AN ANALYSIS OF NON LITERAL MEANING IN WILLIAM BLAKE’S SELECTED POEMS
A PAPER
BY
TIKA WARDHANI REG.NO : 112202054
DIPLOMA-III ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF CULTURE STUDY
UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA MEDAN
Approved by Supervisor,
Dr. Deliana M.Hum
NIP: 19571117198303 2 002
Submitted to Faculty of Culture Study, University of Sumatera Utara
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for Diploma-III in English Study Program
Approved by
Head of English Diploma Study program,
Dr. Matius C.A Sembiring, M.A NIP 19521126198112 1 001
Accepted by the Board of Examiner in partial of the requirements for the D-III Examination of the Diploma-III of English Study Program, Faculty of Culture Study, University of Sumatera Utara
The examination is held on
Faculty of Culture Study University of Sumatera Utara Dean,
Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A Nip: 19511013197603 1 001
Board of Examiners : Signature
AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
I am, TIKA WARDHANI, declare that I am the sole of author of this paper.
Except where reference is made in the text of this paper, this paper contains no
material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by
which I have qualified for or awarded another degree.
No other person‟s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the main
text of this paper. This paper has not been summitted for the award of another
degree in any tertiary education.
Signed :
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
Name : TIKA WARDHANI
Title of paper : AN ANALYSIS OF NON LITERAL MEANING IN WILLIAM
BLAKE‟S SELECTED POEMS
Qualification : D-III/Ahli Madya
Study Program: English
I am willing that my paper should be available for reproduction at the discreation
of the Libertarian of the Diploma III English Study Program Faculty of Letter
USU on the understanding that users are made aware of their obligation under law
of the Republic of Indonesia
Signed :
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled “An Analysis of Non Literal Meaning in William
Blake‟s Selected Poems” analyzes type and meaning of non literal meaning or not
ABSTRAK
Kertas karya ini berjudul “An Analysis of Non Literal Meaning in William Blake‟s Selected Poems” menganalisis jenis dan makna non literal yang tidak
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim…
First of all, I would like to say big thanks and grateful to the Almighty
God Allah Subhana wa Ta‟ala who always give me healthy and capability to
finish this paper without any big trouble and salam to Rasulullah Shalallahu
„alaihi wa sallam. I‟m so lucky because there are so many people who always give
me support and guidance during finishing this paper. I wish to express my great
gratitude to these following people.
1. My special gratitude to my beloved parents, Agus P. Sakti and Rohimi who always give me love, caring, support, guidance and everything in
accomplishing this paper. And also the warmest thanks to my little brothers
Edo Sugardha and Meidi Rofik for our togetherness in making fun day. 2. Dr. Syahron Lubis, M.A as the Dean of Faculty of Culture Studies and Dr.
Matius C.A Sembiring M.A as the Head of English Study Program for the academic facilities and guidance during my study in the faculty.
3. Dr. Deliana M. Hum as my supervisor who always give her precious time, advices, suggestion and guidance in accomplishing this paper.
4. Drs. Umar Mono, Dipl. Tran. M. Hum as the reader that willing give his valuable time for me in accomplishing this paper.
5. All the lecturers of English Department for their valuable knowledge and
6. My best friend ever in campus, Khairunnisa Lubis, Farah Diba and
Halimah Tussadiyah who always colouring my day. Thanks for our togetherness in passing sad and happy moment girls.
7. All of my family, my grandpa and grandma, my aunty, Bang Dana and my cousins Kak Anhar, Kak Ulan, Mbak Vira, Mbak Fani and my dearest other cousins who can not be mentioned one by one, thank you so much for
your support and prayer.
8. My other best friend, Juju, Agil, Irna, Maharani, VG who always give me a fun things and support me. I also thanks to all of students in English Diploma
