Figurative Language in Stephanie Garber's Novel "Once Upon a Broken Heart"

Authors

  • Ni Luh Putu Nur Sri Astini Mahasaraswati University, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
  • Desak Putu Eka Pratiwi Mahasaraswati University, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v13i1.6768

Keywords:

Figurative language; meaning; novel

Abstract

This study aims to analyze figurative language found in the novel "Once Upon a Broken Heart" by Stephanie Garber. The data were analyzed based on Perrine and Arp’s theory of figurative language (1992) and theory of meaning proposed by Leech (1981). This study employs a descriptive qualitative method to analyze the data. The analysis identifies 190 instances of figurative language; 103 instances of simile, 16 instances of metaphor, 23 instances of personification, 31 instances of hyperbole, 11 instances of synecdoche, and 7 instances of irony. The result indicate that simile is the most dominantly used figure of speech because it provides a direct comparison of something uncommon to something common so that the readers could easily understand and quickly visualize the image of what is being compared. The predominance of similes is relevant because it makes the emotional and fantasy aspects of the novel easier to convey, allowing readers to connect with the narrative on a deeper imaginative level.

References

Abrams, M. H., & Geoffrey Harpham (2015). A Glossary of Literary Terms. Stamford: Cengage Learning.

Aman, S., Pratiwi, D. P. E., & Suastini, N. W. (2022). Discovering the Intended Meaning of Figurative Languages in Damian Marley’s Song Lyrics. ELYSIAN JOURNAL: English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies, 2(2), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.36733/elysian.v2i2.3753

Amanda, A.P., Zulri, A.F., & Sari, L.S. (2023). Figurative Language Analysis in Taylor Swift’s ‘Exile’ Song Lyric. Journal of English Language and Literature Teaching, 8(1), 415-422.

Beers, G. K. (2005). Holt Elements of Literature (Ohio ed.). Orlando: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Ferdinal, Seswita, & Sandika, E. (2020). Introduction to Literary Studies. Padang: CV. Panawa Jemboan.

Garber, Stephanie. (2021). Once Upon a Broken Heart. London: Hodder & Stoughton.

Heni, M., Pratiwi, D. P. E., & Santika, I. D. A. D. M. (2022). Figurative Language Used in Ed Sheeran’s Selected Songs. LITERA: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 8(2), 124–131. https://doi.org/10.36002/litera.v8i2.2013

Ibrahim, I., Akib, M., & Hasyim, R. (2019). The Analysis of Figurative Language in “Endless Love” Song Lyrics. Lisan: Jurnal Bahasa dan Linguistik Vol. 8 No. 2, 119-130. https://doi.org/10.33506/jbl.v8i2.464

Kennedy, X. J., & Gioia, D. (2007). Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Longman.

Knickerbocker, K. L., & Reninger, H. W. (1965). Interpreting Literature (3rd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Kreidler, W. C. (1998). Introducing English Semantics. New York: Routledge.

Leech, G. N. (1969). A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry. New York: Longman.

Lindsay, C., & Knight, P. (2006). Learning and Teaching English: A Course for Teachers. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Leech, G. N. (1981). Semantics: The study of meaning. London: Penguin Books.

Millar, R., & Currie, I. (1970). The Language of Poetry. London: Heinemann Educational Books Ltd.

Mukti, B.R., & Nugraha, D.N.S. 2022. Figurative Language Analysis in the “Sing 2” Movie by Garth Jennings: A Semantics Study. Ethical Lingua: Journal of Language Teaching and Literature, 9(2), 699-706. https://doi.org/10.30605/25409190.485

Masruddin, M., Amir, F., Langaji, A., & Rusdiansyah, R. (2023). Conceptualizing linguistic politeness in light of age. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language, 11(3), 41-55.

Perrine, L., & Arp, T. R. (1992). Sound and sense: An introduction to poetry (8th ed.). Orlando: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Pertiwi, P. E., & Handayani, N. D. (2023). Semantic analysis of figurative language found in Nikkie Tutorials product review. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 11(2), 1119-1131. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v11i2.3505

Renda, P. A., & Pratiwi, D. P. E. (2024). An Analysis of Figurative Language in Bruno Mars' Selected Song Lyric: “It Will Rain.” ELYSIAN JOURNAL: English Literature, Linguistics, and Translation Studies, 4(1), 31-40. https://doi.org/10.36733/elysian.v4i1.5156

Septiadewi, N. L. P. S., & Pratiwi, D. P. E. (2023). An Analysis of Hyperbole in the Novel “Remember Me” by Sophie Kinsella. SPHOTA: Jurnal Linguistik Dan Sastra, 15(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.36733/sphota.v15i1.5079

Siregar, U. D., Lubis, S., & Nasution, K. (2021). Using the Theory of Conceptual Metaphor to Understand Utterance Metaphorical in the English Version of Surah An-Nisa. RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 7, No. 1, 19-24. https://doi.org/10.22225/jr.7.1.2884.19-24

Downloads

Published

2025-06-30

Citation Check