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FIGURE OF SPEECH AND IMAGERY ANALYSISON EMILY DICKINSON LOVE POEMS
A ThesisSubmitted to Letters and Humanities Facultyin Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
the Strata 1 (S1) Degree
UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERISYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA
SYUKRI GHOZALINIM. 103026027671
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENTLETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH”
JAKARTA2009
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A Figure of Speech and Imagery Analysison Emily Dickinson Love Poems
A ThesisSubmitted to Letters and Humanities Facultyin Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
the Strata 1 (S1) Degree
SYUKRI GHOZALINIM. 103026027671
Approved byAdvisor
ELVE OKTAFIYANI, M. Hum.NIP: 150 317 725
ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENTLETTERS AND HUMANITIES FACULTY
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY“SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH”
JAKARTA2009
3
ABSTRACT
SYUKRI GHOZALI, Figure of Speech and Imagery Analysis on The EmilyDickinson Love Poems. Thesis. Jakarta: Strata Degree (S1), Letters and HumanitiesFaculty, State Islamic University “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta, March 18, 2009.
The writer studied four poems as the object of research: Hope is the thing withfeather, Heart, We will forget him, If you coming in thee Fall, I gave myself to him.He uses the theory of figurative language and imagery as the theoretical frameworkof the research. The method of the research was descriptive qualitative to depict aboutthe content of the poems.
In this research, the writer found that Emily Dickinson uses many varieties offigurative language. There are metaphor, personification, symbol, hyperbole oroverstatement, apostrophe and simile. There are also many examples of imagery inthese poems, such as, visual imagery, auditory imagery, and tactile imagery.
As the conclusion, the writer found that Emily Dickinson has used the figureof speech and imagery to make an effect in the poems. There are three kinds offigures of speech they are metaphor, personification, and hyperbole or overstatementin Hope is the thing with feather, and also there are three kinds of imagery that usedin this poem; the visual, auditory, and tactile imagery. In Heart, we will forget him,the writer found the apostrophe at the first stanza. The writer also found the organicimagery at inside. In If you coming in the Fall, the writer identified several figurativelanguages, that are hyperbole or overstatement, simile, symbol and allusion.Meanwhile, in this poem also used the visual imagery. In the last poem, I gave myselfto him, the writer found two kinds of figurative language, they are metaphor andsymbol. Whereas, there is imagery that used in this poem, that is the visual imagery.
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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the submission is my own work and that, to the best in my
knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by
another person nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the
award of any other degree or diploma of the university or the other institute of higher
learning, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text.
Jakarta, April 30, 2009
Syukri Ghozali
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful
The writer would like to thank to Allah SWT the One for divine gift of grace.
He alone we ask for help, for guidance and everything. He has given the writer many
favors. He has allowed the writer to finish this thesis. It is a great pleasure for the
writer. Praise and peace be upon the Master of the Massagers, the prophet
Muhammad SAW. May we always be in straight way until the end of world.
The writer also absolutely deserves to thank to his advisor Elve Oktaviani,
M. Hum., who has guided him by counseling and advising the writer until this paper
finished. Without her guidance, this paper will never be completed. Then, the writer
wishes to record his deep gratitude to the following people for their willing guidance,
generous helps and the privileges they extended to him.
1. Dr. Abdul. Chair, M.A., the Dean of Letters and Humanities Faculty State
Islamic University “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta.
2. Dr. Muhammad Farkhan, M. Pd., the Head of English Letters Department
State Islamic University “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta.
3. Drs. Asep Saefuddin, M. Pd, the Secretary of English Letters Department
State Islamic University “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta.
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4. His beloved parents (Drs. H. Maksuni & Hj. Mahmudah) for having
supported him much morally and materially, their merits and sacrifice will
be never paid.
5. His beloved brother, Sholehuddin, M. Pd, Syaefullah, M. Pd and
Mustaqim ‘acem’ and his beloved sister, Uswatun Hasanah, for having
supported him finishing this thesis.
6. His sister in-low, Wahyuda Safitri and his small nephew, Rafli Avicena
Mufti.
7. All lecturers in English Letters Department for having taught and educated
him during his study at English Letters Department State Islamic
University “Syarif Hidayatullah” Jakarta.
8. Syafrianto SM, S.S., for helping the writer editing this thesis.
9. All members of KMSGD (Keluarga Mahassiswa Sunan Gunung Djati),
Ibnu Hidayat El-Quro, Muhammad ‘Ogong’, Nanang Anwarudin
‘Maglev’, Hamid, Away Wagiman, Aziz Gagap, etc. thanks for your
critics and suggestion.
10. All members of PERMAI-AYU (Persatuan Mahasiswa Indramayu)
11. All his friend in UIN, Agung Syahida ‘Suhu’, Acev Herza, Dede, Budi t,
Erlangga BP, and those whom cannot be mentioned one by one.
May Allah, the-all-Hearer and all knower, bless them all and gives them
more than what they have given to the writer. Hopefully, this thesis gives benefits for
all people who read it.
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Jakarta, March 17, 2009
Syukri Ghozali
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................ i
APPROVAL SHEET ................................................................................. ii
LEGALIZATION ...................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION........................................................................................ iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ........................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENT............................................................................. vii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION........................................................... 1
A. Background of the Study ............................................................ 1
B. Focus of the Study ....................................................................... 5
C. The Statement of Problems ........................................................ 5
D. The Objective and Significance of the Study............................ 6
E. The Research Methodology........................................................ 6
1. The Method of Research....................................................... 62. The Technique of Analysis ................................................... 73. The Instrument ………………………………………........ 74. The Unit of Analysis ………………………………………. 75. Time and place of the Research ........................................... 7
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................ 8
A. Understanding Poetry................................................................. 8
B. Figurative Language ................................................................... 9
C. The Kinds of Figurative Language …………………………… 10
1. Metaphor................................................................................ 102. Simile ..................................................................................... 113. Personification ....................................................................... 124. Symbol ............................................................................ 13
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5. Allegory ............................................................................ 136. Apostrophe............................................................................. 147. Hyperbole and Overstatement ............................................. 158. Paradox .................................................................................. 159. Synecdoche............................................................................. 1610. Allusion .................................................................................. 16
D. Imagery ........................................................................................ 17
1. Visual Imagery ...................................................................... 192. Auditory Imagery.................................................................. 203. Olfactory Imagery................................................................. 214. Gustatory Imagery ................................................................ 215. Tactile Imagery ..................................................................... 226. Organic Imagery ................................................................... 227. Kinesthetic Imagery .............................................................. 23
CHAPTER III THE ANALYSIS OF POEMS ....................................... 24
A. HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHER ............................. 27
1. Explication ............................................................................. 26
2. Figurative Language Analysis ............................................. 27
a. Metaphor .......................................................................... 27b. Personification ................................................................. 28c. Hyperbole or Overstatement .......................................... 29
3. Imagery Analysis................................................................... 29
a. Visual Imagery ................................................................ 29b. Auditory Imagery ........................................................... 30c. Tactile Imagery ................................................................ 30
B. HEART, WE WILL FORGET HIM ........................................ 31
1. Explication ............................................................................ 31
2. Figurative Language Analysis ............................................. 33
3. Imagery Analysis .................................................................. 33
C. IF YOU COMING IN THE FALL ........................................... 35
1. Explication ............................................................................ 35
2. Figurative Language Analysis ............................................. 36
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a. Hyperbole or Overstatement .......................................... 36b. Simile ................................................................................ 37c. Symbol .............................................................................. 38d. Allusion ............................................................................ 38
3. Imagery Analysis .................................................................. 39
D. I GAVE MYSELF TO HIM ...................................................... 41
1. Explication ………………………………………………… 41
2. Figurative Language Analysis ........................................ 42
a. Metaphor .......................................................................... 42b. Symbol .............................................................................. 43
3. Imagery Analysis ………………………….......................... 44
CHAPTER IV CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION .......................... 45
A. Conclusion.................................................................................... 45
B. Suggestion .................................................................................... 47
BIBLIOGRAFHY ...................................................................................... 48
APPENDIXS............................................................................................... 50
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the study
Poetry is a universal language and used by the poets to communicate their
ideas in beautiful words.1 The poets choose beautiful words to produce beautiful
sounds that are able to send imaginative of ideas. As a universal language, poetry has
existed almost in all ages. Each text on poetry’s stanza holds its own values and
cultures. Poetry has grown and developed from time to time, and brought perfection
in literary work, which are imaginative expressions, expressive and naturalistic by
entirely.
