ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING’S LIFE AS REFLECTED BY HER SELECTED POEMS
THESIS
Submitted to the Board of Examiner In Partial Fulfillment requirement
for Literary Degree at English Literature Department
by SITI HAMIDA
AI 150349
ADAB AND HUMANITIES FACULTY THE STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SULTHAN THAHA SAIFUDDIN JAMBI
2019
MOTTO
Meaning: “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.” (Qs. Yusuf: 86)1
Artinya: “Hanya kepada Allah aku mengadukan kesusahan dan kesedihanku. Dan aku mengetahui dari Allah apa yang tidak kamu ketahui.” (Qs. Yusuf:
86)2
1 Abdullah Yusuf Ali, (1934) “The Meaning of Glorious Qur’an Text Translation and Commentary”, p. 245
2 Abdullah Yusuf Ali, p. 245
DEDICATION
In the name of Allah SWT most gracious merciful and the prophet Muhammad SAW, the inspiration of Muslim’s life.
I would like to dedicate this thesis to:
My beloved father (Kholis), thank you for your sacrifice, love, support, care and pray. Without your pray, I cannot finish my study.
My beloved mother (Darmiana), thank you for your patient to educate me so far, for your sacrifice, your love, support, pray and all of that you are given to me.
For my sisters, Reni Asnita and Liana Astri. My brother, Irawanto. And for my niece, Naifa Zahrani. Thanks for all the affections, attentions, happiness, and
laugh which colored my day.
I do love you all!
Then, to Mr. Firdiansyah, MA and Mr. H. Mislan, M.Pd as my supervisions, thank you for your patient as long as you guided me to finish my thesis, for your helping
and supporting.
My beloved friends, Siti Aisyah, Sri devi Arisandi, Rini Rahayu, Ana Sholawati, Rika Agustina, Dian Ratna Ningsih, Andi Astri Wardhana, Miftahul Jannah, Ulmala sari, Afrasin Maisah Rahman, Randi Mirza, and Zamril. Thank you for your inspirations, all of you are good people, I am so happy to living around wise
people as you all.
My dearest classmate, BSI A and B, for your kindness, love, support, and everything.
The last for all people who have helped me in writing this thesis, I would like to say thank you so much. I love you all as always.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Alhamdulillahirabbil ‘aalamiin.
All praises be to Allah SWT, the most beneficent and the most merciful that shows me the right path; Islam and let me flow easily in accomplishing the thesis entitled “ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING’S LIFE AS REFLECTED BY HER SELECTED POEMS”, which is submitted to fulfill the requirements for bachelor degree (S1) in English Literature, Adab and Humanities, Islamic State University, Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. Sholawat and salam be upon prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought us from the darkness to the lightness.
Then, I would like to thank those who have assisted me in writing this thesis. My sincere gratitude goes to:
1. The Rector of Islamic State University, Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi, Dr. H.
Hadri Hasan, MA. The Vise of Rector, Dr. H. Suaidi, MA, Ph.D., Dr. H.
Hidayat, M.Pd., and Dr. H. Fadilla, M.Pd., who allowed me to study in the university.
2. The Dean of Adab and Humanities Faculty, Prof. Dr. Maisah, M.Pd.I. The Vise of dean, Dr. Alfian, M.Ed., Dr. H.M. Fadhil, M.Ag., and Dr. Raudhoh, M.Pd.I.
3. The Head of English Literature Department, Ulfatmi Azlan, S.S., M.A and the secretary Dian Muhlisa, MA who have given the great supervised.
4. My great supervisors, Firdiansyah, MA and H.Mislan, M.Pd who have continuously guided me throughout the process of accomplishing this thesis.
5. All of my lectures who have given me knowledge and experiences during meeting in the class till now.
6. All of officials in Adab and Humanities Faculty who have managed my administrations and requirements as long as my study till graduation.
ABSTRACT
Hamida, Siti. 2019 “Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Life As reflected By Her Selected Poems”. English Literature Department, Adab Faculty, The State of Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi.
Supervisor I : H. Mislan, M.Pd Supervisor II : Firdiansyah, M.A
This study aims at finding the reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life as seen in her selected poems. Moreover, this study designs to find out the meaning of Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems and the reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life is her poems. This study is qualitative descriptive since the data are collected, analyzed, and described in the form of words rather than numerical scores or statistics. The study is descriptive because it tries to describe the reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life. The data of the research are sentences in every stanza of the poems. This study has one primary data source which is the six selected poems and taken from the Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s biography.
Meanwhile, six selected poems reflect Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life.
In the first poem “How Do I Love Thee (1850),” this poem tells about her life when she felt happy after marry with someone who she loves. The second poem
“A Thought For A Lonely Death-Bed (1845),” this poem tells about her feeling of scared when she has to face the death alone. The third poem “A Curse For A Nation (1860),” this poem tells about her sympathy with the Italian cause after the outbreak of fighting. The fourth poem “The Cry Of The Children (1842),” this poem tells about child labor, she want to abolish slavery and child labor in England. The fifth poem “Exaggeration (1845),” This poem tells about her life when she wants to give spirits for her sisters and for her brothers. And the last poem “Irreparableness (1845),” this poem describes about her expression of sadness.
The research result shows that Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poems are varies, there are: happiness expression, sadness expression, and sympathy expression. In happiness expression there is a poem entitled ‘How do I love thee’.
In sadness expression, there are poems entitled ‘A thought for a lonely death-bed, Exaggeration, and Irreparableness”. In sympathy expression, there are poems entitled ‘A curse for a nation and The cry of the children’.
ABSTRAK
Hamida, Siti, 2019 “Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Life As reflected By Her Selected Poems”. English Literature Department, Adab Faculty, The State of Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi.
Supervisor I : H. Mislan, M.Pd Supervisor II : Firdiansyah, M.A
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menemukan cerminan kehidupan Elizabeth Barrett Browning dalam puisi-puisinya. Terlebih lagi, penelitian ini didesain untuk menemukan makna didalam puisi-puisi Elizabeth Barrett Browning dan cerminan kehidupan Elizabeth Barrett Browning dilihat dari puisi-puisinya.
Penelitian ini menggunakan deskriptif kualitatif karena data yang disimpulkan dianalisis, dan dijelaskan dalam bentuk kata dan bukan angka atau statistik.
