warren in their book, Theory of Literature (1955: 309),
the meaning of poem is seldom stated directly, but is carried or revealed by the
element and structure of the work that usually in the form of figurative. A work of
literature must have a meaning, and it cannot avoid having one. In order to find
the meaning in the poem, the relationship of the imagery, figures, and symbol must
be gathered. But meaning, however well defined and articulated, is never the
precise equivalent of the poem itself.
Talking about a poem, it must be realized that the work of the artist cannot
be separated from the concern on society because the content of literary work is a
reflection of the real world and its background. A work such as a poem is
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perspectives, which he obviously absorbs through social, cultural historical bounds
with his life within a society. Thus, biographical approach is needed especially by
readers to catch the message from the poet. The biography is giving much
contribution to a wok of art, such as poetry. It helps the reader to understand more
and grasp the true meaning that the author has intended. According to Wellek and
Warren in Theory of Literature (1955: 67), biography is a study of the man of
genius, of his moral, intellectual, and emotional development, which has its own
intrinsic interest.
1.2. Problems of Study
In this study, William Wordsworth’s poem is analyzed. The poem is To the Cockoo. In this poem of Wordsworth is welcoming the spring in the most elegant
way. He says that when the spring starts, a bird, which he later named as cuckoo
starts singing in the most rejoicing manner. He says that he is in search of the bird,
and he is unable to find it. He says that when he was a school boy he used to
search for this bird all round the clock. He says that the voice of the cuckoo is like
a mystery. He also says that he hears that pleasure some voice through the woods
and where ever there is greenery. In the end Wordsworth says that he shall listen to
this sound while he lays there on the green plains. A deeper understanding about
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Through highlighting, there are two problems which need to be discussed;
They are formulated as follows:
1. What is the message in To the Cuckoo that the poet intended to deliver
to the readers? 2. How does Wordsworth’s biography help the readers to understand the poem?
1.3. Aims of Study
This writing is intended to fulfill three aims: the general, specific, and
academic aims. The general aim of this writing is to apply theories related to
poetry in order to get better understanding of the poems of William Wordsworth
entitled To the Cuckoo.
Meanwhile the specific aim of this writing is to find out the critical
estimate of the poem and what message the poet wants to convey.
The last is academic aim, which is to give contribution to English
Department, so this writing can be used as reference to help the student who takes
the same topics.
1.4 Scope of Discussion
The discussion of this writing focused on aspect of nature in the poem. In
terms of intrinsic element, this study focused on the poem itself by looking at the
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William Wordsworth and his life affected the poem as achieved through
biographical approach. The last discussion is about the communion of man and
nature found in To the Cuckoo.
1.5 Research Method
A method is a systematic procedure in analyzing an object of research in
accordance with the approach which is used. The method which is used in this
study includes the aspect as follows.
1.5.1 Data Source
The data is taken from a poem entitled To the Cuckoo by William
Wordsworth (cited by Mukherjee, 2000; 303) which consists of 8 stanzas.
1.5.2 Method and Technique of Collecting Data
The technique that is used in this writing is documentation research. The
poem, theories, and other related information are collected by using documentation
research. The poem was read repeatedly and intensively in order to be able to find
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1.5.3 Method and Technique of Analyzing Data
The analysis of the poem is related to the theoretical basis in order to be
able to find the types of figurative language used in the poem and to determine
their meanings through an interpretation. The analysis of the data is presented
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CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURES, CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Review of Literature
This chapter focuses on the intrinsic study, which is based on the poem
itself as well as on the extrinsic study of literature, which is based on biographical
approach. These two studies are principle in trying to see the relationship between
the poet and his poetry. In this chapter, some concepts and theories that are
connected to poetry are reviewed.
Three writings and an article were reviewed for this study. First, a thesis
entitled Biographical Approach to Shakespeare’s “SONNET 18”by Ni Luh Putu
Suryani (2007). This study focused on the intrinsic analysis in order to know or
understand the theme of the Shakespeare’s poem “Sonnet 18”. And it is followed
by the analysis based on the William Shakespeare’s biography, in order to know how far his biography is relevant and important for understanding the poem
“Sonnet 18” itself.