011 Class A and especially to Class B (Amel, Nisa, etc) who always give support to each other.
Medan,
The Writer,
TABLE OF CONTENTS AUTHOR’S DECLARATION
COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
ABSTRACT ... i
ABSTRAK ... ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... v
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Study ... 1
1.2 Problem of Study ... 3
1.3 Objective of Study ... 4
1.4 Scope of Study ... 4
1.5 Significance of Study ... 4
1.6 Method of Study ... 5
1.6.1 Research Method ... 5
1.6.2 Data Collecting Method ... 5
1.6.3 Data Analyzing Method ... 5
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 The Definition of Semantics ... 6
2.2 The Scope of Semantics ... 7
2.2.1 Meaning ... 8
2.2.2 Sense and Reference ... 10
2.3 Varieties of Meaning ... 11
2.3.1 Literal Meaning ... 12
2.3.2 Non Literal Meaning ... 12
3. ANALYSIS 3.1 Simile ... 17
3.2 Metaphor ... 18
3.3 Personification ... 18
3.4 Hyperbole ... 22
4. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 4.1 Conclusion ... 24
4.2 Suggestion ... 24
REFERENCES ………... 25
ABSTRACT
This paper entitled “An Analysis of Non Literal Meaning in William
Blake‟s Selected Poems” analyzes type and meaning of non literal meaning or not
ABSTRAK
Kertas karya ini berjudul “An Analysis of Non Literal Meaning in William Blake‟s Selected Poems” menganalisis jenis dan makna non literal yang tidak
1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of Study
In daily activities we always use language because language is a tool of
communication. Without language we can not understand what people says and
thinks. Besides, language has a great position in human life, it expresses human‟s
feeling in interacting to others. Halliday and Hasan (1976:8) say that by using
language, human can convey their idea, make statements, explain or ask about
something and keep social relations among the language users.
Katz (1972: 1) says that semantics is the study of linguistic meaning. It is
concerned with what sentences and other linguistic object express, not with the
arrangement of their syntatic parts or with their pronounciation. In semantics,
meaning can be divided into two parts. They are literal meaning and non literal
meaning. Literal meaning means what exactly someone says based on the real or
lexical meaning of the utterance. Non literal meaning always has different
meaning from the literal one. It means something different from what the words
mean.
Saeed (2003:15) states that the concept of non literal meaning refers to
figurative language and are expressed by a host of rhetorical terms such as
metaphor, simile, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, litotes and personification.
Non literal meaning is often found in literary works such as: poem, novel,
short story, play, or even lyric of song. In this paper, I am interested to analyze
non literal meaning in poem because it is very interesting to study the non literal
Roberts (1995:642) says the origin of the word of poem derives from the
Greek word poiema, that is, “something made or fashioned (in the words)” – a
meaning that applies to both poetry and poems. Poems are imaginative works
expressed in words that with the utmost compression, force, and economy. Unlike
prose, which is expansive and exhaustive, most poems are brief but also
comprehensive, offering us high pointsof thoughts, feeling, reflection, and
resolution. Some poems may make us think, give us new and unexpected insights
and generally instruct us. Other poem may arouse out emotions, surprise us,
amuse us, and inspire us. Ideally, reading und understanding poetry should promt
us to reexamine, reinforce, and reshape our ideas, our attitudes, our feelings and
our lives. Every poem has the characteristic. The key of the characteristics are :
1) Figures of Speech
Figures of speech, or figurative language, are ways of describing or
explaining thing in a non-literal or non-traditional way. For example, a
metaphor describes something by likening it to something else.
2) Descriptive Imagery
Imagery is something concrete, like a sight, smell or taste. Imagery describes
what the poet sees, hears or otherwise sense, be it a literal imager or one that
exist in his mind. Visual imagery is the most common type of image in a
poetry.
3) Punctuation and Format
The punctuation and format of the poem deal with how it is arranged on the
4) Sound and Tone
Poets use different sounds and tones throughout poetry to change the way it
sounds. For example, the poet may use alliteration, which is when multiple
consequtive words start with the same letter.
5) Choice of Meter
The meter of a poem is the rhythm or pattern of speech with which you read
it, and it doesn‟t happen by accident.
The object of the study is poem. Poem is one of media that we can express
ourself. Today, we may find poems on virtually all topics, love, society,
individuality, government and politics, worship and music, to special and unusual
topics like fishing, computer, exotic birds and car crashes. In short, poetry is alive
and fluorishing.
Based on the phenomenon above, I like to study about some expressions in
the poems especially in the non literal meaning. In this research, I choose some
poems from William Blake because I find so many non literal meaning
expressions in that poem.
1.2 Problem of Study
Based on the background explained above, the writer would like to focus
the analysis on the non literal meaning in William Blake‟s selected poems. The
problems are :
1) What types of non literal meanings are found in William Blake‟s Selected
Poems?
2) Which is the most dominant types of non literal meaning found in William
1.3 Objective of Study
Concerning to the problem of the study explained above, the objective of
the study can be formulated below :
1) To find out the types of non literal meaning found in William Blake‟s
Selected Poems
2) To find out the most dominant types of non literal meaning found in
William Blake‟s Selected Poems
1.4 Scope of Study
In a research, it is important for the writer to limit the analysis in order to
concentrate that has been chosen. This paper is limited to discussion of the types
of non literal meaning from Siswantoro (2002:10) whereas description are
summarized from Wren Martin (1990: 359) and Keraf (1991: 12). There are
nine types of non literal meaning based on Siswantoro‟s theory, they are
simile, metaphor, personification, apostrophe, hyperbole, antithesis, synecdoche,
paradox and symbol. However, in this paper I only analyze simile, metaphor,
hyperbole, and personification in William Blake‟s selected poems.