Penelitian ini deskriptif karena menjelaskan cerminan kehidupan Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Data penelitian ini berupa kalimat-kalimat pada setiap bait dalam puisi.
Sumber dari data penelitian ini adalah enam puisi yang telah dipilih dan yang diambil dari biograpi kehidupan Elizabeth.
Sementara itu, enam puisi yang dipilih mencerminkan kehidupan Elizabeth Barrett Browning. puisi pertama, “How Do I Love Thee (1850),” puisi ini menjelaskan tentang kehidupannya, ketika dia merasa bahagia setelah menikah dengan seseorang yang dia cintai. Puisi kedua, “A Thought For A Lonely Death- Bed (1845),” puisi ini menjelaskan tentang perasaan takutnya ketika dia harus menghadapi kematian sendiri. Puisi ketiga, “A Curse For A Nation (1860),” puisi ini menjelaskan tentang simpatinya kepada Italia karena setelah pecahnya pertempuran. Puisi keempat, “The Cry Of The Children (1842),” puisi ini mencertikan tentang kerja paksa anak, dia ingin menghapus perbukan dan kerja paksa anak di Inggris. Puisi kelima, “Exaggeration (1845),” puisi ini menceritakan tentang kehidupannya, ketika dia ingin memberikan semangan kepada saudara- saudaranya. Puisi terakhir, “Irreparableness (1845),”puisi ini mencerikan tentang perasaan sedihnya.
Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa puisi Elizabeth Barrett Browning ini bervariasi, ada ekspresi kebahagiaa, ekspresi kesedihan dan ekspresi simpati. Di ekspresi kebahagiaan ada sebuah puisi yang berjudul ‘How do I love thee’. Di ekspressi kesedihan ada beberapa puisi yang berjudul ‘A thought for a lonely death-bed, Exaggeration, and Irreparableness’. Di ekspressi simpati ada beberapa puisi yang berjudul ‘A curse for a nation and The cry of children’.
TABLE OF CONTENT
PAGE OF TITLE………... i
APPROVAL………..…… ii
LETTER OF RATIFICATION……….. iii
ORIGINAL THESIS STATEMENT………. iv
MOTTO………. v
DEDICATION………..……vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………...……... vii
ABSTRACT.………...………….. ix
ABSTRAK………..………... x
TABLE OF CONTENT………...………... xii
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Problem………...….1
1.2 Formulation of the Problem………...5
1.3 Limitation of the Problem………..5
1.4 Purpose of the Research……….5
1.5 Significance of the Research………..6
CHAPTER II : THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Biographical Approach………. 7
2.2 Expressive Theory………...… 10
2.3 Semiotic Study……… 11
2.4 Poem ……….………...…... 13
2.5 Meaning………...……… 15
2.6 Review of Related Research………... 17
CHAPTER III : RESEARCH METHOD 3.1 Design of the Research………...…. 20
3.2 Source of Data Collection………... 21
3.3 Technique of Data Collection………..22
3.4 Technique of Data Analysis……… 23
CHAPTER IV : FINDING AND ANALYSIS
4.1 The meaning in Elizabeth Barrett Browning selected poems……….26
a. How do I love thee………...26
b. A thought for a lonely death-bed………...27
c. Exaggeration………27
d. Irreparableness……….28
e. A curse for a nation………..…28
f. The cry of the children………..29
4.2 Elizabeth Browning selected Poem Reflect Her Real Life…………..30
A. Reflection of Happiness.………..……….………..30
How Do I Love Thee……….. 30
B. Reflection of Sadness.……….…………33
a. A Thought for A Lonely Death-Bed………... 33
b. Exaggeration……….……….. 34
c. Irreparableness……….35
C. Reflection of Sympathy………... 36
a. A Curse for A Nation………...…... 36
b. The Cry of The Children………...…...…... 38
CHAPTER V : CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 5.1 Conclusions...……….. 40
5.2 Suggestions ..……….. 41 REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Problems
Human life is inseparable from the existence of literary work.
Human is not only given a mind by God but also completed with feeling.
Literary means of information in the form of a sign to receive, to save, to transfer. Literary is a sign that contain text.3 Human can feel what happen on their own life or environment. On the other hand, they can also fell happy, sad and other concerning with their emotion such as feeling that they have not only kept in both in their mind or heart, but certainly they are able to express as an idea or overflow emotion though literary work. It means that by literary, people can express what they seen in life. What they have experience of it and what they have though and felt. They transform those aspects in various from of literary work. Generally in the literary, there are four main steps of interpretation. Like these to determine directly the primary meaning, explain the meaning implicit, determine the theme, explaining the meaning of the text.4 According to Ahmad Bahrun, “Sastra adalah kegiatan seni yang menggunakan bahasa dan garis-garis symbol lain sebagai alat dan bersifat imajinatif.5
From explanation above, the writer can take assumption that literary work is all about language. Language is a thing to make communication with the other, and also language is imaginative symbols. A person can describe life as outlined by the media of language, writing or other objects.
Literary work is also part of the culture in a society that has a value system which is considered as a valid rule.
3 Suwardi Endraswara. (2011). Metedologi Penelitian Sastra. (Yogyakarta: FBS Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, CAPS). p.65.
4 Ibid, p.45.
5 http://www.scribd.com/doc/31552799/Pengertian-Sastra-Menurut-Para-Ahli (retired on friday at November 16, 2018 at 04. 13 pm).
Literary work is one of human creativities. It is divided into three parts, which are called genres i.e. poetry, prose and drama. They have certain characteristic and terms. Since this thesis deals with poetry, it is worthwhile to define what poetry is. In the encyclopedia Americana, etymologically the word “poetry” was divided from Greek word “poiein”
which mean to make or to construct.6 Poet result is from creativity processes operating under the impulse of feeling and embodying the combination of product of the poet’s perceptions thought and feeling.
Poem is the tool to express the human feeling and sense that used selected language as a media to explore and filed up with figurative language and another element to beautify the tone, rhyme, and another aspect which make the poem more interest. Poem deals with the deepest emotions, it seeks to capture in a few linguistics sign the realities of life.
Poem can be analyzed from many aspects like structure and its elements, styles, and point of view of the story. Poem appears and created by poet illustrates the human life which is explored by using some figures of speech.
