i
ABSTRACT
Berutu, Agus Enmono. NIM. 208222017,An Analysis of Figurative Languange in Langston Hughes’ Poetry. A Thesis. The Faculty of Languages and Art (FBS). State University of Medan (UNIMED). MEDAN. 2013.
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thankful to Almighty God and big thank is given to all the people that
have helped the writer during the completion of this thesis as the partial
fulfillment of the requirements for Sarjana Sastra at English Department of
Faculty of Arts and Languages, State University of Medan.
Due to the limited knowledge and experiences, the writer has been helped
by many people, therefore in this occasion he would give his special thanks to:
1) Prof. Dr. Ibnu Hajar Damanik, M.Si., Rector of State University of
Medan.
2) Dr. Isda Pramuniati, M. Hum., the Dean of Faculty of Languages and
Arts, State University of Medan.
3) Prof. Dr. Hj. Sumarsih, M. Pd., the Head of English Department
4) Dra. Rahmah, M.Hum, the secretary of English and Literature
Department, Dra. Meisuri, M.A, the Head of applied Linguistics and also
Dra. Masitowarni, M.Ed as the Head of English Education.
5) Drs. Bachtiar, M.Pd., his thesis consultant for his advices, guidance,
suggestions and all the time in finishing this thesis
6) Drs.Elia Masa Gintings, M.Hum. the Academic Consultant, who has
guided me in starting the preparation of the thesis.
7) Mam Enda Rahayu, the Administration Staff, who helped in the
preparation of files administration.
8) For all the lecturers throughout his academic years at State University of
Medan who have shared their knowledge.
9) S.Berutu and E.Tumangger, his beloved parents who have given moral,
spiritual, financial support, big endless love and pray.
10)His brothers and sisters, Irvan Berutu, Yesica br.Berutu and Putri
br.Berutu
11)His friends during completing this thesis, Julietha Manalu, Ridha
Rehana dkk, Ruth Stevy Hutajulu, Manna Munthe, Ulfian Haitami,
iii
Antonius, Wira, James, Jansen and all his classmates of Applied
Linguistic 2008.
12) Ci Jengeng “Elyn Solin” who always supported and prayed for the
preparation of my thesis.
The writer admits that this thesis is far from being perfect. Therefore, he
hopes that this thesis still can be usefull for the readers. Finally, May God
blesses us and always does the best.
Medan, March 2013
The Writer,
iv
D. Langston Hughes Biographies ... 20
E. Conceptual Framework ... 24
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD ... 26
A. The research Design ... 26
B. The Source of Data ... 26
v
D. The Technique of Analyzing Data ... 27
CHAPTER IV DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS ... 28
A. Data ... 28
B. Data Analysis ... 28
C. Research Findings ... 38
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS... 41
A. Conclusions ... 41
B. Suggestions ... 42
REFERENCES ... 43
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
vii
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix Page
A Langston Hughes Photo ... 44
1
Generally language showed significant and colossal that human
behavior that has evolved, or in other words it is developed in accordance with
his/her fellowman and that it grew as more and more human beings contribute to
its development. In addition, language is a representative of thought, feeling,
action, and communication.
Communication (Smith, 2001; 20) is the process of sending, receiving
and interpreting messages through which we relate to each other and to our larger
world as well. Communication is a very significant part in our life as a social
being, because without communication, we would not be able to function. During
every single day of our life, we meet so many people and do many activities.
However communications occurs, it is essential in helping us initiate, develop,
2
Languages also stay alongside with human activities. Means, whatever
we do in our life, we use language. Meaning of words or utterances depends on
the meaning of the word or utterances themselves and situational context. Related
to those explanations above, linguistics which is regarded as the study of language
explains about aspects of language in its use. One of the interesting topics in
learning language is to deal with the language which is used or what the user
intends to convey by using the language.
In linguistics there is one part which relation with my topic, it is
studying about literature. Literature divided into three parts, they are Prose,
Drama and Poetry. Literature (siyanni 1991: xiv) is the study of meaning, whereas
most literature affect man idea, life and attitude of man, where and when literature
takes, because literature is not one hundred percent of fiction and nonfiction.
Literature is a work that rules a significant reflection of life and imaginative
extension. It emphasizes reading as active activity involving thought and feeling.
It is also encourages the readers to value their emotional reactions and their
experience. In short, there is relationship of experience between reading literature
and experience.