Second, a study which was written by Gusti Ayu Adi Setianingsih (2006).
It was The Analysis of Figurative Language employed in William Wordsworth’s
The World is too much with us”. In her study, she said that imagery was usually
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to a poem. The theories used in analyzing the poem were mainly taken from the
Interpreting Literature written by Knickerbockers and Renninger (1963) and from
An Introduction to Literature by Sylvan Barnet et.al. (1963) as supporting theory.
The research was done in order to find out the kinds of imagery and the purpose
for which imagery was used in her writing.
Third, it was a study written by Pande Putu Indra Suryasthawan (2009),
entitled The Analysis of the Figurative Language in Robert Frost’s Poems namely
“My November Guest”, “Fire and Ice”, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “The Road Not Taken”
There are five significant elements in a poem, they are diction, imaginary,
rhyme, rhythm, and figurative language. But in this study the discussion focused
on the figurative language.
Fourth, a journal reviewed here was written by Wesley (2003) published in
Journal of Contemporary Liberian Writing entitles “Writing Poetry: What Makes
a Poem a Poem?” In the article, it was said that language became important if a
poem could achieve its aesthetic purpose of enjoyment. The poem might have a
specific message and it was the way in which the poet had connected the readers
through the use of language. Language revealed in images, figures of speech, and
style. According to Wesley, imagery was the painting of picture in the reader’s mind through the use of language. Imagery evoked the meaning and truth of
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and tangible forms. This was a device by which the poet made his meaning strong,
clear, and sure.
2.2 Concepts
The focus of this study is to analyze Wordsworth’s poem To the Cuckoo,
the use of poetic language which are closely related to the analysis of the poem.
Language in a poem is the concept of meaning of word, poem, and the
understanding of its content.
William Wordsworth is a man solely based on nature, science, love and
death. Many of his famous quotes have to do with how science is what he bases
the fact in his life off of, nature is the beauty in his life, death is what is taking
society, and love finds its way into things now and again but it’s rare.
When Wordsworth listens to a Cuckoo, it reminds him of all the times he
listened to cuckoos when he was a boy. The cuckoo song reminds Wordsworth
that people change - they grow old and die; but nature remains always the same.
Symbol the word A, person, object, image, word, or event that evokes a
range of additional meaning beyond and usually more abstract than its literal
significance. Symbols are educational devices for evoking complex ideas without
having to resort to painstaking explanations that would make a story more like an
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recognized by a society or culture. Some conventional symbols are the Christian
cross, the Star of David, a swastika, or a nation’s flag.
A literary or contextual symbol can be a setting, character, action, object,
name, or anything else in a work that maintains its literal significance while
suggesting other meanings. Such symbols go beyond conventional symbols; they
gain their symbolic meaning within the context of a specific story.
2.2.1 Meaning of Word
The words are used to express something and also convey feelings about
what we are describing. People can be intentionally or unintentionally ambiguous,
although when a potentially ambiguous sentence is uttered by the speaker, usually
only one meaning in intended. That means that words can have denotation,
apparent or surface meanings, and connotation, implied or hidden meanings.
The meaning of the word in a poem cannot be grasped by only using a
dictionary. Dictionary cannot carry all information about ways in which we build
up associations with word. We can define the meaning of speech forms accurately
when this meaning has a relation with some matter of which we possess scientific
knowledge. We can define the name of chemical substance, for example, in terms
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study of meaning. Myers (1994:64) claims that for the first, we might look up the
meaning in dictionary. It will help us where the word is used with two distinct
meanings. But, further he also says in which we build up associations with words.
According to Leech (1974:10), the meanings of words are complex, in which they
have such components as an idea, a quality, a relationship, personal feeling, and
association. There have been categorized meaning of words such as, conceptual
meaning, connotative meaning, stylistic meaning, affective meaning, reflective
meaning, and thematic meaning.
2.2.2. Conceptual Meaning
Conceptual meaning is sometimes called ‘denotative meaning’ or ‘cognitive meaning’. It is widely assumed to be the central factor in verbal communication and it can be shown to be integral to the essential functioning of
language in a way that other types of meaning are not.