Poem is arranged by a good and a bright thinking. Pradopo said
“puisi itu mengekspresikan pemikiran yang membangkitkan perasaan yang merangsang imajinasi panca indra dalam susunan yang berirama”.7 So that poem is an experience that is explored in the beautiful words with many poetic elements like figurative language or another speech act like rhyme, tone, thyme, symbol, etc.
Poem has many meanings in a word, as Waluyo said “puisi adalah karya sastra. Semua karya sastra bersifat imajjinatif. Bahasa sastra bersifat konotatif karena banyak digunakan makna kias dan makna lambang”8. The poem is literary work. All the characteristics of literary work are imaginative. The literary language characteristic is connotative because it uses many figurative language and sign.
6 Encyclopedia Americana. (1945). International Edition (Glorier Imorporated). p.277
7 Rachmat Djoko Pradopo. (2005). Pengkajian Puisi. (Yogyakarta: Gajah Mada University).
p.7
8 Herman J. Waluyo. (1991). Teori Dan Apresiasi Puisi. (Jakarta: Penerbit Erlangga). p. 22
This research is chosen because the writer is interested in studying poem. Reading poems carefully automatically develops our knowledge and it makes possible to arrange the works that are chosen by the author. Beside that the writer can also get the authors feeling or experiences from the poems, the writer wants to know what the reason of the author to wrote that poems.
Mrs. Browning was born in London, England, in 1809, and she died at Casa Guidi, Flo rence, June 29, 1861. In 1844 she came forth from her seclusion in two volumes of “Poems by Elizabeth Browning”. The melancholy though showed traces of the sadness of much of her former life.
Some of her poems are especially admirer. “Cowper’s Grave”, “The Cry of the Children”, “ A Child Asleep”, and “He Giveth His Beloved Sleep”.
The writer is interested in choosing Elizabeth Barrett Browning as the topic, because as we know Elizabeth Barrett Browning has produced many poems and she was famous poem of 18th century, as well as one of the most popular poems. Elizabeth Barrett Browning begin write the poem from six years old and naturally it is based on his life experience. Because of that the writer is interested to choosing the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems as the topic of research. The writer picks out some examples from the author, such as in poem entitled: “A Thought for A Lonely Death-Bed”.
Quotes:
To die alone, with none beside thy bed To ruffle round with sobs thy last word said And mark with tears, the pulses ebb from thee Pray then alone, ‘O Christ, come tenderly !
This poem is a sadness expression, Elizabeth Barrett Browning describes about her life when she felt lonely overflowing sadness and scares when she has to face the death alone. No one beside who hold her hand cry of lost and she is in her own, no family, no friend, no beloved, no someone special, and not even an angel who want to accompany her in final sleep.
She felt scared when she has to face the death alone. No one accompanies
her, she was really sad because of her destiny. She only pray alone before to face her death ‘O Christ, come tenderly!’.
The writer chooses the poem in this research, because as we know literary work is generally fictional, such as a poem. But there are some poems that related to the real life of the author or related to the past of the author. As found in Elizabeth’s poems, some of her poems are based on her real life. Poem is literary works that describe the behavior of life based on feeling and experience of life and poems have beautiful high value in the form or in the meaning. There are many famous authors from England one of them is Elizabeth Barrett Browning, She makes a lot of poems in her lifes, she has 236 poems such as about happiness poem, sadness poem, and life experience’s poem. She is also known as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She was born on March 06, 1806 at Coxhoe Hall Durham and dead on June 29, 1861. Her childhood was passed in Hisefordshire, after years spent his time in her father’s house at Wimpole Street, Elizabeth married Robert Browning secretly to avoid her father’s anger. Elizabeth devoted love and her happy marriage at poem and known to the world.
One of her famous poem is “Sonnets from Portuguese and Aurora Leight” and many others poems. Elizabeth Browning also create many sadness poem in her literary work such as Tears by Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, A Thought for A Lonely Death-Bed by Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, The Cry of The Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, The Cry of The Human by Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, A Dead Rose by Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, and so on. It’s shown that life is not only about happiness but sadness also give big influences in life.
Elizabeth was famous at the time, some of her poems create based on her own fear as the writer know in Elizabeth biography, she have complication illness and her life is not simples full of worry, prejudice, and complicated. Her poems greatly influenced Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe, who admired her as a woman of achievement. Her popularity in the United States and Britain was further advanced by her stands against
social injustice, including slavery in the United States, injustice toward Italian citizens by foreign rules, and child labor.
Based on the background that was deciphered, the writer interested to know what is the reflection of Elizabeth Browning’s life as seen in her poems. So, the title in this thesis is “Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Life As Reflected by Her Selected Poems”.
1.2 Formulation of the Problems
The focus of this study, the researcher limits and focuses of this study by formulating the research questions as follow:
1. What are the meanings in Elizabeth Barrett Browning selected poems?
2. How do Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s selected poems reflect her life?
1.3 Limitation of the Problems
Based on the problems above, in this research the writer limit and focus to analyze six poems by Elizabeth Browning, such as : “A thought for A Lonely Death-bed” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Exaggeration”
poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How Do I Love Thee” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Irreparableness” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, The Cry of The Children” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
“A Curse for A Nation” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. These poems are taken in “Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poems” book publisher:
Poemhunter.com – The World’s Poetry Archive. The writer will found the reflection of the author’s life in her selected poems.
1.4 Purpose of the Research
Based on the problems statement is mentioned above, the purposes of this research is:
1. The writer wants to know the meaning Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s selected poems
2. The writer wants to know and want to find out of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s selected poems that reflect her life.
1.5 Significance of the Research
In this research, the writer analyzed poems of England’s author, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The writer would like to find out the Reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life as seen in six selected poems. The writer hopes this research develops the writing ability and give additional information and knowledge about Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poems to the writer and also to the reader, especially to the students in English Literature Department. And finally, the writer hopes this research be useful to the next researcher and can take the positive side of this poem. Moreover, the writer hopes this research make other people easier to identify the Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poems and takes the positive side from it.
Furthermore, this study gives some information concerning the poem through implicit meaning.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
In this chapter, the writer conducts library research that gives theory of research questions from some related literatures as references for this thesis. The writer also make note some quotations from the experts to support the theory used in this thesis. In addition, the writer presents theoretical background that becomes the base of this thesis.