The point about poetry and the others form of literature is that the choice of
words and elements inside which used by the authors.2 The language of poem is
usually different with the daily language. As one of literary genre, poetry is also
influent by movements, which become a role model or trend in literary world at that
time. Even, this factor becomes a model of the literary work in a specific period and
represents the characteristic of the literary works itself.3
1 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R.A.P.P., Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry EightEdition. Orlando: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1992.p.3.
2 Richard Gill, Mastering English Literature, New York: Macmillan Press Ltd, 1995 p.4
3 Adapted from: Zainuddin Fananie, Telaah Sastra. Surakarta: Muhammadiyah UniversityPress, 2000. p.48
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Semua karya sastra termasuk puisi memiliki makna yang imaginative. Bahasa
sastra dalam puisi bersifat konotatif karena banyak memiliki kemungkinan makna
seperti makna dari symbol-symbol dan gaya bahasa. Bentuk karya sastra puisi
mempunyai struktur yan berbeda dengan prosa.4
Poetry is a unique media of communication, creates in a brief and
concentrated form of language, and differs from the other literary works.
Accordingly, poem can give its meaning intently. The objects to be communicated in
a poem are various, say, for instance, the experiences of life, emotional conditions
such as: sadness, joy, love, anxiety, suffering, or simply philosophical ideas. A
literary work is an artifact non living thing have meaning and become an aesthetic
object if is given a meaning by a reader.5
Poetry is written to be enjoyed because in poetry a poet usually used
supporting elements to enrich the meaning and bring the reader imagination to her or
his minds. It is to produce imaginative thought and feeling of poets to focus the
structure from all strength of language.
One of the themes that often appear in poetry is love. Love is the basis of the
social contract that makes human civilization possible. Love is what allows
4 Herman J. Waluyo. Teori dan Apresiasi Puisi, (Jakarta: Erlangga, 1995), p.28
5 Prof.Dr.Rachmat Djoko Pradopo, Beberapa teori sastra, metode kritik, dan penerapannya,pustaka pelajar, yogyakarta 2003, p. 106.
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individuals to cooperate over extended periods of time by making us comfortable and
secure about using our time, energy and resources to help others.6
Poetry is the best way to convey love. Romantic love can be defined as a deep
devotion or affection for something or someone and is often shared between two
people. When a love is mutual, lovers find themselves compelled to communicate the
love between them, for example, expressing love in a solid form such as poetry.
"Love Poem" is a humorously light poem with an underlying love.7
Love is the attachment that results from deeply appreciating another’s
goodness. When someone hurts you and says they "love" you, they may not be lying
about their feelings. Even an abuser will feel a need to have you in their lives. They
may feel an extreme "need" to have and control you, but you should make all your
decisions about them based on their love behavior, how they treat you and others,
because that’s your side of the deal, and that which determines how many enemies
and how much trouble they bring to your relationship.8
These determine the quality of our relationships; and The Meaning of Love
explains how they interrelate, and why attraction --the normally considered most
important emotional element and conventional hallmark of love-- is not sufficient to
6 Available on http://www.lloyddennis.com/Love%20Doctor/thesis.htm. Thursday, January24, 2009
7 Available on http://www.academon.com/lib/paper/26432.html Thursday, January 24, 2009
8 Available on http://www.targam.com.html. Thursday, January 17, 2009.
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signify a relationship as one of love, no matter how strong or how enduring that
attraction may be.
In this research the writer would like to analyze Emily Dickinson love poems.
Emily Dickinson is the finest American women poet and was one of the
indispensable poets in English. She wrote consciously and with profound insight
about her womanly life. Dickinson was born on December, 10, 1830 in Amherst,
Massachusetts.
Emily Dickinson grew up in a prominent and prosperous household in
Amherst, Massachusetts. Along with her younger sister Lavinia and older brother
Austin, she experienced a quiet and reserved family life headed by her father Edward
Dickinson. Dickinson was well known in Massachusetts.
She found freedom from excessive in solitude and in love. Much of her poems
concerned with the relationship of physical sight to poetic vision. Love, death,
immortality, beauty and nature are big theme in her poems. She chooses poetry as
media to write whatever she had felt. All of her life experiences which was fulfilled
by obscurity always written into poetry.
Even though Dickinson was the finest American women poet, but her poetry
was virtually unknown during her lifetime. Five year after her death, in 1891, the first
collection of her poems was published, and printed no more than 116 out of the 1775
poems she wrote.
The explanation above is closely related to the love poem that would be
analyzed. Hope is the thing with feather, Heart, We will forget him, If you coming in
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thee Fall, I gave myself to him are love poems that reflect the speaker experience,
critics and hopes of the speaker. Through the literary language9 that is full of
connotative meaning, the four love poem deliver the reflection of the speaker
condition. Categorized as love poems, those poems consist of intrinsic elements that
have the figure of speech and imagery used by the speakers to achieve the goal of
reflecting the social condition, critics and hopes of the speaker.
B. The Focus of Study
In this thesis, the writer focuses on the intrinsic elements of the poem,
especially kind of imagery and figure of speech in Emily Dickinson’s poems: Hope is
the thing with feather, Heart, We will forget him, If you coming in thee Fall, I gave
myself to him.
C. The Statement of problems
To pursue the understanding of this thesis, the writer formulated some
statement of problem as follows:
9A literary language is a register (in linguistics, a register is a subset of a language used for aparticular purpose or in a particular social setting) of a language that is used in literary writing. Thedifference between literary and non-literary vernacula forms is more marked in some languages thanin others. Where there is a strong divergence, the language is said to exhibit diglossia. Anonymous,Literary Language. Accessed on October 09, 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_language.
This statement could be supported by definition proposed by Herman J. Waluyo “…literarylanguage in poetry has characteristic of connotative that’s many possibility of meaning like symboland figurative of speech...” (Herman J. Waluyo, Teory dan Apresiasi Puisi (Jakarta: Erlangga, 1995),p. 28)
Through the statement above, we can conclude that the literary language is language, whichhas characteristic of connotative having many possibilities of meaning like symbol and figurative ofspeech.
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A. What kinds of figure of speech and imagery can be found on Emily
Dickinson love poems: Hope is the thing with feather, Heart, We will
forget him, If you coming in thee Fall, and I gave myself to him?