1.5 Significance of Study
The writer hopes that this paper can be useful for the student or the reader
who want to know more about semantic especially in non literal meaning field.
The writer also hopes that this paper can help the student to understand the
1.6 Method of Study 1.6.1 Research Method
The method of the study in this paper is descriptive qualitative approach.
A qualitative approach is defined as a description of observations which is not
ordinary expressed in quality terms. Nazir (1998:64) says that descriptive method
is a method of research that makes description of the situation of event or
occurrence.
1.6.2 Data Collecting Method
Nawawi (1991: 157) says that sample is a part of population to represent
the whole population. The sample of this analysis are collected from William
Blake‟s selected poems. In the sample of analysis, the writer applies purposive
sampling method. Nawawi (1991:157) saya that in this technique, sampling is
adjusted with the purpose of the study. In another word, sample is adjusted with
the certain criteria, which is decided based on the purpose of the study.
1.6.3 Data Analyzing Method
The process of analyzing data will be done in group. First, all data from
William Blake‟s poem is selected to find non literal meaning. Then, the data will
be grouped according to the kinds of non literal meaning. For example, the first
term is about personification, so I will collect all example of personification from
the whole poem which is selected in group. The same thing will be done for other
non literal meaning. And the last is to describe the meaning of each data. All the
analysis will be done in the descriptive way by explaining one by one to each non
literal meaning and find what the most dominant non literal meaning expression
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2.1 The Definition of Semantics
The history of linguistics shows periods in which semantics received
more or less attention. In the nineteenth century linguists concentrated more on
phonology and morphology and semantics suffered from comparative
neglect. With the advent of structuralism at the beginning of the 20th century, it
looked as if semantics might achieve the status it deserved. However, the
development of American structuralism between the two world wars did
nothing to further linguistic interest in semantics. Such prominent linguists as
Leonard Bloomfield (active in the 1920s and 1930s) regarded semantics as too
difficult to deal with scientifically and left it to one side. The same is true of early
transformational grammar in the 1950s. Only in the mid 1960s did the interest of
linguists turn to semantics once more. Since then there have been many works on
semantics both within models of grammar and outside. Despite these
efforts there are no coherent theories of semantics on a par with those in syntax
and phonology.
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. Meaning is a much less
tangible notion than those introduces in the above chapters on phonology,
morphology and syntax. Meaning has a strong subjective element to it and it is
spread across other levels of language as will be discussed below. It is also a
contact area with other disciplines such as philosophy and logic.
Philosophical semantics looks at the relations between linguistic expressions and
conditions under which they are true or false. This type of semantics goes back to
Classical Greece, to the three main philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. In
the sphere of logic, semantics is important as a system of logical analysis where it
is not so much the relation between language and the outside world which is of
concern but rather the internal formal relationships between terms in a logical
system.
According some linguists, semantic can be defined as follows :
1) Semantic is the study of the meaning. It concerned with what sentences and
other linguistics object express, not with the arrangement of their syntactic
parts of their pronounciation (Katz, 1972:2)
2) Semantic is generally defined as the study of meaning (Lyons, 1977:2)
3) Semantic is the study of meaning communicated through language (Saeed,
1997:1)
4) Semantic is a mayor branch of linguistics devoted to the studyof meaning in
language (Crystal, 1980:315)
5) Semantics is the technical term used to refer to the study of meaning (Palmer,
1976:1)
2.2 The Scope of Semantics
There is no very general agreement either about the nature of meaning or
about the way in which it should be described. There are two major approaches to
the way in which meaning in language is studied which is often very influential in
determining facts of meaning that relevant to semantic of each. The first is the
language structure and have distinguished between different types of meanings
and also semantic structure of sentences. The second is philosophical approach.
Philosophers have investigated between linguistic expression such as the words of
language, and persons, things and events in the world to which these word refer.
Although there maybe different approaches to semantics, three basic terms
have been widely mentioned in this approaches, namely meaning, sense, and
reference.