2.1 Biographical Approach
There are many ideas about biographical approach. To support this research, the writer use biographical approach. Wellek and Warren said biographical approach is one of old approach, biographical approach is sistematic study about the creative9. It means that biographical approach is one of old approach and a creative activity of human being, from their imagination, develop and through to become an art. According to Guerin : “ Biographical approach is literary work chiefly, if not exclusively as reflect of the author’s life and time or the life and tome of charachters in a work”10. It means that biographical approach is anlayzing of the literary work based on the background of the author’s biography that can be seen in life, and also social culture environment of the author’s in a literary work. Social culture of way of life of certain time periode gives the reader a greater knowledge based on which to draw conclusion and bettr to understand the story. Discovering details about author’s life and time also provide similar ways to further develop idea about the story, so biographical approach explains about the author’s, his creative, his carrier, his activity, and his personal life11. Nyoman Khuta Ratna explain :
9Wellek and Warren in Nyoman Khuta Ratna. Teori, Metode Dan Teknik Penelitian Satra, p.56
10Wilfred L. Guerin. (2005). A handbook of Critical Approach of Literature,( New York : Oxford University Press), p.51
11Jako sumardjo&saini K.M. (1986). Apresiasikesusateraan,(Jakarta :Gramedia),p.22
“biografi yang semata-mata menganalisis riwayat hidup, dengan proses pemahaman mulai dari individu kemasyarakatan, namun biografi juga menilai sejauh memberi masukan tentang penciptaan karya sastra dan biografi juga dapat dianggap sebagai studi yang sistematis tentang psikologi pengarang dan proses kreatif”.12
Based on those statements, it can be concluded that biographical approach is study about a creative activity of human being, from their imagination. It means that biographical approach is a studied about the author’s life of literary work, and also biography can be considered as systematic study about psychology and creativity process of the author’s life. The most obvious cause of a work of art is creator, the author and chance an explanation in terms of the personality and the life of the writer has been one of the oldest and the best established methods of literary study.
This approach uses to find the fact that are related to analyze the biographical approach of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life.
Biographical approach, the critics that are interested in using biographical approach insist that the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it. It is necessary that the critic investigates the social setting in which the work was created and which it necessarily reflects. The traditional biographical approaches to literary usually take as it’s basis some aspect of the socio cultural frame of reference, combining it with an interest in the biographical as well as knowledge of and interest in literary history. The critics must not only examine the work itself but also the work in relation to others by the same author or two works of similar kinds of subject matter by the different authors in the same period-all areas of knowledge that might enrich the reading experience. There are two factors; first, accuracy in the presentation of historical facts is of value to the historian, but not necessarily to the author. Second, a work of literary might have historical significance, but not necessarily literary significance.
12 Nyoman Khuta Ratna. Teori Metode Dan Teknik Penelitian Sastra, p.59
Biographical approach is one of the most basic approach used in analyze of poetry is referred to as the historical method of literary critics. It means that the critic interprets the poem within the history, or contemporary frame of reference, behind the poem. The biographical approach insists that a poems meaning can only be understood within a historical setting. That is, those who use this approach do not allow for possibility of making a completely interpretative reading a poem.13
Biographical approach in order to understand to literary object, one most appreciates the ideas and personality of the author, the followers of this approach attempt to learn as much as they can about the life and development of the author and to apply this knowledge in their attempt to understand his writings. The biographical material provides useful facts that could put the reader in better position to understand and appreciate the literary object.
The biographical approach as the method of analyzed the poem by examining the poem in relation to what is known about the poet’s life. If we want to use this approach we have to know the poet’s life or the poet’s biography. There are advantages in using the biography approach of the author in the analysis, namely to illuminated the element within a work, words, allusions to particular place and historical event, conflict, theme, characters, and setting. Furthermore, biography gives ease to see the expression of author’s deep concern and conflict. Therefore, Elizabeth’s personal life, her time and works are taken into consideration.
13 Indiani, Eka Permatasari. (2016). An Analysis of Feminism Maya Angelou’s Poems By Using Historical and Biographical Approaches, Vol. 3 Nomor 2. P.158
2.2 Expressive Theory
In this research, the writer analyzes about the reflection of the author’s life as seen her selected poems. Expressive theory is meaning of something that relates to research. Because of that, the writer chooses the expressive theory for this research after that the writer analyzed it to find the answer of the research.
Longinus stated that Untuk menciptakan karya agung yang terpenting adalah unsur kreatif penulis; passion and emotion.14 From that statement it can be concluded to get good literary work is depend on the writer itself, the important thing is the element of creativity of the writer such as her passion and her emotion.
Andrew stated that the idea of the author is not a timeless given: the figure and significance of the author varies across time and from one culture to another, from one discourse to another and so on.15 It means that expressive theory is analyzing about activity creative of human being, from their imagination, develop and through to become an art.
Expressive theory treats a literary work primarily in relation to the author. It defines literary work as an expression, overflow, utterance, or projection of the though and feeling, or as the products of human feelings.16 Here, the writer decided to use expressive theory because it is suitable with the research that will be analyzed about the author’s life with the poem itself. According to Abrams In Partini Sardjono Pradotokusumo’s book:
“pendekatan kritis yang terkandung yang utama terhadap karya sastra yaitu : 1). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada karrya itu sendiri (pendekatan objektif. 2). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada penulis (pendekatan ekspresif). 3). Pendekatan yang menitikberatkan pada semesta (pendekatan mimetic)”17.
14 Longinus in Partini Sardjono Pradotokusumo. (2005). Pengkajian Sastra. (Jakarta:
Penerbit PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama). 72.
15 Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle. (2004). An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory. (Great Britain). Third Edition, 22.
16 M.H.Abrams. (1999). Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition, (London, New York:
Oxford University).p.22
17 Pradopokusumo Partini Sardjono. (2005). Pengkajian Sastra”, (Jakarta: Gramedia). p.63
Based on means that expressive theory is theory that focus on the writer or the author itself and usually the story tells about the author life that has happened in the past event and the author through their life to the literary work such as the selected poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that will be analyzed, because some of the poems by Elizabeth is reflect of the her life.
According to Gerry Mackie said:
“Expressive theory studies the psychological aspects of the writer during the creative process is projected through the works of creation, both of in the relation to the writer as a person and the writer as a representative of the community to choice in many circumstances of life”18.
From explanation above, expression theory treats literary work primarily in relation to the author. It defines poem as an expressive, or overflow, or utterance of feeling. As a type, as well as those associated with the creative process by which this occurred.