The denotation of word is its agreed-upon sense-what it refers to, stands
for, or designates, apart from the feelings it may call up. And this again can for a
good deal on the context the word that appears in. Leech (1974:13) states that the
aim of the denotative meaning is to provide, for any given interpretation of
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know if we are to distinguish that meaning from all other possible sentence
meanings in the language.
2.3Theoretical Framework
The theories that are used in this study include the main theory of literature
by Wellek and Warren (1962) in the book entitled Theory of Literature, that by
Silvana Bernet (1963) in her book entitled An Introduction to Literature, and The
Encyclopedia Americana (1978) by Glolier Limited.
2.3.1 Poem
This section is divided into three parts which are about the definition of
poem, the kind of poem and the poetic devices.
2. 3. 2 Concept of Poetry
When people use the word poetry they may have no clear idea in their
mind what poetry really is. But they are likely to assume that the term implies
certain qualities. Poetry may be a matter of grace and beauty, but it may also
represent sheer impractical fancy. The association of the word with beauty and
with imagination instead of actuality is supported by the meaning usually provided
by the dictionary, which stresses poetry’s being beautiful and capable of arousing an imaginative emotional response. (Danzinger &Johnson, 1968: 13)
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According to Hornby (2002) Poetry is a collection of poems; poems in
general. It is literature in its most intense, most imaginative, and most rhythmic
forms. Basically, poetry is written in lines of arbitrary length instead of in
paragraph. In general, poetry’s richness in imagery, particularly in metaphor,
results in a far greater concentration of meaning (Morner, 1991: 169).
According to Holman (1960) in his book “A Handbook to Literature”,
Poetry is a term applied to the many forms in which man has given a rhythmic
expression to his most imaginative and intense perception of his own world and
the relationship of the two. Only through and examination of its significance can a
definition be made about poetry.
Poetry is written in many languages but the language of poetry is quite
different from the language of science, journalism or history and language of
philosophy. There are some qualities of poetry’s language in terms of diction, imagery and figurative language.
2.3.3. The Definition of Poem
Poem has been given a number of definitions by different people who are
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1. Knickerbocker and Reninger have stated that a poem is the fusion
of sound and sense or a melting together of sound and sense, which means
that the division is impossible because as one reads for sense he is either
consciously or unconsciously being influenced by the sound of the poem.
2. According to Wordsworth, poem is the best words in the best order,
based on structural approach. It means that the best words arranged in one
of the best shape and it could be seen from its structure.
3. Sybille Smith states that poem is a composition expressing itself
through groupings of lines of limited length.
2.3.4 Kinds of Poems
There are three kinds of poems, lyrical, narrative and dramatic poems,
which can be described as follow:
1. Lyric
According Grolier (1978:593), lyric poetry is by far the most common type
of poetry. The word lyric derives from the word lyre, a harp like instrument played
by the Ancient Greek poets during recitals of shorter poems. Today, lyric poetry
means any short poem. The elegy, another common lyric, is a meditation on life
and death. Many elegies mourn the death of a famous person or a close friend,
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lyric poem is a brief, subjective statement, marked by strong imaginations, melody
and feeling and designed to create in the reader a single, unified and intense
impression. It is a form of poetry that emphasizes the personal emotion of the poet
(Grolier, 1978:277).
2. Narrative
Narrative poems tell stories. Glorier (1978:277,598) suggests that there are
two chief kinds of narrative poems. The first is epics and the second is ballads,
which can be further described as follows:
Epics are long poems. Most epics describe the deeds of heroes in
battles or conflicts between human beings and natural and divine forces.
Many other epics tell the origin or history of people. Epics are probably the
oldest surviving form of poetry. Many scholars believe that Iliad and
Odyssey, which are two of the most famous epics in the western literature,
were created during the period of 700’s B.C. This works are traditionally
attributed to the Greek poet, Homer. Iliad describe events in the last year of
the Trojan War, which was a fight between Greece and the city of Troy.
Ballads tell shorter stories about a particular person. The ballads
have had many literary imitations, but in its primary form it is a folk poetry
that depends on dialogue, simple stanza patterns and frequent repetition for
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adventures of Robin Hood, who was a legendary outlaw who stole from the
rich to give to the poor.