2.2.1 Meaning
According to Oxford Learner‟s Pocket Dictionary, meaning is defined as
the thing or idea that sound, word, sign, etc represents. There are some definitions
of meaning from some Linguist, such as :
1) Meaning is a complex pheomenon involving relationship between a language
and the mind of its speaker and the practical use which it is put (Nikelas,
1988: 231)
2) Meaning is a word of ordinary , everyday vocabulary in English (Lyons,
1977: 4)
The term meaning is derived from the word mean. It is fact that the verb to
mean and the noun meaning have many distinguishable meaning. In everyday
English, we use the word mean in a number of different ways :
1) They are so mean (cruel) to me
2) That was no mean (insignificant) accomplishment
3) This will mean (result in) the end of the second class citizenship
5) I mean (intend) to help if I can
6) Keep off the grass, this means (refers to) you
7) His loosing his job means (implies) that he will have to look for another job.
8) Lucky Strike means (indicates) fine tobacco
9) Those clouds mean ( are a sign of) rain
10)She doesn‟t mean (believe) what she said
11)Procrastinate means (?) to put this thing off
12)In saying that, he meant (?) that we would leave,
The word mean in (1) to (10) has their “equivalence‟ in another word,
while in the same word in (11) or (12) does not. The last two sentences, in fact,
exemplify two importantly different sorts of meaning, i. e. linguistics meaning and
speaker meaning. In (11) procrastinate has a linguistics meaning of to put thing
off while in (12) meant refers to speaker intention or what message the speaker
intends to say in his word.
In general, the linguistics meaning of an expression is simply the meaning
or meanings of that expression in some form of language. For example, in one
form of language, known as standard British English, the word run means
something different in each of the sentences:
1) I like to run
2) The engines run well
3) They run a mail-order house
There are two different sort of meanings, linguistic meaning and speaker
meaning. In general, linguistic meaning is meaning of that expression in some
from of language. Speaker meaning is what a speaker means in producing an
utterance.
The following figure can show how meaning can have several distinctions :
Meaning
Linguistic meaning Speaker Meaning
Language-meaning Idiolect-meaning Literal Non Literal
Dialect Meaning
[image:22.595.129.505.246.556.2]
Regional Social
Figure 1 Some Varieties of Meaning
2.2.2 Sense and Reference
One important point made by the linguists Ferdinand de Saussure (1974),
whose ideas have been so influential in the development of modern linguistics, is
that the meaning of linguistic expressionns derives from the two sources: the
language they are part of anf the world they describe. Words stand in a
relationship to the world, or our mental classification of it: they allow us to
says He saw Paul or She bought a dog, the underlined nominals identify, pick out
or refer to specific entities in the world. However words also derive their value from their position within the language system. The relationship by which
language hooks on to the world is usually called reference. The semantic links between elements within the vocabulary system is an aspect of their sense or meaning.
Words other than proper names both have a meaning and can be used to
refer to things and objects. The German philosopher and mathematician Gottlob
Frege proposed a distinction between the reference of a word and the sense of a
word. The reference of a word and the sense of a word. The reference of a word is
the object designated, while the sense of a word is the additional meaning. On the
other hand F.R. Palmer (1976: 30) says that reference deals with the relationship
between the linguistic elements, word, sentences etc, and the nonlinguistic world
of experience. Sense relation is the complex system of relationship that hold
between the linguistic elements themselves (mostly the words) ; it is concerned
only with intralinguistic relations
Phrases, like words, normally both have sense and can be used to refer.
Thus, the phrase “The woman who is my mother” refers to a certain individual and
has a certain sense which could be different from that of “The woman who married my father”, although both expression usually have the same reference.
2.3 Varieties of Meaning
There are two kinds of meaning in semantics , they are linguistic meaning
expression in some form of a language. While, speaker meaning is what speaker
means in producing an utterance. Speaker meaning consist of literal meaning and
non literal meaning.
2.3.1 Literal Meaning
If we are speaking literally, then we mean what our words mean, the
meaning of the utterance is the lexical meaning or literal meaning. There will be
no important difference between the linguistic meaning and the speaker meaning.
There is no hidden meaning and misinterpretation between the speaker and hearer.
For more details about literal meaning, look at these examples :
1) I‟m hungry
2) He goes to school
3) She is my lecturer
4) They are having lunch
All the sentences above are literal meaning. We know clearly about the
meaning of the sentence.
2.3.2 Non Literal Meaning
In using the langugage, a speaker may sometimes use a word to mean
something different from what it means literally or what the words mean. The
words, phrases, and the sentences have another different meaning than literal
meaning. For more details about non literal meaning, look at these examples :
1) I could eat a horse
2) I am starving
All those examples above are non literal meaning. All the meaning f them
are same. It means someone who feels very hungry.