Here, the writer analyze about the reflection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life as seen in her selected poems. Where expressive theory focuses on the writer or the author itself usually the story tells about the author’s life that has happened in the past event and the author through her life to the literary work such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems. This theory is very suitable with this research because this research tells about the reflection of the author’s life and one of the experiences of the author.
2.3 Semiotic Study
In analyzing this research, the writer uses Semiotics Theory because it relates to the problem that will be analyzed.
The word Semiotic is derived from the Greek, seme, as in semeotikos, an interpretation of sign, semiotic is the study of sign and symbol and their meaning and the used, especially in writing, or method to analyze the sign.
Barthes said, semiotic basically wants to discuss how human signifies its
18 Gerry Mackie (2007). On The Expressive Theory Of Voting, (University Of California, Sandiego). P.2.
thing. Cobley and Jansz also said “…discipline is simply the analysis of signs or the study of the functioning of sign systems.”19 It means that, semiotic focus on sign or study about functional of sign systems.
According to Riffaterre, Semiotika adalah metode pemaknaan yang khusus, yaitu dengan memberi makna karya sastra sebagai sistem tanda- tanda itu, istilahnya memproduksi makna tanda-tanda.20 It’s means that, semiotic can give the meaning of poetry by the signs. There are three Semiotic of Riffaterre in meaning of poem, they are:
a. Displacing of meaning, Displacing occurs when the sign shift from one meaning to the other meaning, and also when a word represents to the other word as it happen in figurative language.
b. Distorting of meaning, Distorting of meaning occur when there is ambiguity in poetry, contradiction, or non-sense.
c. Creating of meaning, creating of meaning is caused by rhyme, enjambemen (if the sentences is not complete means enjambemen) , homolog, and typography.
Semiotic of Riffaterre learn about how semiotic can give the meaning of literary work, especially a poem. By some of steps: displacing meaning, distorting meaning, and creating meaning.
Semiotic of Roland Barthes learns how humanity defines things.
Meaning in this case cannot be stirred by communication. Meaning means that objects not only carry information, in which case the object are to be communicated, but also constitutes a structured system of signs. One of the important areas that Barthes encroached on his study of signs is the role of the reader. In his mythological book, he expressly denotes denotative: 1) signifier, 2) signified, 3) denotative sign, 4) connotative sign, 5) connotative signified, 6) connotative sign. This opinion asserts that the literature has a
19 Alex Sobur. (2003). Semiotika Komunikasi. (Bandung: Remaja Rosda Karya). P.15-16
20 Michael Riffaterre. (2016). Teori Dan Aplikasi Semiotika Michael Riffaterre.
(Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar). P.5
layer of meaning21. It means that, semiotic of the study of sign, sign function, and the production of meaning.
“Semiotics is the study of how people make meaning through both linguistic and non-linguistic ways. It is a philosophical theory concerned with understanding how people use signs and symbols meaning-making. Sign systems include words, images, number and objects. These signs have meaning only because people have agreed upon and use this shared meaning”22.
It means that, the sign is very important in life, before the reader should know about the sign in novel, poems, lyrics, and so on. We must understand first, what the meaning of that symbol. Symbol is about Words, Body Language. Example, the word “house” refers to a structure designed for people to live within only because a culture uses it in this way. How this meaning of “house” came to be is what those who study and research semiotics are interested in.
Based on the explanation above, there are many explanation of Semiotic, here the writer only focus of semiotic Riffaterre, because the writer thinks, semiotic Riffaterre is very suitable with the problem of research. The meaning of semiotic is about the reader and the text. It means that, the reader freely to interpret the literary works, especially a poem, without a feeling bound by the author’s. The reader is really influences in this theory.
2.4 Poem
Poem is one of literary work that expresses the ideas or the emotions in a powerfully vivid imaginative style. A poem is comprised of a particular rhythmic and metrical pattern. In fact, it is a literary technique that is different from prose or ordinary speech.
21 Roland Barthes, P.39
22 http://www.Learning-theories.com (retired on saturday at November 17, 2018 at 04. 15 pm).
According to Riffaterre in Pradopo, “poem is indirect expression, meaning that is describe something by using connotative meaning. Then indirect expression caused by displacing of meaning, distorting of meaning and creative of meaning.”23 Frost in Arp Thomas’s book stated that, “Poem is provides the one permissible way of saying one thing and meaning another”.24
From explanation above, the writer can take assumption that, the poem is not only a tool to express the human’s ideas. But also often teaches the readers a moral lesson, share something that have experienced, and give pleasure to the readers. Indirectly, poem is enable the readers to look ‘into the life of things’, while science sharpens our intellect, poem enriches our moral insight.
There are some kinds of poem, those are:
a. Descriptive
Descriptive poem is the poem which describes people or experiences, scenes, or objects.
b. Reflective
Thoughtful poems often containing a great deal of description which the poet comments or from which he draws conclusion are directly stated; at other times implied.
c. Narrative
Narrative is a telling of a story or a description of an event.
d. The lyric
The lyric is usually a short poems like a song which is usually the expression of a mood or feeling.
e. The sonnet
The sonnet is a poem of fourteen lines which follows a very strict rhyme pattern. It is usually divided into two parts: the ‘octave’ (the first eight lines), and ‘sestet’ (the last six lines).
23 Pradopo. (2007). Pengajian Puisi. (Yogyakarta: University Press). P.77.
24 Thomas. (2012). Perrine’s Sound and Sense: an Introduction to Poetry. (Boson: Printed in the United State of America).P.72.
2.5 Meaning
The word ‘meaning’ and it’s corresponding verb ‘to mean’ are among the most eminently discussable in the English Language. Some people would like semantic to pursue the study of meaning in a wide sense of all that is communicated by language.
According to Kreidler: “The dimension of meaning included reference and denotative, connotative, sense relations, lexical and grammatical meaning, morphemes, homonymy, polysemy, lexical ambiguity, sentence and meaning”.25 different from Kreidler, Abdul Chaer explained that kind of meaning included a lexical, grammatical and contextual meaning, denotative and connotative meaning, conceptual and associative meaning.26
From all of type meaning, in this research, the writer only focus on the theory of meaning that related with this research such as lexical and contextual meaning.