3. Dramatic Poems
Poetry that employs dramatic form or some elements of dramatic
techniques as a means of achieving a poetic is called dramatic. A major form of
dramatic poetry is the dramatic monologue, perfected in the 19th century by the
English poet, Robert Browning.
Dramatic poetry tells stories. In a dramatic poetry, the poet lets one or
more of the characters of the story act out the story. The difference between drama
and dramatic poetry is a matter of degree. If the dialogue of the play rhymes has
repeating rhythms, or features other than distinct poetic elements, the play is
considered to be a dramatic poetry.
2.3.5 Poetic Diction
According Holman (1960), poetic diction is the words chosen for a
supposedly inherent poetic quality, which is sometimes difference from the
language, used in common speech. The tendency in our time is to allow the poet to
use the widest possible vocabulary range and to use a consciously poetic diction
only for ironic effect. The poetic diction in work of literature shows the ability of
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ideas, feeling, or thought. Part of poetic diction includes imagery, symbolism and
sound as well as rhythm and rime and figurative language, which can be described
as follows:
1. Imagery
The term imagery has come to be used rather loosely to refer to images, or
‘pictures’, or figure of speech. The images are often visual, but may appeal to any of our senses, they may be conveyed in a single word or phrase, or indeed may
form an extended metaphor which is used throughout a poem, or recurrently
throughout a play or a novel (Hooper, 1961:194).
According Knickerbocker and Reninger (1963:308), imagery means the ability to
see and hear words imaginatively. With imagery the poet peoples and furnishers
the word of the poem, and causes us to experience that world as directly and
unmistakably as we experience life itself. Indeed, it is sometimes said that imagery
is the very basis of poetry, and as we proceed we shall observe the force of this
assertion.
2. Symbolism and Sound
Symbolism is the use of words symbolically such as dark meaning
something unknown. When the writer uses one thing to stand for another we call it
a symbol. Now not all figures of speech contain symbols and not all symbols in a
poem are embedded in figures of speech. Rhythm and rime means a fusion of
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According to Wellek and Warren (1962:159), every work of literary art,
initially, is a series of sounds out of which arises the meaning. The stratum sound
can be used to attract attention and constitutes an integral part of aesthetic effect.
In poetry, pure sound is either a fiction or an extremely simple and elementary
series of relationships, which cannot possibly account for the variety and
importance possessed by the stratum sound when seen as an integral to the total
character of the poem. The aspect or relational elements of sound are those which
may become the basis for rhythm and meters, which covers the pitch, the duration
of sounds, the stress, the frequency of recurrence, and all elements permitting
quantitative distinction. We have recognized the difference between
sound-patterns, repetition or identity associated with sound qualities, and the use of
expressive sounds or sound imitation among device of ‘orchestration’; i.e. the
linguistic phenomena which is used in a work of literary art in order to stress the
fact that the sound-quality here is the element which is being manipulated and
exploited by the writer.
Osip Brik has classified in the book of Wellek and Warren (1962:161) that the
possible sound figure in a manner that is consistent with the number of repeated
sounds, the number of repetitions, the order in which the sounds follow each other
in the repeated groups, and the position of the sound in the rhythmical units is
useful in distinguishing repetition of sounds closely placed within a single verse,
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end of the line and the beginning of the next, or at the beginning of the lines, or
simply in final position.
3. Figurative Language
According to Dale, et.all (1971:220) figurative language is beautiful words
that are used to given an effect in way to make comparison between one thing to
another thing. He also says that the use of figurative language can raise a special
connotation.
Figure is a word or group of words that is used to give a particular
emphasis to an idea or sentiment. The special emphasis is typically accomplished
by user’s conscious deviation from the strict literal sense of a word order sentence
construction. From ancient time to the present such figurative locutions have been
extensively employed by orators and writers to strengthen and embellish their
styles of speech and composition. Figurative languages make use of many kinds of
figures of speech, of which the most important ones are simile, metaphor,
personification and symbol (Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia: 1993-1998),
which can be described as follows:
Simile is a statement of similarity introduced by ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Metaphor is an expression that is used in a new sense, on the basis of similarity,
between its literal sense and the new thing or situation to which it is applied.
