CHAPTER III: TYPES OF RESEMBLANCE OF FIGURES OF SPEECH USED
B. Discussions
In this section, the researcher describes the descriptions of each resemblance of figure of speech utterances found in the novel. There are 6 figures of speech which are simile, metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, personification and kenning. For more details, see the following.
1. Simile
Similes are figures of speech that have figurative words and analogies to make comparisons with other things by using the conjunction 'as/like', and usually have figures of speech that seem exaggerated. According to Abrams, in a simile, a comparison between two distinctly different things is explicitly indicated by the word "like" or "as". Comparisons were to reveal the form of the initial statement with other phenomena that apply as an analogy to something to emphasize the meaning to be conveyed.1
In this research, similes were obtained from the results of the researcher's analysis of the novel The Wicked King from chapter 1 to chapter 10. In this discussion, the researcher will include several samples taken from the researcher's findings after analyzing the figure of speech in the novel. The following is an expression of simile.
“I am as uninteresting as a piece of furniture.”
This sentence is from the chapter 1 of novel The Wicked King. In this expression, there is a comparison between two things associated with the conjunction 'as'. „A piece of furniture‟ illustrates that an object, even though it appears to exist, cannot provide any function to other parties. Furniture is known as a display object
1 M.H Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. (New York: Cornell University, 1999), 97.
whose function is only as a flavor enhancer. Then, 'a piece of furniture' is used to compare 'I am as uninteresting'. The statement 'I am as uninteresting' conveys the meaning that 'I' considers himself unattractive because he cannot provide a function to the people around him even though the figure 'I' is in the same sphere of interaction. 'I' feels that the present is like a display so 'I' compares the similarity to 'a piece of furniture'. Then another example sentence is:
“You’re unwinding yourself like a spool.”
This sentence is found in the novel in chapter 4. In that expression, there is a conjunction 'like' to compare the phenomenon of 'unwinding' with 'spool'.
Between these two things, each has similarities, namely in the description of attitudes or behavior. Then, in sentences containing similes, the object being compared openly is stated, namely 'a spool'. As stated in Abrams' theory, the comparison occurs in two sentences in a figure of speech simile, in which a comparison is shown clearly through the conjunction as/like as a separator.
Furthermore, another example of a simile is as follows:
“A green woman who looks like a mantis.”
This sentence is found in chapter 7. These expressions fall into the category of figures of speech similes. This is indicated by the comparison phenomenon between the two expressions where 'like' functions as a liaison. „A green woman‟
in this sentence refers to a character in the novel, namely a resident of the fairy world who has green skin. Then, the statement 'A green woman' is compared with something that has the same visual, namely 'A mantis'. Mantis is an insect whose entire body is green, both from the head, body, and wings. Because of this same visual, 'a green woman' is compared to 'mantis', even though it is known that the two elements are different individuals.
2. Metaphor
Just like simile, metaphor is a figure of speech which also compares something that has resemblance. But what distinguishes between a simile and a metaphor is the absence of the use of the conjunction 'as/like'. Things that are compared can be physical objects, properties, circumstances, and activities. The metaphor also uses words that have figurative meanings. According to Abrams, in a metaphor, a word or expression that in literal usage denotes one kind of thing is applied to a distinctly different kind of thing, without asserting a comparison.2 Metaphors are essential to the functioning of language and have been the subject of copious analyses, and sharp disagreements, by rhetoricians, linguists, literary critics, and philosophers of language.
Based on the theory, it can conclude that metaphor is an expression that uses a comparison of something to convey meaning without asserting of comparison. To find the meaning of the comparison not asserting, it is necessary to make a substitution. So, the meaning obtained can be understood as a form of statement to explain the function, appearance of objects, related matter. In this study, metaphors were obtained from the results of the researcher's analysis of the novel The Wicked King from chapter 1 to chapter 10. The following is an expression of metaphor.
“It’s been five months since I forced Cardan onto the throne of Elfhame as my puppet king.”