1. Lexical Meaning
The meaning of word or lexical meaning is a part of linguistic knowledge and is therefore a part of the grammar. The term lexical meaning, which is used in semantics, is interpreted as the meaning of the lexeme whether it is word lexeme of phrasal lexeme.
Lexical meaning is the smallest meaning unit in the meaning system of language that could be distinguished from other similar units. Lexical meaning refers to the real meaning, meaning that proper with our sense of observation, or granted meaning.27 it has been known that language has an amount of lexical system by which the semantic with structure could be based the meaning on paradigmatic and systematic. Many people said that lexical meaning is the meaning in the dictionary or that of the lexeme meaning event without any context. Lexical meaning is usually considered as being the meaning of word.
25 Kreidler. (1998). Introducing English Semantics, (London and New York: Routledge Publishing). P.41
26 Abdul Chaer. (2007). Linguistik Umum. (PT. Rineka Cipta). P.289.
27 Abdul Chaer, p.289
Lyons assumed that lexical meaning is a meaning describe in the lexicon or dictionary. In addition, he also said that lexical meaning are the meaning of a word or sentence which upon the meaning of it’s constituent lexemes.28 It can be concluded that the lexical meaning refers to the sense or meaning of a word that appears the real meaning without need any context to explain the meaning.
2. Contextual Meaning
Contextual meaning is the meaning of word based on the situation in which they are used. According to Abdul Chaer, “Contextual meaning is the meaning of a lexeme or word inside a context”.29 Contextual meaning could be regarded in the situation, the time and the environment. It means that, different situation will give different meaning. contextual meaning is found outside the text, namely immediate context. The approach used is that every text is an act of communication, not text that appeared without any purpose and intent.
As an act of communication, text producers would wish to have meaning that can be understood by the recipient (reader or listener). It may be said that contextual meaning is the meaning that related the context of something or depending on the circumstances that form the function of word in sentence formation since different arrangement of the same word con covey different context.
28 John, Lyons. (1984). Language and Linguistic. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). P.40
29 Abdul Chaer. Linguistik Umum. P.290
2.6 Review of Related Studies
The first, literary research is in Muhammad Sofian’s research, student of English Literature Department of Adab Faculty, in Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi 2013. His thesis title is “The Senses Through the Meaning of Life that Correlated with Khalil Gibran as Depicted on Khalil Gibran’s selected Poetries”.30 He applied Biographical Approach and the sense of life concept by to support his research. He uses qualitative method, which also uses descriptive technique to describe and analyze the data. As result, he found the answer from two problems as found in the poetry of Khalil Gibran are 1) there are three sense of life in Khalil Gibran selected poetry, they are happiness, sadness, and anger and fear. 2) Khalil Gibran’s poetry have many correlation with his life such as his family, friends, environment, government, and love.
The second, the literary research is in Fajar Aditya Yunarto’s research.
His titled is “The reflection of Sylvia Plath’s Suicidal Manner and Suicidal Attempts in ‘Lady Lazarus’ as Seen Through the Imagery”.31 The objectives of this study are : 1) to find out how the imagery in the poem is inferred. 2) to reveal how the inference of the imagery reflects Sylvia Plath’s suicidal manner and suicidal attempts. This study applies library research and uses biographical approach, and applies three theories (theories on imagery, theories on suicide, and the relationship between literature and biography).
In this research, he found that there are various kinds of images that are used in the poem, the biography of Silvia Plath proves that Sylvia Plath also suffered from similar severe stresses. Through the imagery the poem reflects Sylvia Plath’s suicidal manner and suicidal attempts.
30 Muhammad Sofian. (2013). The Senses Through the Meaning of Life that Correlated with Khalil Gibran as Depicted on Khalil Gibran’s selected Poetries. (Jambi: Universitas Islam Negeri). P.1
31 Fajar Aditya Yunarto. (2006). The reflection of Sylvia Plath’s Suicidal Manner and Suicidal Attempts in ‘Lady Lazarus’ as Seen Through the Imagery. (Yogyakarta: Sanata Darma University). P.1
The third, literary research is in Siti Mustofiah’s research, student of English Literature Department of Adab Faculty, in Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi 2012. Her thesis title is “The Reflection of Khaled Hosseini’s Life as Seen in His Novel, ‘The Kite Runner’”32. She uses Expressive Theory for analyzing about the author’s life, so she uses this theory to make this thesis. And also she uses biographical approach that is really suitable with her thesis. She has found the problems in this novel such as: 1) what are the similarities of life between the author’s life, Khaled Hosseini, and main characther’s life, Amir, that happen in his novel The Kite Runner? 2) how is the life of the author influence to the novel The Kite Runner.
The fifth, literary research is in Dwi Retno’s research, student of English Literature Department of Adab Faculty, in Islamic University Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi 2018. Her thesis titled is “The Analysis of Symbolisms Found in Khalil Gibran’s Selected Poems”.33 The objectives of this study are: 1) to know the classification of symbols by C.S. Peirce in the Khalil Gibran’s Poems. 2) to describe the performance of semiotic expression in Khalil Gibran’s Poems. 3) to know meaning of symbols used in Khalil Gibran’s poems. She uses Semiotic Theory for analyze about the symbols to make this thesis. She can distinguish five classification of symbols (based on Peirce); they are: nature symbol, conventional symbol, genuine symbol, singular symbol, and abstract symbol. She found four types of Peirce’s symbols. There are 7 (seven) data of natural symbols, 14 (fourteen) data of genuine symbols, 3 (three) data of singular symbols, and 3 (three) data of abstract symbols. Whilst, the conventional symbols were not found.
32 Siti Mustofiah. (2012). The Reflection of Khaled Hosseini’s Life as Seen in His Novel,
‘The Kite Runner’. (Jambi: Universitas Islam Negeri). P.1
33 Dwi Retno. (2018). The Analysis of Symbolisms Found in Khalil Gibran’s Selected Poems. (Jambi: Universitas Islamic Negeri). P.1
From the previous research above, different from previous research, in this research, the writer is going to focus on the reflection of Elizabeth Browning’s life as seen in her selected poems such as: “A Thought for A Lonely Death-bed poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning”, “Exaggeration poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning”, “How do I love thee poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning”, “Irreparableness poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning”, “The Cry of The Children poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning”, “A curse for A Nation poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning”.
So the title in this proposal is “Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Life As Reflected by Her Selected Poems”.