Personification is a metaphor in which a lifeless object, an animal or abstract
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nearness to those things which are normally thought of as impersonal and a aloof
from human affairs.
Symbol is a person, place, thing, quality, or relationship that is used to stand for
something other than itself.
(Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia: 1993-1998)
1.Simile
Simile is a state of comparison of two dissimilar things introduced by ‘like’ or ‘as’. It also can be considered as a state of similarity. For example:
“My love is like red red rose”
(From Robert Burns, ‘ My love Is Like Red Red Rose’ in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963 : 370)
It is called simile because the word ‘like’ in the sentence above has a function to compare ‘My love’ with ‘red rose’. The comparison is explicit and it is
a common method to describe a situation in which there is someone whose attitude
or face is comparable to flower in terms of beauty.
2.Metaphor
Metaphor is an implied comparison, or an expression that is used in a new
sense, on the basis of similarity between its literal sense and the new thing or
situation to which it is applied, with ‘like’ or ‘as’ omitted. For example: “life’s but a walking shadow”
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This metaphor is used rather than the simile ‘life is like a walking shadow’
(Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367)
3.Personification
Personification is a metaphor in which a lifeless objects, an animal or
abstract idea are made to act like human being, and thereby gives animation,
vividness and nearness to those things which are normally thought of as
impersonal and aloof from human affairs. It is used a great deal in our every day
language or expression. This device is almost the same as simile or metaphor, but
both simile and metaphors do not necessarily involve comparison to human being.
This is the specific characteristic of personification. For example:
“My little horse must think in queer”
(From Robert Frost, ‘Stopping By Woods On Snowy Evening’, in knickerbockers, 1963:307).
4.Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech showing the use of a part for the whole.
Synecdoche substitutes some significant details or aspects of an experience for the
experience itself. For example:
“Fifty winters passed him by”
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It is called synecdoche because the word ‘winter’ is a part of one year
which in this sentence represents the whole year. So this sentence means ‘fifty years passed him by’.
5.Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech describing one thing by using the term for
another thing closely associated wit it. Metonymy is characterized by the
substitutions of term naming an object closely associated with the word in mind
for the word itself. For example:
“The crown” used for “the king”
(Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367)
6.Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech which employs an exaggeration that is used
for special effect. For example:
“Drink to me only with thine eyes”
(From Ben Jonson, ‘Song To Celia’ in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367) “Go and catch a falling star”
(John Donne, ‘Go and Catch a Falling Star’, in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:402)
7.Irony
Irony is a figure of speech which contains a sense in which its real meaning is
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“The czar is the voice of God and shall live forever” meaning “czar is an authoritarian individual”
(From Carl Sanburg, ‘The People Yes’, in knickerbockers, 1963:427)
8.Dead Metaphor
Dead Metaphor is a metaphor, which has lost its figurative meaning or
sense through endless use. For example:
“The face of the clock”
(Knickerbocker and Reninger 1963:368)
It is called dead metaphor because it gives more stress to the thing which is
talked about. ‘The face of the clock’ shows the specific part of the clock, with
becomes the central part of the topic.
9.Allusion
Allusion is a reference to some well-know place, event, or person. Not a
comparison in the exact sense, but a figure in the sense that it implies more than its
narrow meaning. For example:
“All for one and one for all ”The sentence above is a popular motto from the novel entitled The Three Musketeers, written by Alexander Dumas. This motto
implies that some people will be together during both good times and bad times.
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Paradox is a statement whose surface, obvious meanings seems to be
illogical, even absurd, but makes good sense upon closer examination. For
example:
“Light is the darkest thing in physics”
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end of the line and the beginning of the next, or at the beginning of the lines, or simply in final position.
3. Figurative Language
According to Dale, et.all (1971:220) figurative language is beautiful words that are used to given an effect in way to make comparison between one thing to another thing. He also says that the use of figurative language can raise a special connotation.