According to Saeed (2003: 15) Non literal uses of language are
traditionally called figurative and are described by a host of rhetorical terms
including metaphor, simile, metonymy, synecdoche, hyperbole, litotes and
personification.
1) Metaphor
Wren and Martin (1981: 489) says that a metaphor is an implied simile. It
does not, like the simile, state one thing is like another or acts as another,
but takes that for granted and proceeds as if the two things were one. Based
on that statement, if we say He fought like a lion, that means we use simile.
While if we say He was a lion in the fight, that means we use metaphor.
2) Simile
Simile is figure of speech in which there are two different things compared
because they appear to be similar in at least one character. Simile is
introduced by the word like or as. A simile must compare two basic things
that are found to be alike in an aspect. For the example :
1) His temper was as explosive as a volcano
2) He runs like a cheetah
From the sentences above (1) means his temper is being compared to a
volcano in that, it can be sudden and violent. Sentence (2) means he runs so
fast. So the speaker compare him to with cheetah, as we know cheetah is
3) Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech characterized by the use of the name of one
thing in place of the name of something that is symbolized. For example He
bought a new chevrolet. Chevrolet is the one of the brand name of car. 4) Synecdoche
The word of synecdoche is derived from a Greek word “syneckdechestai”
which means “to take up”. Siswantoro (2002: 39) says, “synecdoche
merupakan gaya bahasa yang manifestasinya tercermin dalam kemasan
sebagian tetapi yang mewakili keseluruhan. Synecdoche is a figurative
expression which its manifestation reflected a part is used to designate the
whole. For example He has many mouths to feed that in literal meaning this
statement means „He feeds many mouths‟. In this case, mouth is people who
are fed.
5) Hyperbole
Wren and Martin (1981: 491) says that in hyperbole, a statement is made
emphatic by overstatement. In daily language, hyperbole appears in student
circle when they will have an examination by saying I’ll die if I don’t pass
this course. The word of die is overstatement because there is no people
who will get die due to not pass an examination. The others example are :
1) I carry you heart with me
2) My heart feel dead before
3) On a great horse of gold
6) Litotes
Litotes is an understatement in which an affirmation is expressed by
the negative of its contrary, often used for emphasis or ironically. To
make it clear look the example: please come to my hut. From the sentence,
as we know hut is very simple. Nevertheless, in this situation hut is not the
hut, but actually, he has a big house. He does not want to tell the truth, he
just trying to be low profile.
7) Personification
The word personification derives from Latin word „persona‟ means person,
actor or mask and „fic‟ means to make. Then, personification is a figurative
speech that giving human characteristics to an object. For example, the trees
are afraid to put forth bud. This word trees in the sentence figure as a human
being that has been afraid represent for fear or being frightened. Indeed such
emotional feelings are shown as a natural reaction from human when they
feel something wrong or being shocked. The others example of
personification are :
1) The pen is dancing on the paper
2) Every night, the moon comes by just to say goodnight to me
The first sentence is considered as a personification because it considers
the pen as an inanimate thing, which has human ability to dance. Literally,
the sentence means that the pen is dancing on a paper just like a human. It is
absolutely impossible. So, we have to take the meaning figuratively, which
The second sentence, we may see how the moon as the inanimate object is
depicted as human. It is implies that the moon has legs to come by and talk
by saying goodnight to me. Of course, it is impossible in real life. The
possible interpretation for this expression is that the moon always shines
3.ANALYSIS
As the object of this research, the writer has chosen ten selected poems by
William Blake. This paper only focus on four types of non literal meaning, they
are simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole. In this analysis, I use
alphabet for refer to the poem and number for refer to the line of the poems in
next analysis. The data to be analyed can be seen in the appendices :
1) A Poison Tree (Data A)
2) London (Data B)
3) Laughing Song (Data C)
4) The Chimney Sweeper: A Little Black Thing Among The Snow (Data D)
5) Night (Data E)
6) The Schoolboy (Data F)
7) The Sick Rose (Data G)
8) To The Evening Star (Data H)
9) Songs of Experience: Introduction (Data I)
10) Two Sunflowers Move In The Yellow Room (Data J)
The following are the analysis of the data in finding non literal meaning :
3.1 Simile
1) The moon, like a flower (E5)
This line expresses simile because there is a comparison between the moon
and the flower and using the word “like” as a mark of comparison. As we
know the flower is a beautiful things. This line means that moon always
2) My bright mane forever shall shine like the gold (E47)
This line expresses simile because there is a comparison between lion (the
previous line) to the gold. This line makes the lion looks more prestigious
3.2 Metaphor
1) I was angry with my friend (A1)
This line is classified as metaphor because it compares the anger with his
friend
2) I was angry with my foe (A3)
This line is classified as metaphor becauses it compares the anger with his foe
3) And there the lion’s ruddy eyes (E33)
This line is classified as metaphor because it compares the lion with ruddy
eyes and makes the lion looks more prestigious
4) Night is worn (I13)
This line is classified as metaphor because it compares the night with worn.