CHAPTER III
METHOD OF RESEARCH
3.1 Design of the Research
In writing this thesis, the writer uses the qualitative descriptive method to accelerate in analyzing the problem. According to Bodgan and Taylor in Margono, “Penelitian Kualitatif adalah prosedur penelitian yang menghasilkan data deskriptif berupa kata-kata tertulis dan dari orang-orang yang dapat di amati.”34 It means that, qualitative research is a research procedure that produces descriptive data in form of written words and from people that can be observed. In addition characteristic of the qualitative are analytic descriptive and produce descriptive data spoken words of the person or behavior being researched.
In this research, descriptive method can be defined as a problem solving procedure investigated by describing the state of the subject or object in the study. Descriptive method is a method in examining the status of group of humans, an object, a set of conditions, a system of thought, or class of event in the present. The purpose of this descriptive study is to make a description, painting systematically, factually and accurately, of the facts, the characteristics and relationships between the phenomena and investigated. According to Nawawi,
“Metode deskriptif dapat diartikan sebagai prosedur pemecahan masalah yang diselidiki dengan menggambarkan atau melukiskan keadaan subjek atau objek penelitian (Novel, Drama, Cerita pendek, Puisi) pada saat sekarang berdasarkan fakta-fakta yang tampak atau sebagaimana adanya.”35
Descriptive method can be interpreted as problem solving which is investigated by picture or depict the state of the subject or research object (Novel, Drama, Short story, Poem) at present based on visible facts or
34 Margono. (2007). Metodologi Penelitian. (Jakarta: Rineka Cipta). p.36
35 Siswantoro. (2010). Metode Penelitian Sastra. (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar). p.56
unification. It means that, descriptive method can be defined as a problem solving procedures investigated by describing the state of the subject or object in the research. According to Jalaludin Rahmat in Ibrahim’s book state that, “Metode Deskriptif dapat diartikan sebagai sebuah penelitian yang dilakukan untuk melukiskan variabel, satu demi satu dengan mengumpulkan data secara unvarian, yang digunakan untuk mencari teori- teori tentative bukan mengkaji teori.”36
On the other hand, descriptive method refers to method that provides an accurate portrayal of characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or group. In short, descriptive method deals with everything that can be counted and studied, which has an impact of the lives of the people it deals with.
From the explanation above, the writer can conclude that qualitative descriptive method is a way of working in the research that emphasized on aspects of the deepening of the data. It also help the writer collecting the data to interpret and report in order to get the result of a research.
3.2 Source of the Data
Elizabeth Barret Browning has 236 poems. But In this research, the writer takes the source of data from six of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s selected Poems. The poems are taken from a most popular written book by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The writer wants do the research by using the text of her poems. The writer does not analyze all poems from her all poems, but the writer took only seven poems of them in order to make the analysis deeper. The followings are the analyzed poems: “A thought for a lonely death-bed” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Exaggeration” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “How do I love thee” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Irreparableness” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
“The Cry of The Children” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and “A Curse for A Nation” poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
36 Ibrahim. (2015). Meodology Penelitian Kualitatif. (Bandung: Alfabeta). p.59
3.3 Technique of data Collection
In this research, the writer applied documentation as technique of data collection. The writer analyzed Elizabeth Barrett Browning of six selected poems to collect the data which related this research.
According to Creswell, “The data collection procedures in qualitative research involve four basic types: observation, interview, documentation and visual image”.37 Sugiyono statet that “Dokumen merupakan catatan peristiwa yang sudah berlalu. Dokumen biasa berbentuk tulisan, gambar atau karya-karya monumental dari seseorang”.38 According to Atkinson and Coffey stated that:
“Documents contain text (words) and images that have been recorded without a researcher’s intervention. For the purposes of this discussion, other mute or trace evidence, such as cultural artifacts, is not included.
Documents as ‘social facts’, which are produced, shared, and used in socially organized ways.39
It means that, documentation refer to how to record the events in form of documents, a note or file that saved. It is about events or something that has occurred in the past. There some forms of them as kinds of documentation are picture and literary work by someone. Document in the form of literary work such as novels, poetries, films, short stories, and others.
The writer used documentation method to collect the data in this research, because based on the statement above, the form of documentation can be a text, picture or literary work. The writer collect the data from Elizabeth’s selected poems and it is one of the literary work that part of document. The writer took the data by reading the poems.
37 John W Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. (United Stated of America, 1994). P.148.
38 Sugiyono, Metode Penelitian Kualitatif. p.240
39 Glem A Bowen. (2009). Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method. (Western Carolina University). p.1
The writer has some steps in collecting the data, in order to make this research more specific. They are :
1. Prepare data collection sheet, after getting all important sources, the writer read it to make sure that the data are collecting suitable with the research.
2. Selecting the data, to get the data, the writer reads carefully some poems that were chosen as data for analyzing. And also the writer will searches the poem that has correlation with Elizabeth’s real life.
3. Give a description, the writer make description or brief information about the data. Making a note of data, after reading the sources carefully, the writer marks any important statement to make the writer easier in the analyzing process for the research.
4. Drawing conclusion, effort to obtain certainly about the correctness of the data. The writer processes the data to analyze them. finally, the writer made a good arrangement for the thesis proposal itself as the last in finalizing research.40
3.4 Technique of data Analysis
After collecting the data, the writer analyzes the data, in qualitative research. Technique analysis data is used to answer the formulation of the problems. In analysis the data, the writer uses a technique of data analysis.
According to Patton in Lexy J. Moleong’s book, “Analisis data adalah proses mengatur data mengorganisasikannya kedalam suatu pola, kategori, dan satuan uraian”.41 It means that data analysis used to explain the data to be more easily understood.
Susan Stainback stated that data analysis is critical to the qualitative research process. It is to recognition, study, and understanding of interrelationship and concept in your data that hypotheses and assertion can
40 Siswantoro. (2010). Metode Penelitian Sastra. (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar). P. 73
41 Lexy J. Moleong. (2014). Metodology Penelitian Kualitatif, Ed Revisi. (Bandung:
Remaja Posdakarya). P.248
be development and evaluated.42 It can be concluded that data analysis is an important part and also foundation of scientific research. Because data analysis is process of systematically examining data with the purpose of spotlighting useful information, to evaluating data. Besides that, data analysis will draw conclusions about the information.