B. How do the imagery and figure of speech contribute the theme of love
on the poems?
D. Significance of the research
This research is expected to add treasury of literary criticism study especially
poetry, and to give the accurate information about the imagery and figure of speech
and how those things contribute to the theme of the poems.
E. The Methodology of the research
1. The objective of the research
The objectives of the research are:
1. To know kinds of imagery and figure of speech used in Emily
Dickinson love poems.
2. To know how the imagery and figure of speech contribute the theme in
Emily Dickinson love poems.
2. The method of research
In this research, the writer uses a descriptive method. The writer tries to
analyze the unit of analysis by using every reference related to the study. The writer
analyses every line that contains the figurative language and imagery. From both
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analyses, the writer tries to describe the figurative language and imagery of each
poem. The writer also tries to give answer of the research questions.
3. Data analysis
In this research, the writer uses qualitative analysis. The collected data are
analyzed by comparing the data with the theory of figurative language and imagery.
4. The unit of analysis
The unit of analysis in this research is the four poems of Emily Dickinson, by
the title: Hope is the thing with feather, Heart, We will forget him, If you coming in
thee Fall, I gave myself to him, taken from: www.love-
poem.me.uk/dickinson_poem_22.html
5. The Instrument
The instrument of this research is the writer himself, as the subject of the
research by reading and selecting the figure of speech and imagery from the poem,
and also reading other references that support to analyze this research.
6. The time and place of research
The writer starts doing the research when the writer is studying at tenth
semester, 2008. It took place in faculty of Adab and Humanities Library, Syarif
Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, main library of UIN, Faculty of
Culture Studies’ library of UI and Atmajaya and other libraries which can give
references and information about the material that needed.
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CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Understanding Poetry
According to Laurence Perrine ‘poetry might be defined as a kind of language
that says more and says it more intensely that does ordinary language’.10 This
statement express that poetry was a kind of language that was different from the daily
language because poetry often said more and expressed itself intensely. The intense
word could be in our language equated densely, the draught, and it other of meaning
distinguished from the daily language of loose prose, and tended to make use of
words with simple meaning.
Almost every people can read a poem but to comprehend the content in the
poem needs knowledge of accuracy and seriousness. Reading poetry is an experience
that increases in richness as it is repeated. A poem may be enjoyed on first sight, for
its brilliant imagery, perhaps, or its satisfying sound relationships, the appeal of wit or
an intellectual concept pointed with subtlety or for all these together, flashing upon
the mind with a shock of delight.11
10 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R.A.P.P. (1992), Op.cit. p.3.
11 Stanley B. Greenfield and A. Kingsley Weatherhead, THE POEM: An Anthology. MeredithCorporation. 1968. p. xxvii
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Poetry is frequently concerned with the very feelings, reactions, and
attitudes which the prose writer may avoid because they interfere with the directness
and clarity of his statement.12 The people in the world always regard it as one of the
most important expressions.
B. Figurative language
Figurative language is often characterized by the use of figures of speech,
elaborate expressions, sound devices, and syntactic departures from the usual order of
literal language.13 Poets feel, that by using the figure of speech in their poetry they
can say more vividly and forcefully than they can say it directly. The definition of
figure of speech based on Encyclopedia of Literature: figure of speech is a form or
expression used to convey meaning or heathen effect, often by comparing or
identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the
reader or listener.14
In general, figurative language is that kind of language which departs from
the language employed in the traditional, literal ways of describing person or objects.
Using figurative language is making imaginative descriptions in fresh ways. Kinds of
12 Irving Ribner and Harry Morris, POETRY a Critical and Historical Introduction. ScottForesman and Company. 1962. p. 1
13 Available on http://www.answers.com/topic/literal-and-figurative-language Wednesday, Jun11, 2009
14 Pamela Gossin, Encyclopedia of Literature and Science,(Greenwood Publiahing Group,2002). p,415.
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figurative language are metaphor, simile, personification, apostrophe, metonymy,
symbol, allegory, paradox, overstatement, understatement and irony.15
C. The Kinds of Figure of Speech
1. Metaphor
When the writer talk about metaphor, the writer means the use of language
to refer to something other and what it was originally applied to, or what it “literally”
means, in order to suggest some resemblance or make a connection between the two
things.16
Metaphor comes from the Greek word, metapherin which means a
comparison without like or as (love is a flower in the garden of life). But avoid mixed
metaphors (illogical: Love is a flower that bites you and melts your will power).17
Metaphor work the same way and stronger than similes. They link the objects they
compare more closely because they actually name one object as the other.18
Metaphor is like a simile that creates comparison. However, it like direct
than the simile in that it does not use “as” or “like” to create the comparison. Often
15 Christopher Russel Reaske. How to analyze poetry. (New York, Monarch Press, 1966). P. 33
16 Rosamund Moon and Murray Knowles. Introducing Metaphor. (New York: Routledge,2006), 2006. p. 3
17 George Feinstein, Programmed Writing Skills.(New Jersey. Prentice-Hall, Inc.1976), p. 27.
18 Daniel Brown and Bill Burnette, Connections: A Rhetoric/ Short Prose Reader. (Boston.Houghton Mifflin Company, 1967), p.
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the metaphor actually describes the subject being the thing to which it is compared.19
Those definition explain that metaphor is figure of speech compare two different
thing directly without uses a connective word such as like, as, as if, similar to, etc. for
example: “a dirty dog stole my money”, the word dirty dog means someone who stole
the money, not really a dog.
2. Simile
A simile is a direct comparison that omits like or as.20 If the writer said, “he
was as tall as a giraffe”, the writer would be using simile, which is the direct
correlation of two things, in this case person and animal by means of like, as, than, or
some other word establishing direct relation. A simile is explicit comparison between
unlike things using such indictors of comparison as like and as For example, my
tongue was like a filling estuary.
Like metaphor, simile also compares two different things, but it uses a
connective word. Simile may be defined as “figure of speech in which two essential
dissimilar object are expressly compared with an another by used sign- posting such
as like, as, than similar to, resembles or seems.”21
19 Crof, Steven and Cross Helen. 2000. Literature, Critism, and Style. (Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press). P. 47
20 Gillespie, Fonseca, and Sanger. 1994, Literature Across Culture, USA: Allyn and Bacon,p.989
21 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP. Op. cit. P. 61
22
3. Personification
Personification is the attribution of human qualities to animals, ideas, or
inanimate thing. It is really a subtype of metaphor, an implied comparison in which
the figurative term of the comparison is always a human being.22 Personification is
also a type of metaphor in which distinct human qualities, e.g., honesty, emotion,
volition, etc., are attributed to an animal, object or idea.23 From definition above, the
writer gets the conclusion that personification is treating something as human being
by giving the attribute of human being to inanimate object, to animal, concrete or
abstract tings. A poet usually uses personification to make great effect and bring the
reader imagination to her/his minds. To have a better understanding about
personification, the writer chooses How Like a Winter Hath My Absence by William
Shakespeare that consist of personification in second stanza by William Shakespeare,
line six by expressing:
The teeming autumn, big with rich increaseBearing the wanton burthen of the prime
In this poem, autumn was considered as human quality by bearing. He was
very sad because his girl friend leaves him alone, so he can not feel the affection from
girl friend when he needs it.