This sentence is obtained from chapter 1 in the novel The Wicked King. „My puppet king‟ contains a nickname to compare something that is similar to the original reality. A 'Puppet' is known as a doll that requires other people to control it to do something or work. The 'my puppet king' in this expression was addressed to Cardan, who was the High King of Elfhame. Jude gave Cardan the nickname
2 Abrams, 97.
'Puppet King' because as Cardan's adviser, Jude felt that he could control Cardan, who is a king, just like anyone else who could control the puppet in his hands.
In addition to the sentence above, the following is a metaphorical expression obtained from the results of the analysis of the novel.
“I consider again the puzzle of her being here”
This sentence is found in chapter 4 of the novel The Wicked King. The phrase 'the puzzle' does not refer to anything in that one sentence because 'the puzzle' stands alone. It needs to do substitution to understand the meaning because of comparison expression in metaphor is not asserted. The meaning expressed by 'the puzzle' is described as a complicated matter that requires effort to solve the problem. 'The puzzle' in the sentence above can be interpreted as news, problems, and matters regarding something that needs to be resolved immediately.
“I am too young, too green, too mortal.”
This sentence is obtained from chapter 7 of the novel The Wicked King. The metaphor expression is marked with a bold phrase, namely 'too green'. This phrase compares to another meaning, namely 'green' as 'youth'. The statement 'youth' can be understood as a condition when someone is still like a teenager both in terms of attitude and experience. Teenagers have high spirits, but sometimes teenagers are still unstable in making decisions. Teenagers, even though have passed childhood, the insight and experience that have as a provision for living life are still lacking compared to adults. The meaning of the word 'too green' is confirmed by the previous expression, namely 'too young', where both have characteristics and paths of meaning that are in line.
There is one more example of metaphor puts from the findings of analysis in the novel. The sentence is shown as bellow.
“Our king is a lucky duck,” the Bomb says.
This sentence is found in chapter 8 of the same novel, The Wicked King. In this sentence, 'lucky duck' is used to compare 'Our King'. The matter being compared is in the form of the meaning of 'duck', a term for people who are ignorant, a little strange, sometimes acting funny and not warm, with 'Our king'. So if it is concluded that the figure of the king is described as funny but ignorant and not warm enough, but 'Our king' is a lucky 'duck' which could be because he is a king.
In this case, 'lucky duck' confirms the comparison to 'Our king' because 'a lucky duck' clearly refers to 'Our king'.
3. Metonymy
Metonymy is understood as figure of speech whose function is to state something to be expressed through representation or replacement with something else, so that what emerges is a substitute concept, or one that represents it.
According to Abrams, in metonymy (Greek for "a change of name") the literal term for one thing is applied to another with which it has become closely associated because of a recurrent relationship in common experience. Thus "the crown" or "the scepter" can be used to stand for a king and "Hollywood" for the film industry.3
From the theory above, it can conclude that metonymy is a figure of speech that uses the name of a feature or the name of a thing that is linked to a person or thing as a substitute because it has something in common. The similarity can be from a relationship such as the owner for the goods owned, the inventor for the invention, the object for the function of the object, and the goods brand for the goods, which it associated. There is metonymy expression taken from the novel The Wicked King as follows.
“I speak with the High King’s voice.”
3 Abrams, 98.
The sentence is obtained from chapter 2 of novel The Wicked King. The expression 'voice' of a person is recognized as a voice that is heard in the form of a word. The expression 'The High King's voice' also contains a similar meaning to the substitution of 'voice' as a word. Because the object is 'High King', choosing the meaning of 'word' would be more appropriate when using other expressions that are still of the same scope, such as 'order'. So it can be understood that 'the High King's voice' is 'the order of the King'.
Looking for similarities is closely related to doing comparisons. In metonymy, the meaning of a word can be found without the need for confirmation from other expressions. This is because the word that applies figure of speech metonymy stands alone and expresses the word directly through the substitution of meaning. There is another example of metonymy.
“I brush out my tangles, too exhausted to manage anything more complicated than that.”