This line means frightening night is happening.
3.3 Personification
1) How the chimney-sweeper’s cry (B9)
This line expresses personification because it describes chimney-sweeper as
inanimate object which can cry like human being. As we know the chimney
sweeper cannot cry. The mean of chimney sweepers in this line is the
children.
This line expresses personification because it describes the word green woods
as inanimate object that can laugh like human being. This line show that the
woods in good condition.
3) When the air does laugh with our merry wit (C3)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word air as
abstract object that can laugh like human being.
4) And the green hill laughs (C4)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word green hill as
inanimate object that can laugh like human being. It means that the hill full
with green and so beautiful.
5) When the meadows laugh with lively green (C5)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word meadow as
inanimate object that can laugh like human being
6) And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene (C6)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word grasshopper
as inanimate object that can laugh like human being. The grassshopper is very
happy because of good weather.
7) When the painted birds laugh in the shade (C9)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word painted
birds as inanimate object that can laugh like human being. It means that many
birds tweet of each other facing the good weather.
This line expresses personification because it describes the chimney
sweeper (in the previous line) can happy like human being.
9) And smil’d among the winter snow (D6)
This line expresses personification because it describes the chimney
sweeper (in the previous line) can smile like human being.
10) Sits and smiles on the night (E8)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word moon (in
the previous line) as inanimate object that can sit and smile like human
being. It means that the moon have the bright shine in the night.
11) Farewell, green fields and happy groves (E9)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word groves as
inanimate object that can happy like human being.
12) When the birds sing on every tree (F2)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word bird as
inanimate object that can sing like human being
13) And the skylark sings with me (F4)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word skylark as
inanimate object that can sing like human being. It means that the sky is so
bright with blue colour.
14) Sit in a cage and sing ? (F17)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word bird (in the
previous line) as inanimate object that can sit and sing like human being
This line expresses personification because it describes the word worm (in
the previous line) as inanimate object that can fly in the night. It means that
the worm which thrown away to the flower.
16) Now, whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light (H2)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word sun as
inanimate object that can rest like human being. It means that the sun is
shining on the mountains on the daylight.
17) On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes (H7)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word flower as
inanimate object that can shut its eyes like human being. It means that the
flower still bud.
18) In timely sleep, let thy west wing sleep on (H8)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word west wing
as inanimate object that can sleep on like human being.
19) The lake, speak silence with thy glimmering eyes (H9)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word lake
as inanimate object that can speak silence like human being. It means
that the lake looked sparkling view because of the reflection of the
sunshine.
20) Ah William, we’re weary of weather, said the sunflowers, shining with dew
This line expresses personification because it describes the word sunflowers
as inanimate object that can weary of weather like human being. It means
that the flower can not survive in the light of the sun.
21) They arranged themselves at the window (J5)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word sunflowers
(in the previous line) as inanimate object that can arranged themselves like
human being. It means that the flowers try to avoid of the sunlight.
22) And counted the steps of the sun (J6)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word sunflowers
(in the previous line) as inanimate object that can count steps of the sun like
human being.
23) And they both took root in the carpet (J7)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word sunflowers
(in the previous line) as inanimate object that can take the root in the carpet
like human being
24) Where the topaz tortoises run (J8)
This line expresses personification because it describes the word topaz (in
the previous line) as inanimate object that can run like human being. It
means that the flower get the safe place for them to avoid the sunlight.
3.4 Hyperbole
This line is classified as hyperbole since there is overstatement on it. It is
impossible to run in blood. This line means that there seems to be no
comfort of their coming way in facing the problems
2) And blights with plagues the marrieage-hearse (B16)
This line is classified as hyperbole since there is overstatement on it. It is
impossible to destroy plagues with the hearse. This line means that there is
something affect the livesof all the innocent people involved.
3) They pour sleep on their head (E23)
This line is classified as hyperbole since there is overstatement on it. It is
impossible to pour something with sleep. As usual we use liquid to pour.
This line means that the angels give the birds to feel very sleepy.