22 Ibid. p. 64
23 Anonymous, The poetic of Robert Frost, www.frosfriend.Org/figurative. html, Monday,January 24, 2009
23
4. Symbol
A symbol is something such as an object, picture, written word, sound, or
particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or
convention.24 Symbol is also a word that stands for, or points to, a reality beyond it
self. The content of a poem can not move from a symbol. The poet uses a symbol to
say certain forms are like some thing. For example: “he wishes for the clothes of
heaven”, for instance, it may symbolized the luxurious thing or glamorous; such the
choice of profession, etc.
Closely related to symbol is imagery, Russel explained symbol is the
ultimate task of advanced to explain. The poets used symbol and further, to explain
how the symbol work together with the images to amplify the meaning poem.25
5. Allegory
Allegory is a narrative or description that has a second meaning beneath the
surface. In form the allegory is a complete and self-sufficient narrative, but it also
signifies another series of events or conditions of life as expressed in a religion or
philosophy.26 Although the surface story or description may have its own interest, the
24Available on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol. Wednesday, Jun 11, 2009
25 Christopher Russel Reaske. Op. cit. p. 95
26 Edgar V. Roberts, Writing Theme About Literature. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: 1983), p.102
24
author’s major interest is in the ulterior meaning. Allegory has been defined
sometimes as an extended metaphor and sometimes as a series of related symbols. In
Allegory there is usually a one-to-one correspondence between the details and sinle
set of ulterior meanings.
The example of allegorical is when pharaoh in the bible, for instance, has a
dream in which seven fat kine are devoured by seven lean kine, story does not really
become significant until Joseph interprets its allegorical meaning; that Egypt is to
enjoy seven years off fruitfulness and prosperity followed by seven years of famine.27
6. Apostrophe
Apostrophe is a way of addressing someone or something invisible or not
ordinarily spoken. An apostrophe is a figure of speech that literally mean “a turning
away,” it occurs in poetry when the speaker addresses words to some person or thing,
very often calling it to mind in its absence. 28 A poet will often use apostrophe as
away of giving direction and intensity to an interior meditation. Closely related to
personification is apostrophe, which consists in addressing someone absent or dead or
something nonhuman as if that person or thing were present and alive and could and
could reply to what is being said. For example, the speaker in A.E. Housman’s “To
an Athlete Dying Young” (No 238) apostrophizes a dead runner.
27 Ibid., p. 88
28 Ibid. p.65
25
7. Hyperbole or overstatement
Hyperbole is exaggerates for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.
For example: “No sooner had I thrown the hamburger away than a million flies
swarmed over It”.29
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that is in intentional exaggeration for
emphasis or humorous effect. Overstatement or hyperbole is simply exaggeration, but
exaggeration in the service of truth. Like all figure of speech, overstatement may be
used with a variety of effects. It may be humorous or grave, fanciful or restrained, or
convincing or unconvincing. For example, when Tennyson says of his eagle (no.1)
that it is “close to the sun in lonely hand” he say what appears to be literally true,
though we know from our study of astronomy that it is not. 30
8. Paradox
A paradox is an apparent contradiction that is nevertheless somehow true.
The value of paradox is its sock value. It seeming impossibility starless the reader
into attention and, by the fact of it apparent absurdity, underscore the truth of what is
being said.31 For examples:
29 Edward P. J. Corbett, The little theoric & handbook with Reading, (Dallas: Scott, Foresmanand Company, 1969), p. 41
30 Steven Croft and Hellen Cross, Literature, Critism, and Style, (Oxford: Oxford UniversityPress), p. 57
31 Ibid. p. 100
26
Much Madness Is Divines Sense (Emily Dickinson)The child is father of the man (Wordsworth
9. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a part stands for the whole. The word wheels in line “Male
teenagers often get caught up in a love affair with their wheels”. Here Wheels stands
for the entire car or motorcycle.32
10. Allusion
An allusion is a literary device that stimulates ideas, associations, and
extra information in the reader's mind with only a word or two. Allusion means
'reference'. It relies on the reader being able to understand the allusion and being
familiar with all of the meaning hidden behind the words.33
Allusion that is defined as “a reference to something in history or
previous literature is like a richly connotative word or a symbol, a means of
suggesting far more than it says.”34 The word Joshua in the context of Chesterfield’s
toast, calls up in the reader’s mind the whole biblical story of how the Israelite
captain stopped the sun and the moon in order that the Israelites might finish a battle
and conquer their enemies before nightfall. The force of the toast lies in its extremes
economy; it says so much in so little, it exercises the mind of the reader to make the
32 Edward, P.J. Corbett, (1983), Op. cit, p. 29
33 Available on http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/allusion/page Wednesday, Jun 11,2009
34 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP, (1992). Op. cit, p. 120.
27
connection for himself. Gorys Keraf defines allusion as “semacam acuan yang
berusaha mensugestikan kesamaan antara orang, tempat, atau peristiwa.”35 (A
reference that suggests the similarity of people, place, or events).
From the definition above, the writer can conclude that allusion refers to
explicit or implicit reference to well-known events, characters, or places, mythology
or literature. By the use of allusion, the meaning of the massage should be clearer.
The writer uses it by the conviction that the reader is familiar with the things spoken
about.
Allusions is a means of reinforcing the emotion or the ideas of one’s own
work with the emotion or ideas of another work and compacts so much meaning in so
small a space, it is extremely useful to the poet.36
D. Imagery
Imagery is a board term referring to comparison of something known-a
description of an object or action-with something to be communicated-a situation or
emotional state. It is the means by which authors reach directly into the experience
and imagination of their readers to create a desired response. 37
Imagery is important element in poem to strengthen the reader
imagination, and brings the reader imagination to the poet mind. Imagery is most
35 Gory Keraf, Diksi dan Gaya Bahasa (Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2002), p.141
36 Ibid. p. 120
37 Edgar V. Roberts, Writing Theme About Literature. Engewood Cliffs, New Jersey: 1983), p.96
28
vital, however, in imaginative writing, where it promotes understanding and shapes
the reader’s responses.38
The literal imagery is a mental impression that is created by direct
description. The poet uses literal imagery when he makes word choices that are very
direct, concrete and specific. He invites the reader to imagine something clearly and
distinctly. Siswantoro says: meski sifatnya deskriptif, seorang penyair tidak akan
mengumbar kata berpanjang lebar, sebab ia sadar bahwa bahasa puisi terkait oleh
persyaratan seperti: padat dan singkat.39 Harmon and Holman says ”…a literal
image being one that involves no necessary change or extension in the obvious
meaning of the words, one in which the words call up a sensory representation of the
literal object or sensation…”40 It means the poet only chooses the simple and
compact words in poem, and it must bring the reader to participate in imagery that is
developed by poet.
Imagery is a language used in such a way as to help the readers to see, hear,
feel, think about or generally understand more clearly or vividly what is being said or
the impression that the writer wishes to convey. 41 Images help readers experience a
38 Ibid, p. 96
39 Siswantoro, Apresiasi Puisi-Puisi Sastra Inggris (Surakarta: Muhammadiyah UniversityPress, May 2002), p. 57.
40 William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman, A Handbook to Literature, (New Jersey, PrenticeHall, 1995). P. 240
41 Steven Croft and Hellen Cross, Op. cit. (2000). p. 56
29
situation more vividly because they turn abstract language into concrete ‘visuals’.42
The words Image perhaps most often suggests a mental picture, something sense in
the mind’s eye. Therefore, visual imagery is the kind of imagery that occurs most
frequently in poetry. An image may also represent a sound (auditory imagery); a
smell (olfactory imagery); a taste (gustatory imagery); touch, such as hardness,
softness, wetness, or heat and cold (tactile imagery); an internal sensation, such as
hunger, thirst, fatigue, or nausea (organic imagery); or movement or tension in the
muscles or joints (kinesthetic imagery).43
1. Visual Imagery
Visual imagery evokes a picture of something that occurs most frequently in
poetry, sometime seen in the mind eye which called by sight effect,44 through the
poem of William Wordsworth Daffodils below seen the obvious described about
visual imagery.
