Figure of Speech on William Wordsworth Poetry

Sendy Anggun Kusumaningrum English Department Faculty of Letters Gunadarma University ABSTRACT
The writer chooses this research is entitled Figure of Speech in William Wordsworth Poetry. The writer chose that topic because the writer wanted to analyze figure of speech that was found in the poetry because figure of speech does not have literal meaning. The problem of this research is what the figure of speech in William Wordsworth poetry. The aim of this research is to find out the figure of speech are used in William Wodsworth poetry. The researcher used a qualitative method in this research. The result of the research shows there are five main figures of speech used in the poetry. The writer found three figures of speech in the poetry which are simile, metaphor, personification. The largest number of figure of speech are simile and metaphor. After analyzing all poetries, the writer found more than one figures of speech in a poetry. It is enriches and beautifies William Wordsworths poetry which mostly took natural theme. Keywords: Literature, Poetry, Figure of Speech

INTRODUCTION Background of the Research Literature as a general term include all kind of writings. However, in a narrow sense, it is a form of human creation that departs from the reality of life. In a broader sense, literature is a total comprehension of human life reflected by the writers with all of thier personalities, thoughts, and intention. As a work of art, literature plays role to entertain and educate human being. Poetry is one of the literary works. Poetry is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic languagge choice so as to evoke an emotional response. According to Emily Dickinson poetry is if I read a book and if makes my body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry, and Dylan Thomas defined poetry this way: poetry is what makes me laugh or cry or yawn, what makes my toenails twinkle, what makes me want to do this or that nothing. William Wordsworth is a famous poet in the world. William Wordsworth was an early leader of romanticism (a literary movement that celebrated nature and concentrated on human emotions) in English poetry and ranks as one of the greatest lyric poets in the history of English literature. William Wordsworth was born on April 7, 1770, in Cooker mouth, Cumberland, England, the second child of an attorney. When many poets still wrote about ancient heroes in grandiloquent style, Wordsworth focused on the nature, children, the poor, common people, and used ordinary words to express his

personal feelings. His definition of poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings arising from "emotion recollected in tranquillity" was shared by a number of his followers. The writer focuses the research to analyze figure of speech of poetry. Most of poetry use figure of speech to make poetry more beautiful. It is difficult for the reader to get the meaning of the poetry. A figure of speech is an expression that is designed to evoke emotion or create deeper meaning. The words in a figure of speech are not literal. The writer interests to analyze figure of speech in poetry because figure of speech does not have literal meaning. There are 20 figure of speech such as alliteration, anaphora, antithesis, apostrophe, assonance, chiasmus, euphemism, hyperbole, irony, litotes, metaphor, metonymy, onomatopoeia, oxymoron, paradox, personification, pun, simile, synecdoche, and understatement. In this research, the writer discusses main figure of speech. The writer wants to analyze about figure of speech in William Wordsworth poetries. The title taken by the writer is Figure of Speech in William Wordsworths Poetry. Position of the Research Based on the previous researches above, the position of this research discusses about figure of speech in William Wordsworth poetry. This research discusses about figure of speech as a language styles in poetry such as simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and irony based on intrinsic view. This

research Based on the previous researches above, the position of this research discusses about figure of speech in William Wordsworth poetry. This research discusses about figure of speech as a language styles in poetry such as simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and irony based on intrinsic view. This research also focuses on general theme and use five figures of speech. Problem of the Research The problem of this research is What figures of speech are used on William Wordsworth poetry? Aim of the Research The aim of this research is To find out figures of speech are used on William Wordsworth poetry. Scope of the Research The scope of the research focuses on the figure of speech in William Wordsworth poetry. Only five figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and irony. Significance of the Research The writer hopes this research may contributes for the readers to increase their knowledge about figure of speech and their function in William Wordsworth poetry. THEORETICAL REVIEW Definition of Poetry Poetry is literary genre which differs from prose genres in the use of verse, rhyme, and meter. In modern prose poems or experimental poetry, these classical elements are no longer valid; however, the wording and the deliberate use of certain structural elements of syntax and rhetorical figures mark these works as poetic forms; see also narrative poetry and lyric poetry. Klarer (1999:26). Definition of Figure of Speech X. J. Kennedy (1991:584) gives definition, a figure of speech may be said to occur whenever a speaker or writer, for the sake of freshness or emphasis, departs from the usual denotations of words. Figures of speech are not devices to state what is demonstrably untrue. Indeed they often state truths that more literal language cannot