4) Under a cruel eye outworn (F8)
This line is classified as hyperbole since there is overstatement on it. It is
impossible to have eye outworn. This line means that
5) And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon (H10)
This line is classified as hyperbole since there is overstatement on it. It is
impossible to wash the dusk with silver. This line means a situation where
4. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 4.1 Conclusions
Having finished analyzing non literal meaning in William Blake‟s selected
poems, it was found some expressions in non literal meaning. All of the types of
non literal meaning were used in that poems. They are simile, metaphor,
personification and hyperbole.
There are 35 lines using non literal meaning in that poems. There are 2
cases expression simile, 4 cases expression metaphor, 24 cases expressions
personification and 5 cases expression hyperbole. The most frequent use of non
literal meaning in the poems is personification (24 cases). The use of
personification in these poem can show that William Blake is a natural poet who
always describes inanimate object as living things.
4.2 Suggestions
From the conlusion above, it is suggested that the students of linguistics
especially for those who concentrate with semantics to do more research in field
of non literal meaning. Since personification dominates William Blake‟s poems, it
is also suggested that students of linguistics to analyze other kindsof literary
works such as novel, plays, or poems from other author to find more about other
REFERENCES
Bloomfield, Leonard. 1993. Language. New York: Hold, Rinehart
Crystal, David. 1980. A First Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. London: Andre Deutsch Limited
De Saussure, Ferdinand. 1974. Course in General Liguistic. London: Fontana Eastwood, John. 2000. Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary. London: Oxford University Press.
Irawan, Hadi. 2012. An Analysis of Non Literal Meanings in Edward Stellin Cummings’s Selected Poems. Medan: Fakultas Sastra USU
Katz, J.J 1972. Semantic Theory. New York: Harper & Row, Publisher
Kennedy, X.J. 1991. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama. London: Harper Collins Publisher.
Keraf, Goris. 1991. Diksi dan Gaya Bahasa. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Leech, Geofrey. 2003. Semantik. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Belajar.
Lyons, John.1977. Semantics I. London: Cambridge University Press.
Martin, H & P.C. Wren. 1990. High School English Grammar And Comparison. Nawawi, Hadari.1991. Metode Penelitian Bidang Sosial.Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University Press.
Nazir, Mohammad. 1986. Metode Penelitian. Jakarta: Ghalian Indonesia
Nikelas, Syahwin. 1988. Pengantar Linguistik Untuk Guru Bahasa. Jakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan
Palmer, F.R. 1976. Semantics: A New Outline. London: Cambridge University Press.
Robert, Edgar V. & Jacobs, H.F. 1995. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Collection: Prentice Hall
Saeed I, John. 2003. Semantics. Blackwell Publisher Ltd.
Sembiring, Matius C.A. 2014. Kompilasi Bahan Kuliah. Medan: Fakultas Sastra USU
Siswantoro. 2002. Apresiasi Puisi-Puisi Sastra Inggris. Surakarta: Universitas Muhammadiyah Press
Taylor. Richard. 1981. Understanding of Elements of Literature. Hongkong: The Macmillan Press Ltd.
Yuhendra. 2005. An Analysis of Non Literal Meaning in Langston Hughes’s Selected Poems. Medan: Fakultas Sastra USU
APPENDICES DATA A
A Poison Tree
1) I was angry with my friend
2) I told my wrath, my wrath did end. 3) I was angry with my foe:
4) I told it not, my wrath did grow.
5) And I watered it in fears,
6) Night and morning with my tears; 7) And I sunned it with smiles, 8) And with soft deceitful wiles.
9) And it grew both day and night, 10)Till it bore an apple bright. 11)And my foe beheld it shine. 12)And he knew that it was mine,
13)And into my garden stole
14)When the night had veiled the pole; 15)In the morning glad I see
16)My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
DATA B London
1) I wandered through each chartered street, 2) Near where the chartered Thames does flow, 3) A mark in every face I meet,
4) Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
5) In every cry of every man, 6) In every infant's cry of fear, 7) In every voice, in every ban, 8) The mind-forged manacles I hear:
9) How the chimney-sweeper's cry 10)Every blackening church appals, 11)And the hapless soldier's sigh 12)Runs in blood down palace-walls.
15)Blasts the new-born infant's tear,
16)And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse.
DATA C Laughing Song
1) When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, 2) And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;
3) When the air does laugh with our merry wit, 4) And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;
5) when the meadows laugh with lively green, 6) And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene, 7) When Mary and Susan and Emily
8) With their sweet round mouths sing 'Ha, ha he!'
9) When the painted birds laugh in the shade, 10)Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread: 11)Come live, and be merry, and join with me, 12)To sing the sweet chorus of 'Ha, ha, he!'