Continuous as the stars that shineAnd twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending lineAlong the margin of a bay:
The thousand saw I at a glanceTossing their heads in sprightly dance
42 Available on http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/imagery Wednesday, Jun 11, 2009
43 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP (1992), Op. cit. p. 49
44 Siswantoro (2002), Op. cit. p. 52.
30
Inside of our imagination appears the description or portrait about daffodil flower that
is growing stretched and never ending along the margin of a bay and we can see the
thousands of daffodil, what beautiful they are! It is tossing their heads in sprightly
dance.
2. Auditory Imagery
Auditory imagery represents a sound. In the poem bellow:
Hear the sledges with the bells - silver bells!What a world of merriment their melody foretells!How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,In the icy air of night!While the stars that over sprinkleAll the heavens, seem to twinkleWith a crystalline delight;Keeping time, time, timeIn a sort of runic rhyme,To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells,From the bells, bells, bells,Bells, bells, bells,From the jingling and tinkling of the bells.
Poe calls up our imagination through the auditory effect. He invites us to hear
sledges45 with the bells, how they tinkle in the icy air of night, or we can hear the
jingling and tinkling of the bells.
45 A vehicle with long narrow strips of wood, metal, etc. instead of wheels for traveling over theice and snow. Larger types of the sledge are pulled by horses or dogs and smaller ones are used forgoing down hill for sport or pleasure. Jonathan Crowther (1995), op. cit. p. 1112.
31
3. Olfactory Imagery
Olfactory imagery calls up the sense of smell to the reader.46 We can grasp the
olfactory imagery through the lines of Robert Frost’s poem below:
The buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yardAnd made dust dropped stove-length sticks of wood,Sweet-scanted stuff when the breeze drew across it.
In the first line, he uses visual imagery to visualize the situation when the
buzz-saw snarled and rattled in the yard and the dust dropped stove-length sticks of
wood. The speaker uses olfactory imagery in third line of this poem “…Sweet-
scanted stuff when the breeze drew across it” to empress to the reader about the smell
when the buzz saw snarled and rattled in the yard and the dust dropped stove length
sticks of wood.
4. Gustatory Imagery
Gustatory imagery is the imagery represented a taste.47 The example of this
imagery could be grasped through the following quotation of Robert Frost’s poem
(Blueberries) “…the blueberries as big as your thumb...with the flavor of soot…” he
awakens our imagery by tasting blueberries with the flavor of soot.
46 Siswantoro. Op. cit. p.55
47 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP, Op. cit. p.49
32
5. Tactile Imagery
Tactile imagery is imagery that represents a sense of touch in poetry, such as
hardness, softness, wetness or heat and cold.48 In the sonnet that is written by
Shakespeare below, the author can feel what freezing has he felt when he is in far
from his sweetheart. Shakespeare describes the situation by using the lines such as
bellow:
How like a winter hath my absence beenFrom thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year!What freezing have I felt, what dark days seen!What old December’s bareness every where!
6. Organic imagery
Organic imagery or an internal sensation is imagery that represents an inner
sensation like hunger, thirsty, fatigue, tire, faint or queasy in poetry.49 This imagery
could be grasped through the following poem “Lord Randal”
“O where have ye been, Lord Randal, my son?O where have ye been, my handsome young man?”“I here been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m weary will hunting, and fain wald lies down”.
“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?”“I dined will my true love; mother, make my bad soon,For I’m weary will hunting, and fain wald lie down.”
48 Siswantoro. Op. cit. p.56
49 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP (1992), Op. cit. p. 49
33
The writer can feel how weary Lord Randal is and how he wants to lie down!
The writer feels it through the question asked by his mother to him such as in line
“…o where have ye been, Lord Randal, my son…” but the Lord Randal just say “…I
dined will my true love; mother, make my bad soon/ for I’m weary will hunting, and
fain wald lie down.” This lines describes how tired Lord Randal is! The imagery that
is built by speaker calls our imagination up to feel as same as the speaker.
7. Kinesthetic Imagery
Kinesthetic imagery conveys a sense of movement or tension in the
muscles or joints.50 We can study it in Ghost House’s poem “…the black bats tumble
and dart.” This poem impresses us about the sense of movement or tension in the
muscles or joints.
50 Ibid. p.49
34
CHAPTER III
THE ANALYSIS OF POEMS
A. Data Description
The writer discusses the detailed description of the poems or it is called
explication. Explication is an explanation of the entire poem in detail, unraveling any
complexities to be found in it.51
To support the analysis of this research, the writer uses the following data
description containing detail figurative language and imagery found in the poems.
Table 1. The type of figure of speech on each poem
No. Corpus Line Type of figure ofspeech
1 Hope is the thing with feather
Hope is the thing with featherThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without thewordsAnd sore must be the storm
123
6
MetaphorPersonificationPersonification
Hyperbole
2 Heart, we will forget him!
Heart, we will forget him 1 Apostrophe
3 If you were coming in the fall
I’d brush the summer byAs housewives do a flyI’d the month in the balls
246
HyperboleSimile
Hyperbole
51 X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia, (2005) Op. cit., p.617
35
I’d count them on my handInto Van Diemen’s landI’d toss life yonder like a rindIt goads me like the goblin beeIt goads me like the goblinbee/That will not state its stings!
10121519
19-20
HyperboleAllusion
HyperboleSimile
Symbol
4 I gave myself to him
The solemn contract of a lifeStill fabled, in the isles of spice
311
MetaphorSymbol
Table 2. The type of figure of speech on each poem
No. Corpus Line Type of imagery
Hope is the thing with feather
“Hope” is the thing withfeathersThat perches in the soul
And sings the tune without thewordsAnd never stop –at all-
I’ve heard it in the Chilliest landAnd on the strangest sea
1-2
3-4
9-10
Visual imagery
Auditory Imagery
Tactile Imagery
Heart, we will forget him!
Heart! We will forget himYou and I – tonight
You may forget the warmth hegaveI will forget the light
1-2
3-4
Visual Imagery
Visual Imagery
36
If you were coming in the fall
I brush the summer byI’d wind the months in ballI count them on my handI’d toss life yonder like a rind
261015
Visual imagery
I gave myself to him
I gave myself to him,And took himself for pay.
Depreciates the sight;But, 'til the merchant buy,Still fabled, in the isles of spiceThe subtle cargoes lie.
12
9101112
Visual Imagery
1. HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS
“Hope” is the thing with feathers - 1That perches in the soul -And sings the tune without the words -And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - 5And sore must be the storm -That could abash the little BirdThat kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -And on the strangest Sea - 10Yet, never, in Extremity,It asked a crumb - of Me.
1. Explication
This poem expresses the power of love of the speaker to someone the
speaker loves, the power of love is simplified within a word hope that illustrates
37
the description of her notion or idea that perches in the soul and sings the tune
without the words and never stops at all. Hope is always present in life and it is
always with us; it “perches” in our soul.