. Figurative language (Wren and Martin 1995:v) is the use of a word or
words diverging from its usual meaning. It can also be a special repetition,
arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a
specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words. Perrine states
3
Figurative language is a more effective means of saying than direct speech due to
some reasons. First, it gives the readers imaginative pleasure
In analyzing a literary works, theoretical works, and theoretical
approaches can be used. Theoretical approach are divided in two parts, they are
intrinsic and extrinsic. In theory of literature(Renne Wellek1948;39) states that
intrinsic approach means that analysis is based on the text of literature whereas
extrinsic approach means that the analysis is also supported by other field of
knowledge beside the literature itself, and the other aspect beside the text of the
poems.
In this occasion, louse both of theories; because his use other
knowledge such as: social, politic, economic and historical background of African
American to support my analysis, especially the African life condition beside the
poetry itself.
Poetry is one part interest to study. Meaning poetry itself can be explain
as quotation by Robert Hill “Etymology the word poetry derived from the Italian
word “poesia” means to make or to construct. Poetics means the make, and then
we have the word poet, the writer. Poesies’ means the making and it becomes
poetry, the art of poet. Poem is a piece of writing in verse is regular metric line”.
Many people make a great poetry; one of the poets is Langston Hughes.
Langston Hughes Poetry that present about slavery. In this poetry, the writer
found figurative language in each verse of Langston Hughes Poetry. Langston is
one of the famous writers in America. There are some aspects that make his
4
the real condition that happen to black people in 19th century. Everybody has a
dream, because a dream is a hope, a wish and aspiration about what they want to
be they grow up, how they want to live, whom they want to marry and how their
life will turn out.
Based on situation, the writer was doing the best effort to prove that
Hughes transforms idea of African American dream as literary works. Most
people know that Hughes wrote some literary works about African American’s
life, who suffered from segregation and discriminatory laws in America. He
presents pictures of African American life in his poetry.
Since literature is not one hundred percent of fiction and nonfiction, so
it means that poetry is the expression of the poet feeling. He is not an imitator, but
the poet shows his own perception and imagination. That’s why in analyzing a
poem, there are some aspect and possibilities can be analyzed in this statement,
because poetry built by elements. Based on theory Wren and Martin, the writer
intends to conduct a research on cooperative principle in order to know what
Langston Hughes poetry meaning. Furthermore, the writer decided to analyze
poetry from Langston Hughes which described the situation African American
5
B. The Problems of Study
For this research, the research problem is to describe what kind of
Figurative Language is used in Langston Hughes Poetry. To help the writer do
this research, the research questions are formulated as the following:
1. What are the types of figurative language used in Langston Hughes
poetry?
2. What is the dominant type of figurative language used in Langston
Hughes poetry?
3. What types of poetry used in Langston Hughes poetry?
C. The Objective of Study
It is necessary to make the limitation of the study. The study is related
to the analysis of figurative language used in the poetry of Langston Hughes. The
poetry is followings:
1. Dream variation
6
better understanding of studying language development that presenting notion,
information, and idea through its function. It is expected that result of this study is
useful for:
1. The students of university that want learn about Langston Hughes Poetry
which contains ideas African American Dream. This thesis will help
them to find out which figurative language in Langston Hughes Poetry.
2. The students and those who would like to know more about figurative
Language in Langston Hughes Poetry. By knowing the pattern, the
students would to develop poetry as good as possible in literature.
3. English teacher or lecturer because they will know and teach about
poetry which contains the ideas of kind’s poetry such as: haiku, ballad,
ode, sestina, dream poetry. They will know about the application of
poetry with studying haiku, ballad, ode, sestina, dream poetry.
4. Other researchers who will find it easy to analyze the material in written
41
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusion
After analyzing figurative language in Langston Hughes poetry which was
represented by the six poetry of Langston Hughes, the research can be
concluded as follows:
1. The six poetry by Langston Hughes was related with types of figurative
languages.
2. Hyperbole is the most dominant types because it indicates activities that
happen in Langston Hughes poetry. Furthermore, Langston Hughes poetry
told about much kind of figurative languages that can be done to make
people knows about Langston Hughes poetry.
B. Suggestions
Based on the conclusion above, the suggestions are as follows:
42
3. It is advised for other researchers who are concerned to this study to
conduct in depth-research to get better knowledge in this theory and