In this research, the writer used technique descriptive analysis to describe of the data, descriptive analysis will help the writer to summarize the data in meaningful way. According to Nawawi:
“Metode deskriptif dapat diartikan sebagai prosedur pemecahan masalah yang diselidiki dengan menggambarkan dan melukiskan keadaan subjek atau objek penelitian (novel, drama, cerita pendek, puisi) pada saat sekarang berdasarkan fakta-fakta yang tampak atau sebagaimana adanya.”43
The quotation above explained that descriptive method is the way to find out solving problem. The descriptive method can help the writer to solve the problem from the data.
There are some steps in analyzing the data in order to make this research more specific such are:
1. Data reduction
Miles and Huberman described this technique as the first of three elements of qualitative data analysis. Data reduction refers to the process of selecting, focusing, simplifying, abstracting, and transforming the data that appear in written up field notes or transcriptions. The writer chooses the important data only from all the sources of data. The writer identified the data based on the real life of Elizabeth selected poems, which focus on her selected poems.
2. Data display
According to Miles and Huberman, data display is an Organized, compressed assembly of information that permits conclusion drawing. A display can be extended piece of text or diagram, chart, or matrix
42 Sugiyono. (2007). Memahami Penelitian Kualitatif. (Bandung: Alfabeta). P.88
43 Siswantoro. (2010). Metode Penelitian Sastra. (Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar). P.54
provides a new way of arranging and thinking about more textually embedded data. The writer will make the narrative display by retrieving data from the text which has correlation with the problems of research.
3. Conclusion / verifying
Conclusion or verifying is the result of analyzing that answer the research problem based on the data analyzing. The conclusion is the last phase of research. The writer concludes the result of analysis and the answer the formulation of the form of descriptive data.44
44 M.B. Miles and Huberman, A.M. (1984). Qualitative Data Analysis: a Source Book of New Method. (London: Sage Publication). p.21
CHAPTER IV
FINDING AND ANALYSIS
4.1 The Meaning of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Selected Poems
This part discuses the analysis of meaning in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s selected poems. Poem is one of literary work that has sentences and words which differences meaning from daily language people used. The writer only focuses on the meaning of Semiotic Riffaterre and contextual meaning. Contextual meaning could be regarded in the situation, the time and the environment. It means that, different situation will give different meaning in a sentence.
a. How Do I Love Thee (Line 10 – 14)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
In this line ‘I love thee to the depth and breadth and height’.
According to Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘depth’ means distance from the top to the bottom or from the front to the back45, the word ‘breadth’ means distance from size to size, and the word ‘height’ means measurement of how tall a person or thing. But in this poem, Elizabeth wants to show how big her love her sweetheart, her love cannot reach by anything. This line Ambiguities, the meaning of Ambiguity is mempunyai makna yang lebih dari satu (polyinterpretable), dapat ditapsirkan bermacam-macam menurut konteksnya.46 The words Depth, Breadth, and Height are for distance and thing. So, those words have many meanings, the reader feels confuse when they read it.
45 Hornby. (2008). Oxford Learner’s Pocked Dictionary Fourth Edition. (Oxford University Press). P. 120
46 Pradopo. (1999). Semiotika: Teori, Metode, Dan Penafsiran Dalam Pemaknaan Sastra.
Humaniorah N0. 10. P.79
b. A Thought for A Lonely Death-Bed (Line 11 – 14) To die alone, with none beside thy bed
To ruffle round with sobs thy last word said And mark with tears, the pulses ebb from thee Pray then alone, ‘O Christ, come tenderly!
In this line ‘pray then alone, O Christ, come tenderly!’. According to Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘alone’ means without other people47, and the word ‘tender’ means gentle, kind and loving48. But in this context the line ‘pray then alone’ means Elizabeth pray alone, no one accompanies her, no families, no friends, and no one besides her. Line ‘O Christ, come tenderly’ Metonymies, metonymy is penggantian nama49 it means that metonymy is the replacement of a common phrase through an expression, which refers to the actual relationship. The word Christ is changed of God.
Elizabeth Barrett browning asks God to come tenderly because she felt scared to face a death alone.
c. Exaggeration (Line 14)
O brother, let us leave the shame and sin Of taking vainly, in a plaintive mood The holy name of GRIEF! --- holy herein That by the grief of ONE came all our good
In this line, ‘that by the grief of ONE came all our good’. According to Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘grief’ means thing that causes great sadness50 and the word ‘good’ means behavior which is morally right of acceptable51. But in this situation, the meaning of this line does not think about the tears but you must focus on your future. Life is not about sadness anymore, but there is happiness also.
47 Hornby, P. 12
48 Hornby, P. 457
49 Pradopo, P. 78
50 Hornby, P. 195
51 Hornby, P. 192
d. Irreparableness (Line 13 – 14)
Sweet counselors, dear friend? That I should go Back straightway to the fields and gather more?
Another, south, may do it, but not I
My heart is very tired, my strength is low My hands are full of blossoms plucked before Held dead within them till myself shall die.
In this line, ‘my heart is very tired, my strength is low’. According to Oxford Dictionary, the word tired means feeling that you need rest or sleep52. The word low means weak or depressed; not very good53. ‘my heart is very tired, my strength is low’ is personification. According to Keraf, Personification adalah menggambarkan benda-benda mati atau barang- barang yang tidak bernyawa seolah memiliki sifat-sifat manusia.54 So that line explains that inanimate object can be like human, heart can feel tired and also strength can feel low. In this poem, the meaning of this sentence is Elizabeth Barrett Browning was give up with her life, she does not explain her sadness, because of her death will come soon.
e. A Curse for A nation
Write a Nation’s curse for me And send it over the Western Sea I faltered, taking up the word:
‘Not so, my lord!
If curses must be, choose another To send thy curse against my brother For I am bound by gratitude,
By love and blood,
To brothers of mine across the sea
In that line, the word ‘Love’ and ‘Blood’ is Ambiguity because the meaning of love in this poem different with dictionary, the meaning of love here about happiness or smile and the meaning of word Blood also different with the meaning of dictionary, the meaning of blood here about sadness or
52 Hornby, P. 466
53 Hornby, P. 262
54 Gorys Keraf. (2009). Diksi Dan Gaya Bahasa. Jakarta: Gramedia Pustaka Utama