The speaker compares the “hope” to “The thing with feathers” or simply
birds. This implies that hope has the ability to take someone up and could make
someone being closer to happiness. Phrase ...a tune without the words…here
illustrates or describes the hope of the speaker to her beloved someone that could
not be said and counted.
In the next stanza, the speaker said ...And sweetest in the Gale is heard/
and sore must be the storm / that could abash the little Bird/ that kept so many
warm… It will be analyzed in the figure of speech analysis below. While the third
stanza describes something that impossible to be obtained by her but, the speaker
still hopes it.
In last stanza of this poem, there is a very good symbol that represents
an everlasting hope. The speaker used a bird that never stops singing at all to
signify an eternal hope., “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land and on the strongest
sea” in the first line of the last set of stanzas, the speaker gives us an inspiration
that hope is eternal and everywhere and it exists for everyone.
2. Figurative Language Analysis
a. Metaphor
According to Barnet, metaphor asserts the identity without a connective
38
such as “like” or a verb such as “appear” of a term that are literally
incompatible.52
The speaker uses the figurative of speech such as metaphor in the first
stanza of this poem. The speaker said that …”hope” is a thing with feathers…
Here, Hope has similarity with feather; it is because that hope never fails.
The speaker uses a bird to describe the idea of hope. The speaker
describes the metaphor that is used to compare “Hope” to “the thing with
feather”. Feathers demonstrate hope because feathers make it possible for
someone to fly. This implies that hope has the ability to take someone up. The
birds have feathers and therefore, are able to fly upward. And it is also could
make someone being closer to happiness.
b. Personification
Personification consists in giving attributes of human being to an
animal, an object, or a concept,53 appears in the first stanza of this poem. The
speaker personifies the feather perching in the soul possessing the human
character that could sing a tune.
52 Barnet, Sylvan, at al., an introduction to literature. (New York: Harper Collins Publithespeakerrs 1993), Tenth Edition, p. 63.
53 Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. ARP. (1992). Op. cit. p. 64.
39
c. Hyperbole or Overstatement
Hyperbole or overstatement appears in second stanza, 6th line: …And
sore must be the storm -…. The speaker exaggerated that sore must be the storm.
The speaker meant “hope” always survives under horrible circumstances. It
related to the situation that the person does not stop to hope. Like the bird, hope
comes from a person’s soul. The bird continues to survive after the storm. This
statement could be supported by the 4th line …And never stops - at all -….
3. Imagery Analysis
According to imagery technique building in Sound and Sense: An
Introduction to Poetry Eight Edition written by Laurence Perrine and Thomas
R.A.P.P, this poem contains the imagery element inside. From the explication
above, the reader can presumes that this poem express the power of love of the
speaker to someone the speaker love. All of ones could be seen or grasped in
figurative language use it by the speaker.
a. Visual Imagery
Based on the metaphor analysis above, the writer can imagine how the
speaker symbolized her hopes in line. “Hope” is the thing with feathers/ That
perches in the soul... and through this corpus of line we can imagine how her
hopes described it till arises the sight effect or visual imagery of the feather that
perches in the soul.
40
b. Auditory Imagery
The speaker uses the auditory imagery in this poem, the speaker says:
… And sings the tune without the words -/ And never stops - at all -…the word
“sing the tune” is enough to stimulate the auditory imagery to the readers. The
speaker takes the reader to listen the sound of feather that flying in the air which
symbolized hope. Hope’s survival is personified through a bird. The birds have
feathers and therefore, are able to fly upward. This shows you that with hope,
someone could get closer to happiness. Hope is something that can lift someone’s
soul or spirit up.
c. Tactile Imagery
The tactile imagery appears in the second stanza of this poem, the
speaker describes us the little bird that keep so many warm and we could feel it
and sensations when we read this stanza. In the third stanza, the speaker also
arises up through tactile imagery in the first line of the last set of stanzas …I’ve
heard it in the chilliest land/ and on the strangest see... Through this line the
reader can imagine how the Chilliest land impressed in their body. The speaker
gives us an inspiration that hope is eternal and everywhere and it exists for
everyone. It also symbolizes the survival of hope under horrible circumstances.
41
B. HEART, WE WILL FORGET HIM!
Heart, we will forget him! 1You and I, to-night!You may forget the warmth he gave,I will forget the light.
When you have done, pray tell me, 5That I my thoughts may dim;Haste! lest while you’re lagging,I may remember him!
1. Explication
This poem describe about the pain of getting over a man that the speaker
loves. Emily Dickinson is writing about the pain of one man loved by the speaker
and asking for some relief from the speaker heart as it is too painful to think about
this person. When the speaker begins to think about him, the speaker blames her
heart for failing her.
The speaker still loves him because the speaker talks about “the warmth
he gave”. He is still perfect in her mind. The speaker does not want to forget him
and all the memories the speaker has, but the speaker cannot find the strength to
do so through all the pain. The speaker tells her heart to forget him. The speaker
knows the speaker needs to forget about her loved one, but the speaker does not
want to, so, the speaker blames it on her heart.
The speaker tells to the heart to tell her mind when it is finished
forgetting, the mind would have as much trouble forgetting the man, it lets the
heart forget first. Then when the heart is finished, the mind is looking to make it
42
easier on it to forget the person the speaker loved. It would very difficult to just
drop a feeling like this and forget. The speaker says:
When you have done, pray tell me,That I my thoughts may dim;
In the next line of the second stanza, the speaker says, “Haste! Lest
while you’re lagging”, it is means, the speaker say, “Hurry!” the mind tell the
heart. While the heart has not forgotten, the mind is still thinking on him, and the
pain is rough. The speaker tells to the speaker in 7th -8th line:
Haste! lest while you’re lagging,I may remember him!
The painful ‘despite everything’ - are moving in their imagery, an
imagery that follows logically upon the premises of simultaneous forgetting. The
mind will remember the pain as the heart attempts to forget. The speaker says, “I
may remember him!” Here, the point is though it wants to ease the pain, the effort
to ease it is harder. The speaker does not want to forget the man, but the pain
expressed in the poem is too much.
43
2. Figurative Language Analysis
a. Apostrophe
Apostrophe is closely related to personification which consists in
addressing someone absent or dead or something non human as if that person or
thing were present and a live and could reply to what is being said.54
The speaker apostrophizes her heart and asks it to forget something felt
by her about her sweetheart. The speaker categorizes it into apostrophe based on
the quotation of lyric “heart, we will forget him!/ You and I, tonight!/ You may
forget the warmth he have,/ I will forget the light…” By using this sentence, we
can see how the speaker apostrophizes the heart.
The apostrophe also emerges in the second stanza of this poem, the
speaker apostrophizes her haste within statement “…Haste, lest while you’re
lagging, I may remember him!” this second stanza is exactly tells about
something that could be forgotten by the speaker; is her sweetheart till finally the
speaker pronounced it with statement “…Haste, lest while you’re lagging, I may
remember him!”
3. Imagery Analysis
This poem is about the speaker’s experience trying to persuade her heart
to forget a man the speaker loved. But, it is compulsory to forget him because of
54 Ibid. p. 65.
44
the circumstances and the other hand; he gave her the warmth and light referring
to the conflict both of her heart and mind.