DATA D
The Chimney Sweeper: A Little Black Thing Among The Snow
1) A little black thing among the snow, 2) Crying 'weep! 'weep!' in notes of woe! 3) 'Where are thy father and mother? say?' 4) 'They are both gone up to the church to pray.
5) Because I was happy upon the heath, 6) And smil'd among the winter's snow, 7) They clothed me in the clothes of death, 8) And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
9) And because I am happy and dance and sing, 10)They think they have done me no injury,
DATA E Night
1) The sun descending in the west, 2) The evening star does shine; 3) The birds are silent in their nest, 4) And I must seek for mine. 5) The moon, like a flower, 6) In heaven's high bower, 7) With silent delight
8) Sits and smiles on the night.
9) Farewell, green fields and happy groves, 10)Where flocks have took delight.
11)Where lambs have nibbled, silent moves 12)The feet of angels bright;
13)Unseen they pour blessing, 14)And joy without ceasing, 15)On each bud and blossom, 16)And each sleeping bosom.
17)They look in every thoughtless nest, 18)Where birds are covered warm; 19)They visit caves of every beast, 20)To keep them all from harm. 21)If they see any weeping
22)That should have been sleeping, 23)They pour sleep on their head, 24)And sit down by their bed.
25)When wolves and tigers howl for prey, 26)They pitying stand and weep;
27)Seeking to drive their thirst away, 28)And keep them from the sheep. 29)But if they rush dreadful, 30)The angels, most heedful, 31)Receive each mild spirit, 32)New worlds to inherit.
40)From our immortal day.
41)'And now beside thee, bleating lamb, 42)I can lie down and sleep;
43)Or think on Him who bore thy name, 44)Graze after thee and weep.
45)For, washed in life's river, 46)My bright mane for ever 47)Shall shine like the gold 48)As I guard o'er the fold.'
DATA F
The Schoolboy
1) I love to rise in a summer morn 2) When the birds sing on every tree; 3) The distant huntsman winds his horn, 4) And the skylark sings with me. 5) O! what sweet company!
6) But to go to school on a summer morn, 7) O! it drives all joy away;
8) Under a cruel eye outworn, 9) The little ones spend the day 10)In sighing and dismay.
11)Ah! then at times I drooping sit, 12)And spend many an anxious hour, 13)Nor in my book can I take delight, 14)Nor sit in learning's bower,
15)Worn thro' with the dreary shower.
16)How can the bird that is born for joy 17)Sit in a cage and sing?
18)How can a child, when fears annoy, 19)But droop his tender wing,
20)And forget his youthful spring?
21)O! father and mother, if buds are nipped 22)And blossoms blown away,
23)And if the tender plants are stripped 24)Of their joy in the springing day, 25)By sorrow and care's dismay,
27)Or the summer's fruits appear?
28)Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy, 29)Or bless the mellowing year,
30)When the blasts of winter appear?
DATA G The Sick Rose
1) Rose, thou art sick! 2) The invisible worm 3) That flies in the night, 4) In the howling storm,
5) Has found out thy bed 6) Of crimson joy:
7) And his dark secret love 8) Does thy life destroy.
DATA H
To the Evening Star
1) Thou fair-haired angel of the evening,
2) Now, whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light 3) Thy bright torch of love; thy radiant crown 4) Put on, and smile upon our evening bed! 5) Smile on our loves, and while thou drawest the 6) Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew 7) On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes 8) In timely sleep. Let thy west wing sleep on
9) The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes, 10)And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon, 11)Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide, 12)And the lion glares through the dun forest. 13)The fleeces of our flocks are covered with
14)Thy sacred dew; protect with them with thine influence.
DATA I
Songs Of Experience: Introduction
1) Hear the voice of the Bard! 2) Who Present, Past, & Future sees 3) Whose ears have heard
5) That walk'd among the ancient trees.
6) Calling the lapsed Soul
7) And weeping in the evening dew; 8) That might controll.
9) The starry pole;
10)And fallen fallen light renew!
11)O Earth O Earth return!
12)Arise from out the dewy grass; 13)Night is worn,
14)And the morn
15)Rises from the slumbrous mass.
16)Turn away no more: 17)Why wilt thou turn away 18)The starry floor
19)The watery shore
20)Is given thee till the break of day.
DATA J
Two Sunflowers Move in the Yellow Room.
1) "Ah, William, we're weary of weather," 2) said the sunflowers, shining with dew. 3) "Our traveling habits have tired us. 4) Can you give us a room with a view?"
5) They arranged themselves at the window 6) and counted the steps of the sun,