Figure is a word or group of words that is used to give a particular emphasis to an idea or sentiment. The special emphasis is typically accomplished by user’s conscious deviation from the strict literal sense of a word order sentence construction. From ancient time to the present such figurative locutions have been extensively employed by orators and writers to strengthen and embellish their styles of speech and composition. Figurative languages make use of many kinds of figures of speech, of which the most important ones are simile, metaphor, personification and symbol (Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia: 1993-1998), which can be described as follows:
Simile is a statement of similarity introduced by ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Metaphor is an expression that is used in a new sense, on the basis of similarity, between its literal sense and the new thing or situation to which it is applied. Personification is a metaphor in which a lifeless object, an animal or abstract ideas is made to act like a person and thereby gives animation, vividness and
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nearness to those things which are normally thought of as impersonal and a aloof from human affairs.
Symbol is a person, place, thing, quality, or relationship that is used to stand for something other than itself.
(Microsoft Encarta 99 Encyclopedia: 1993-1998) 1.Simile
Simile is a state of comparison of two dissimilar things introduced by ‘like’ or ‘as’. It also can be considered as a state of similarity. For example:
“My love is like red red rose”
(From Robert Burns, ‘ My love Is Like Red Red Rose’ in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963 : 370)
It is called simile because the word ‘like’ in the sentence above has a function to compare ‘My love’ with ‘red rose’. The comparison is explicit and it is a common method to describe a situation in which there is someone whose attitude or face is comparable to flower in terms of beauty.
2.Metaphor
Metaphor is an implied comparison, or an expression that is used in a new sense, on the basis of similarity between its literal sense and the new thing or situation to which it is applied, with ‘like’ or ‘as’ omitted. For example:
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This metaphor is used rather than the simile ‘life is like a walking shadow’ (Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367)
3.Personification
Personification is a metaphor in which a lifeless objects, an animal or abstract idea are made to act like human being, and thereby gives animation, vividness and nearness to those things which are normally thought of as impersonal and aloof from human affairs. It is used a great deal in our every day language or expression. This device is almost the same as simile or metaphor, but both simile and metaphors do not necessarily involve comparison to human being. This is the specific characteristic of personification. For example:
“My little horse must think in queer”
(From Robert Frost, ‘Stopping By Woods On Snowy Evening’, in knickerbockers, 1963:307).
4.Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech showing the use of a part for the whole. Synecdoche substitutes some significant details or aspects of an experience for the experience itself. For example:
“Fifty winters passed him by”
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It is called synecdoche because the word ‘winter’ is a part of one year which in this sentence represents the whole year. So this sentence means ‘fifty years passed him by’.
5.Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech describing one thing by using the term for another thing closely associated wit it. Metonymy is characterized by the substitutions of term naming an object closely associated with the word in mind for the word itself. For example:
“The crown” used for “the king”
(Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367) 6.Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a figure of speech which employs an exaggeration that is used for special effect. For example:
“Drink to me only with thine eyes”
(From Ben Jonson, ‘Song To Celia’ in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367) “Go and catch a falling star”
(John Donne, ‘Go and Catch a Falling Star’, in Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:402)
7.Irony
Irony is a figure of speech which contains a sense in which its real meaning is completely opposed to its professed or surface meaning. For example:
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“The czar is the voice of God and shall live forever” meaning “czar is an authoritarian individual”
(From Carl Sanburg, ‘The People Yes’, in knickerbockers, 1963:427) 8.Dead Metaphor
Dead Metaphor is a metaphor, which has lost its figurative meaning or sense through endless use. For example:
“The face of the clock”
(Knickerbocker and Reninger 1963:368)
It is called dead metaphor because it gives more stress to the thing which is talked about. ‘The face of the clock’ shows the specific part of the clock, with becomes the central part of the topic.
9.Allusion
Allusion is a reference to some well-know place, event, or person. Not a comparison in the exact sense, but a figure in the sense that it implies more than its narrow meaning. For example:
“All for one and one for all ”The sentence above is a popular motto from the novel entitled The Three Musketeers, written by Alexander Dumas. This motto implies that some people will be together during both good times and bad times.
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Paradox is a statement whose surface, obvious meanings seems to be illogical, even absurd, but makes good sense upon closer examination. For example:
“Light is the darkest thing in physics” (Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963:367)