The mind says to the heart in hope that the heart will forget someone
the speaker loves dearly. Ironically, the mind wants to forget, but it possesses the
trouble letting go. It tells the heart that when the mind is finithe speakerd
forgetting about him to tell it so, it can begin to forget. It could be a struggle
between the mind and heart when it comes to love.
Through the figurative language such as apostrophe, the speaker
describes her fight to battles her mind and something felt by her. In first and
second line the speaker quotes Heart! We will forget him!/ You and I – tonight…
that her mind says her heart that they have to forget someone they love.
The speaker uses the organic imagery in this poem. The readers can
presume from the third line of this poem …You may forget the warmth he gave, I
will forget the light… the word warmth is the feeling of acceptance and joy of
someone the speaker love suggesting the organic imagery to the reader.
45
C. IF YOU COMING IN THE FALL
If you were coming in the fall 1I'd brush the summer byWith half a smile and half a spurnAs housewives do a fly.
If I could see you in a year 5I'd wind the months in ballsAnd put them into separate drawersUntil their time befalls.
If only centuries delayedI'd count them on my hand 10Subtracting 'till my fingers droppedInto Van Diemen's land
If certain when this life was outThat yours and mine should beI'd toss life yonder like a rind 15And taste eternity.
But now all ignorant of length,Of times uncertain wing,It goads me like the goblin beeThat will not state its sting! 20
1. Explication
This poem discusses the difficulty of waiting for some uncertain future.
The speaker describes the state of being separated with the speaker beloved; the
speaker describes it by using supposition word like something could be grasped in
line: …if you coming in the fall/ if I could see in a year/ if only centuries delayed/
if certain when this life was out…. The supposition appears in the first, second,
third and four stanzas at this poem that exactly describes the speaker’s hope.
46
In the last stanza, the speaker shows the impossible condition caused by
the distance among them. The speaker describes the impossible thing through the
lines:
But now all ignorant of length,Of times uncertain wing,It goads me like the goblin beeThat will not state its sting!
In this stanza, the speaker said that all ignorant of length, of times uncertain wing,
it goads me like the goblin bee that will not state its sting. The longer one waits,
the more painful it becomes. It stings as the speaker says. However, the speaker
says that waiting without certainty is nothing but torture.
2. Figurative Language Analysis
a. Hyperbole or Overstatement
Hyperbole or overstatement appears in first, second, third and fourth
stanza,
If you were coming in the fallI'd brush the summer by…
The poem is introduced with the sense the speaker is writing to a lover.
“The Fall” can be seen as adulthood in a lifetime. Spring is then infancy, summer
is youth, fall is adulthood, and winter is death. “I'd brush the summer by” can be
interpreted as “I pass my youth away.”
If I could see you in a yearI'd wind the months in balls
47
Show the longing of the speaker to find her distant lover. The speaker also winds
to count the days by “wind the months in balls.”
If only centuries delayedI'd count them on my hand
Here, means that time is only month, but rather centuries. Time has extended for
the meeting of the lost love. Here, the reader can interpreted the possibility that
her lover may not meet again in this lifetime.
If certain when this life was outThat yours and mine should beI'd toss life yonder like a rindAnd taste eternity
Here, the speaker proves acknowledge that the death is absolutely coming. The
readers can presume that the hope of the speaker is in a sweat sentiment or feeling
to the lover. The speaker says that the speaker would through away their life and
death “and take Eternity” with her love.
b. Simile
The figure of speech such as simile, appears in following lines …With
half a smile and half a spurn/ as housewives do a fly… The speaker compares the
situation that is done by her such as expressed in line If you were coming in the
fall/ I'd brush the summer by… seem like the housewives do a fly. The word “a
fly” means doing activity. The speaker describes that most young people spend
their time happy and half angry. Those in love are no exception, especially those
48
separated from their loves. The image of housewife swatting a flay adds to
intensity of image. The housewife is probably at home, alone, forced to take care
of thing by herself. So when her love is away, she is happy that she was able to
care for herself but also angry that she must do so.
The other simile is in line, … Of times uncertain wing,/ It goads me like
the goblin bee... the speaker says that the speaker does not know when they will
meet again, a tease to her like a little mischievous bee.
c. Symbol
The speaker uses figurative language such as symbol in the last stanza of
this poem …It goads me like the Goblin bee/ that will not state its stings. These
lines symbolize the difficulty of waiting for some uncertain future and show the
longing of the speaker to find her lover.
The words “Goblin Bee” are very profound. A goblin is a grotesque,
sneaky, evil creature and a bee is a tiny insect that stings and hurts people. By
putting the words “Goblin Bee” the speaker gives a sinister image, and illustrates
the possibility of not having a reunion of lover.
d. Allusion
Allusion that is defined as a reference to something in history or
previous literature is like a richly connotative word or a symbol, a means of
49
suggestion far more than it says. The word Van Diemen’s Land55 is the former
name of Tasmania, Australia. Its name commemorates Anthony van Diemen
(1593-1645), Dutch governor of Java, who sent TASMAN on his voyage of
exploration. The speaker uses allusion for allowing the speaker to reinforce an
argument that she would count the day rather centuries. It shows that the place
can not separate the speaker with the lover. The speaker still optimists that love
will appear in this life. She always waits for love even thought it is in different
place.
3. Imagery Analysis
This poem expresses how a lover anticipates without conviction
causes anguish and misery contrasting imagery and rhythm in the first four and
last stanzas. In the first four stanzas, the imagery, repetition of words invokes an
illusion dramatizing the insignificance of time. The simple, dreamy phrases …I
55Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania,now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to explore Tasmania.He named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt in honour of Anthony van Diemen, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies who had sent Tasman on his voyage of discovery in 1642.
In 1803, the island was colonised by the British as a penal colony with the name VanDiemen's Land, and became part of the British colony of New South Wales. In 1824, Van Diemen'sLand became a colony in its own right. In 1856 the colony was granted responsible self-governmentwith its own representative parliament, and the name of the island and colony were changed toTasmania. Anymous, Van Diemen’s land. Accessed January 26, 2009.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Diemen's_Land
50
brush the summer by…/ …I’d wind the months in ball…/ …I count them on my
hand… and …I’d toss life yonder like a rind…show the speaker's dreamy tone, in
response to actually difficult situations. The speaker will be patient, until passes
the summer. The speaker also wishes to count the days by around a month and
count the time with her hand until no one remains. The speaker does not give her
problems, her consideration and uses imagery to respond unrealistically because,
while dreaming, the speaker does not have to deal with reality.
In the paradox situation, the last stanza abruptly introduces different
rhythm and shows the unexpectedness and indistinctness of reality. Meanwhile,
unlike the first four stanzas, the last stanza describes the conclusion of her hope
that is perfected and categorized in phrase …the goblin bee…/ …will not state its
sting… The speaker does not have control over the bee, which attacks her, and
never know when the sting will come. The speaker is no longer dream, and
instead, the speaker does not know what to expect because the uncertainty of
when her lover will return overwhelms her. The contrast of the dreamy imagery,
repetition of words in the first four stanzas raises the readers about anguish and
misery.
Based on the simple explication above, the writer concludes that this
poem possesses the visual imagery inside that is grasped from the understanding
of paradox situation and something supported from the explication above.
51
52
D. I GAVE MYSELF TO HIM
I gave myself to him, 1And took himself for pay.The solemn contract of a lifeWas ratified this way
The value might disappoint, 5Myself a poorer proveThan this my purchaser suspect,The daily own of Love
Depreciates the sight;But, 'til the merchant buy, 10Still fabled, in the isles of spiceThe subtle cargoes lie.