The sentence fragment is obtained from the results of data collection, found in chapter 6 of The Wicked King novel. 'My tangles' refers to hair. The use of 'tangles' to represent hair is based on the property of hair which can be fine and tangled. In finding the meaning, 'my tangles' does not need another word to emphasize that it is defined as hair.
4. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is figure of speech uses of a part to imply the whole. Abrams stated, in synecdoche, a part of something is used to signify the whole, or (more rarely) the whole is used to signify a part. If paying attention on this context, the figure of speech synecdoche is similar to metonymy, that is, they both interpret an expression that is still associated with one.4 But what distinguishes it is the way the expression comes out, which in synecdoche is more towards the expression of
4 Abrams, 98.
a part object to express the whole or a part. The following is a sentence that contains a figure of speech synecdoche.
“Around her throat, she wears a necklace of rocks.”
This sentence is found in chapter 1 of The Wicked King novel. The phrase 'a necklace of rocks' expresses jewelry. In this case, 'a necklace of rocks' is a figure of speech that applies as a part of something to express 'jewelry' as a whole.
The next sentence is as follows.
“Illuminated by the moon, the black rocks shine with salt spray, a glittering coating.”
This sentence is found in chapter 2. The expression 'the black rocks' is used to describe rocky land and the rocks are identically colored black. In this context, 'the black rocks' is a figure of speech that applies as a whole to several things, namely 'the land full of black rocks'.
5. Personification
Personification is one of the figures of speech that use inanimate objects as if they were alive and performs various habits, activities, thoughts as living people. Abrams stated, in personification is which an inanimate object or an abstract concept is spoken of as though it were endowed with life or with human attributes or feelings.5
In the case of resemblance in personification, a phenomenon characterized by resemblance occurs in inanimate objects that are likened to life. To emphasize that the object acts as a human, something that can help clarify the role of inanimate objects is needed by adding a human being. The following is a sentence that contains a figure of speech personification.
“Cups of tea rest on bookshelves, saucers lie on the floor along with dirty plates of fruit rinds and bread crusts.”
5 Abrams, 99.
The sentence is obtained from chapter 4 of the novel The Wicked King. There it can be seen that 'cups of tea' are inanimate objects, not lifeless. Then, there is the word 'rest' after the phrase 'cups of tea' which is known that 'rest' is a human being. Due to the involvement of human beings in inanimate objects, 'cups of tea' are likened to living by doing 'rest' as humans do. In this case, the comparison between the resemblance of the human role and 'cups of tea' is asserted by the human being, namely 'rest'. Then, look again at the sentence below.
“Jude’s knees went weak with terror.”
This sentence is one of the data found in the prologue to the novel The Wicked King. 'Jude's knees' is an inanimate object. Even though the knee is a part of the human body if only one part is mentioned and not the whole as a human being, then it is included in the category of inanimate objects. This does not only apply to the knees, when using 'my eyes', 'my ears', or 'my heart', all of these are still classified as inanimate objects because it was lifeless when separated. An object is said to be alive when it is animate and does something, as is done by humans and animals. 'Jude's knee' is an inanimate object, but in this expression, it is likened to that it is alive because it gets support from 'went weak'. The phrase 'went weak' is a human being which in this case serves to provide the asserting comparison of the meaning that 'Jude's knee' is a person who does the job.
Therefore, the expression 'Jude's knee went weak' can be used as a figure of speech personification thanks to 'Jude's knee' doing human being namely 'went weak'.
6. Kenning
Kenning is figure of speech which a concise compound or figurative phrase replacing a common noun. Abrams stated, in the term kenning is a descriptive phrase in place of the ordinary name for something. Kenning was more exist in
Old Germanic, Old Norse, and Old English poetry, so in the current times, kenning does not much emerge and recognized.6 As the definition suggests, kenning are identified through two words that link together to substitute for something else. The following is kenning's expression obtained from the results of analyzing the novel The Wicked King.
“The three nearly identical black-doublets I wear each evening, my sword Nightfell at my hip.” 1
This sentence is contained in Chapter 1. The statement 'black-doublet' is derived from two words namely 'black' and 'doublet' where both have different word classes. 'Black' is an adjective, while 'doublet' is a noun. The 'black-doublets' in this sentence refers to an object, namely a dagger attached to the right and left sides of 'I'. Because it is on the right and left, it is assumed that there are 2 daggers, so it is called a doublet. Then, the word 'black' is intended to describe the vision of a black dagger. So, 'black-doublet' means two black daggers. Next is one more kenning expression obtained. The sentence is as follows.
“Beside us, Vulciber sits, tied to a chair and blind-folded”
This sentence is found in chapter 3. The expression 'Blind-folded' is obtained by combining the words 'Blind' and 'Folded', both of which are adjectives. If every word is interpreted, 'blind' is used to describe something that cannot be seen, while 'folded' is used to express something that is folded. If you look at the example sentences above, 'blind-folded' means something that is folded (cloth) and covers the eyes so that Vulciber can't see anything as if he feels blind. In short, the term 'blind-folded' means the eyes are covered with a cloth.
6 Abrams, 99.
55 CHAPTER IV
THE DOMINANT TYPE OF RESEMBLANCE OF FIGURES OF SPEECH USED IN THE NOVEL THE WICKED KING
A. Findings
Overall the result from the analysis types of resemblance of figures of speech in the novel The Wicked King from chapter 1 to chapter 10 is calculated using percentage formula, as follows:
Then, the calculation of the resemblance figures of speech in the novel The Wicked King are classified as follows:
1. Simile
The total number of frequencies figure of speech simile found in the novel is 32 of the 167, the following calculations:
100% = … %
100% = 19,2%
2. Metaphor
The total number of frequencies figure of speech metaphor found in the novel is 44 of the 167, the following calculations:
Code :
f = The frequency of types n = The total number of types in
all categories
𝑓
𝑛 100% = … %
100% = … %
100% = 26,3%
3. Metonymy
The total number of frequencies figure of speech metonymy found in the novel is 26 of the 167, the following calculations:
100% = … %
100% = 15,5%
4. Synecdoche
The total number of frequencies figure of speech synecdoche found in the novel is 28 of the 167, the following calculations:
100% = … %
100% = 16,7%
5. Personification
The total number of frequencies figure of speech personification found in the novel is 23 of the 167, the following calculations:
100% = … %
100% = 13,8 %
6. Kenning
The total number of frequencies figure of speech kenning found in the novel is 14 of the 167, the following calculations:
100% = … %
100% = 8,5 %
The following table presents the detail information about the total data of resemblance of figures of speech found in the novel The Wicked King.
Table 4.1. Results of the Dominant Type of Resemblance of Figures of Speech in the Novel The Wicked King
No. Figure of Speech Frequency Percentage
1 Simile 32 19,2%
2 Metaphor 44 26,3%
3 Metonymy 26 15,5%
4 Synecdoche 28 16,7%
5 Personification 23 13,8%
6 Kenning 14 8,5%
Total 167 100%
B. Discussion
Based on the research, there are found that many of resemblance of figures of speech used in the novel The Wicked King from chapter 1 to chapter 10. These are the resemblance of figures of speech namely simile, metaphor, metonymy, synecdoche, personification, and kenning. Based on the table 4.1, the total of all figures of speech used in the novel is 167. This results consist of 32 data (19,2%) of simile, 44 data (26,3%) of metaphor, 26 data (15,5%) of metonymy, 28 data (16,7%) of synecdoche, 23 data (13,8%) of personification, and 14 data (8,5%) of kenning. Based on the results found, it shows that metaphor has the most dominant number in a novel than other figures of speech. The second dominant number figures of speech are used is simile.
Synecdoche became third dominant number after simile. The fourth is metonymy. Then, after metonymy is personification. The last is kenning has least existence used in a novel.
Metaphor is the dominant type of resemblance of figures of speech that used in the novel The Wicked King. This is because the use of a figure of speech metaphor found in chapters 1 to 10 is often found. This is because the novel contains many descriptions of