At least, 'tis mutual risk,Some found it mutual gain;Sweet debt of Life, each night to owe, 15Insolvent, every noon.
1. Explication
This poem describes the solemn contract of a life that is referring the
word marriage. This description illustrates a religion value that is experienced by
the speaker. The speaker tells to the readers that when love truly is, a bigger price
is to pay. The speaker say: I gave myself to him/ And took himself for pay...
The wealth gained is sometimes too glorified for its true substance.
The speaker is proof of this disappointment. The speaker pities herself for this as
a poorest woman.
The speaker describes the marriage as in the economic market
situation; there is depreciation in one's value. The opposite becomes less valuable,
53
and then sometimes neglected like a catch, a prize, and the object lies to be
bought, or until the merchant disowns it. This is a risk of the affair. It is a risk
from both sides; dishonesty always lurks around the corner.
The risk is mutual; that are the gains and the losses of the relationship.
It is like you are owned by the other, always in debt to him. It thinks the poet
curses the relationship- debt. It is an eternal contract- insolvent, it never ceases,
and you always owe more of yourself, until, you have lost yourself, in the search
of another. The reader can presume from this poem in line:
At least, 'tis mutual risk,Some found it mutual gain;Sweet debt of Life, each night to owe,Insolvent, every noon.
2. Figurative Language Analysis
The speaker’s words are simple. However, their meanings are more
complex. The speaker uses figurative language, such as:
a. Metaphor
In a metaphor the comparison is made in the form of a direct equation,
without the use of like or as. Metaphor appears in the thirds stanza of this poem
that is describes through the phrase solemn contract.
The word solemn contract of a life means marriage. The speaker does
not restrain herself. The speaker gives herself wholly, and heart and soul as the
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speaker takes him for pay and the speaker expects him to do the same. It is a
contract of life.
Through the meaning of the words of the phrase could be concluded that
here is metaphor or description that is described by the speaker about marriage.
This statement could be supported by the line: …The solemn contract of a life
/Was ratified this way….
b. Symbol
Symbol is the visible object or action that suggests some further
meanings. The definition of symbol proposed on chapter II of this thesis, that is “a
symbol may be defined as something that means more then what it is”56
According to the definition was explained, the phrase isles of spice
could be regarded as a symbol. The building the solemn contract of life is
describes as a fabled by the speaker. The speaker illustrates the isles of spices as a
place that is full of happiness. Here, the speaker describes that marriage could get
someone closer to happiness. In marriage, the risk is mutual that are the gains and
the losses of the relationship. It is like you are owned by the other, always in debt
to him. That is supported by the last stanza of this poem:
At least, 'tis mutual risk,Some found it mutual gain;Sweet debt of Life, each night to owe,Insolvent, every noon.
56 Siswantoro, Apresiasi Puisi Puisi Sastra Inggris (Universitas: Muhammadiyah UniversityPres, May 2002). p. 44.
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3. Imagery Analysis
The writer analyze that this poem describes the solemn contract of a
life. The word “solemn contract” itself illustrates a religion value that is
experienced by the speaker. The speaker tells to the readers that when love truly
is, a bigger price is to pay. The speaker say: I gave myself to him/ And took
himself for pay...
Every stanzas of this poem arouses us the situation in building the
contract of life. The speaker expresses the movement of this poem through the
situation referring the market activities. The speaker uses the words that referring
to the market such as pay, value, purchaser, merchant, cargoes etc.
Depreciates the sight;But, 'til the merchant buy,Still fabled, in the isles of spiceThe subtle cargoes lie.
All the lines above give us the explanation what was the speaker
describes. In market activities, some are never satisfied and also depreciation in
one's value. The opposite becomes less valuable, and then sometimes neglected.
Like a catch, a prize, the object lays to be bought.
The reader can assume that the speaker describes the market situation
and impress us some idea about the market itself that is exactly arouse the visual
imagery, the speaker visualize it in a perfect situations. The word is enough to
stimulate visual effect to the readers.
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CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
A. Conclusion
After the writer analyzed four of the Emily Dickinson love poems;
Hope is the thing with feather, Heart we will forget him!, If you coming in the fall,
and I gave myself to him, there are something that can be concluded. These four
love poems have the dominant equal characteristic that is the love feeling
expression in the speaker life. In these poems, the speaker uses many kinds of
figure of speech and imagery. Figurative language and imagery of the poems
become an important element in process of interpreting and comprehending the
meaning beyond the poem.
Hope is the thing with feather poem expresses the power of love of the
speaker to someone the speaker loves, the power of love is simplified within a
word hope that illustrates the description of idea that perches in the soul and sings
the tune without the words and never stops at all. The speaker uses a very good
symbol that represents an everlasting hope. The speaker also gives the reader an
inspiration that hope is eternal and it exists for everyone.
Having analyzed the poem Hope is the thing with feather, the writer
can conclude that this poem uses three kinds of figures of speech they are
metaphor, personification, and hyperbole or overstatement. Meanwhile, there are
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three kind of imagery that used in this poem, the visual, auditory, and tactile
imagery.
Heart, we will forget him! This poem is about the speaker’s experience
trying to persuade her heart to forget someone the speaker loved. It is compulsory
to forget him because of the circumstances. The mind says to the heart in hope
that the heart will forget someone the speaker loves dearly. Ironically, it could be
a struggle between the mind and heart when it comes to love.
In this poem, the writer found the figure of speech such as apostrophe at
the first stanza and also the writer found the organic imagery at this poem.
If you coming in the fall. This poem discusses the difficulty of waiting
for some uncertain future and show the longing of the speaker to find her lover.
The poem is introduced with the sense of the speaker to a lover. “The Fall” in this
poem can be seen as adulthood in a lifetime. Spring is then infancy, summer is
youth, fall is adulthood, and winter is death. In this poem the reader can
interpreted the possibility that her lover may not meet again in this lifetime.
After analyzing this poem, the writer identified several figurative
languages that used in poem, that are hyperbole or overstatement, simile, symbol
and allusion. Meanwhile, this poem also used the visual imagery.
I gave myself to him poem describes the solemn contract of a life that is
referring the word marriage. This description illustrates a religion value that is
experienced by the speaker. The speaker tells to the readers that when love truly
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is, a bigger price is to pay. The speaker gives herself wholly, and expects him to
do the same. It is a contract of life.
In this poem, the writer found two kinds of figurative language that are
metaphor and symbol. Whereas, there is imagery that used in this poem, that is
the visual imagery.
B. Suggestion
The thesis entitled Figure of Speech and Imagery Analysis on Emily
Dickinson Love Poem is one of many exertions to find the news treasure in
literature and this thesis hoped could giving the appreciation to literature itself.
The writer suggests for those who are interested in studying about
poetry, especially in the Emily Dickinson works to use many approaches in
comprehending the content and massage in his works. For students who are
interested in the poem movement, it is expected that they have to improve and
expand their knowledge about the poem. It is better if they look for another
source about poem theory especially the theory about the element of poem.
For other researchers, it is suggested that they have to study more about
the figure of speech in a poem because there are many interesting aspects to
analyze in a poem. It is because the poem is a literature works which rich of an
art and element of poem which interesting to analyze and it never changed for
many years later since the human being was still study and analyze the poem
itself.
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