communicate; they call attention to such truths; they lend them emphasis. Figure of Speech Devices There are many figure of speech devices. Siswantoro (2002:24-44) divided figure of speech devices into nine kinds: simile, metaphor, personification, apostrophe, hyperbola, antithesis, synecdoche, paradox and symbol. Meanwhile, Graham Little (1985:164166) divided figure of speech into three classifications, which are respectively based on comparisons, associations, and other figure of speech. They are as follows: Based on Comparisons Based on comparisons, figure of speech divided into five kinds. They are as follows: 1. Simile Simile comes from Latin word similes, means like, note from Arthur Finley Scott (1983:268). A simile makes an imaginative comparison for purposes of explanation, allusion, or ornament, introduced by a word such as like, as, or such. It can be simple, briefly expressed or long and sustained, known then as the epic simile. 2. Metaphor Lakoff and Johnson (2003:28) define metaphor as a comparison that show how two things that are not alike in most ways are similar in another important way. Lakoff and Johnson also explain that metaphors are widely used in context to describe personal meaning. 3. Personification The point of the personification is to express the abstract ideas to inanimate objects, or aspects of nature are described as if it were human. Richard Gill (1985:20) defines personification is giving non-human things human qualities. It is means that all things (nature and animals) to do something like human. 4. Analogy Analogy is sustained simile or metaphor, like one state of affairs to another in a series of comparisons, or a word, thing, idea, or story, chosen for the purpose of comparison, which can

help to explain whatever it is similar to. 5. Hyperbole Hyperbole is a bold, deliberate overstatement not intended to be taken literary; it is used as a means of emphasizing the truth of a statement. Wren and Martin (1981:491) state, in hyperbole a statement is made emphatic by overstatement. It is means that some words which are used in a poem is overstatement from true meaning. Based on Association Based on associations, figure of speech divided into two kinds. They are as follows: 1. Metonymy Metonymy is a figure of speech that uses a concept closely related to the thing actually meant. The substitution makes the analogy more vivid and meaningful. X. J. Kennedy (1991:595) gives definition, metonymy; the name of a thing is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. 2. Symbolism Symbol is a thing (could be an object, person, situation or action) which stands for something else more abstract. Perrine (1974:628) states, a symbol may be defined as something that means more than what it is. There are deep meaning inside words are used in a poem. Other Figure of Speech Devices Beside some figure of speech above, there are others figure of speech divided into two kinds. They are as follows: 1. Apostrophe Comes from Greek, it means a turning away. Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which someone absent or dead or something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present. Arthur Finley Scott (1983:20) gives definition it as a figure is rhetorical in which the orator turned away from the rest of the audience to address one person. 2. Irony Irony is a statement whose real meaning is completely loosed to its professed or surface meaning. For example the czar is the voice of God

and shall live forever. Harry Shaw (1972:208) states it is a figure of speech in which the literal (denotative) meaning of a word or statement in the opposite of that intended. RESEARCH METHOD Method of Research The researcher uses qualitative method because the result are in words not in numerical. Qualitative data include observations, interviews and life history accounts. They enable the voices of those being researched to be heard. Qualitative data is usually analyzed by subjecting it to some forms of coding process. (Wilkinson, 2000:79) Source of Data The source of data in this research is William Wordsworths poetry which were taken from internet. The writer only used six poems and the poems were taken from one site retrieved on Thursday, August 18, 2011. Technique of Collecting Data Techniques of collecting data are: 1. Read the William Wordsworths poetry. 2. Identify sentences which express the figure of speech. 3. Put the data in line with figure of speech in the plain paper. Technique of Analyzing Data The technique in analyzing the data consist of: 1. Editing the Data The data that have been collected are edited and written in a paper. 2. Classification of Data Those data are classified into five kind figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and irony. 3. Interpretation of Data The data that have been classified are discussed to see what kinds of figure of speech include.

RESULT OF STUDY The Daffodils This poetry tells about Daffodils on a stormy day in spring, while walking along with Williams sister Dorothy near Ullswater Lake, in England. William imagined that the daffodils were dancing and invoking him to join and enjoy the breezy nature of the fields. The poem reflects his deep love for Nature. The complete poetry as below:
I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of the bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.

Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes or feelings or is spoken of as if it were alive (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:302). The personifications are: - Beside the lake, beneath the trees; Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. - The waves beside them danced. In the sentence above there is a thing which is given human attributes or feelings as if it were alive that is the trees. The writer imagined trees can flutter and dance like human attributes. In the next sentence the writer imagined waves can dance. Waves are a non human thing but the writer gave the characteristics of human to it. Evening On Calais Beach The poem composed the poetry on the beach near Calais. This poetry emphasizes the individual communing with nature, and it is a natural setting at the seashore. The poem paints this canvas with imagery and poetic skill. The Romantics considered communing with nature as being one with God; they saw God in nature.
It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, The holy time is quiet as a Nun Breathless with adoration; the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquillity; The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the sea: Listen! The mighty Being is awake, And doth with his eternal motion make A sound like thunder -- everlastingly. Dear Child! Dear Girl! That walkest with me here, If thou appear untouch'd by solemn thought, Thy nature is not therefore less divine: Thou liest in Abraham's bosom all the year; And worshipp'st at the Temple's inner shrine, God being with thee when we know it not.

From that poetry the writer found two figures of speech, namely simile and personification. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly compared with one by use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The similes are: - I wandered lonely as a cloud. - Continuous as the stars that shine. In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are lonely as a cloud means lonely and a cloud. In the sky only there is a cloud nothing the other elements of sky. The writer of the poetry imagine lonely are similar as a cloud. In the next sentence the writer compared continuous as the stars that shine. In the night, the stars always shine until the night broke. Therefore, in this poetry continuous means like the stars which are shining at night.

From that poetry the writer found two figures of speech, namely metaphor and simile. Metaphors Metaphor is a figure of speech in which two unlike objects are implicitly compared without the use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:300). The metaphor is: - The broad sun is sinking down in its tranquillity. In the sentence above there are two unlike objects are implicitly compared they are the broad sun is sinking down means broad sun and sinking down. The writer of this

poetry describe the sun is peacefully and calmly, sinking down like to protect all of human in the world. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly compared with one by use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The simile is: - And doth with his eternal motion make a sound like thunder -- everlastingly. In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are a sound like thunder means a sound and thunder. Sound in this poetry that means sound of ocean, the oceans eternality in the poem can be compared to any god who has this quality of living forever. Also, the power and importance of the ocean to Wordsworth can be heard in the poem as it is described, a sound like thunder everlastingly. Perfect Woman This poetry tells about William Wordsworth's wife Mary Hutchinson, whom he married in 1802. They were good friends and knew each other since their school days. The poem has ten lines in each of the three stanzas and each line has rhyming words at the end of it to give it a continuous rhythm throughout.
She was a phantom of delight When first she gleam'd upon my sight; A lovely apparition, sent To be a moment's ornament; Her eyes as stars of twilight fair; Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair; But all things else about her drawn From May-time and the cheerful dawn; A dancing shape, an image gay, To haunt, to startle, and waylay. I saw her upon nearer view, A Spirit, yet a Woman too! Her household motions light and free, And steps of virgin liberty; A countenance in which did meet Sweet records, promises as sweet; A creature not too bright or good For human nature's daily food; For transient sorrows, simple wiles, Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles. And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveller between life and death;

The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd, To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a Spirit still, and bright With something of angelic light.

From that poetry the writer found two figures of speech, namely metaphor and simile. Metaphor Metaphor is a figure of speech in which two unlike objects are implicitly compared without the use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:300). The metaphor is: - She was a phantom of delight. In the sentence above there are two unlike objects are implicitly compared they are she was a phantom of delight means she and a phantom of delight. The writer of poetry imagine that he is speak with a woman is actually mortal but she is delightful. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly compared with one by use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The similes are: - Her eyes as stars of twilight fair. - Like twilights, too, her dusky hair. In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are her eyes as stars of twilight fair means eyes and stars. The poet imagine that a woman who have eyes always shine and hair as being like twilight, a time when the earth is between light and dark and a time during which things appear to glow. The writer of the poetry imagines eyes are similar as stars. She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways This poetry tells about a woman named Lucy, who died young. Lucy may be an imaginary, beautiful woman who lived alone in the countryside and died. In this poem, Wordsworth both praises Lucys beauty and mourns her death.
She among the untrodden ways Beside the springs of Dove, A Maid whom there were none to praise And very few to love: A violet by a mossy stone Half hidden from the eye! --Fair as a star, when only one Is shining in the sky.

She lived unknown, and few could know When Lucy ceased to be; But she is in her grave, and, oh, The difference to me! I listen'd, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more.

From that poetry the writer found one figure of speech, namely simile. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly compared with one by use of like or as(Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The simile is: - -- Fair as a star, when only one is shining in the sky. In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are fair as a star means fair and a star. The poet compared fair to a single star that means although only one star in the sky, but it is always shine to all places. The writer of the poetry imagine lonely are similar as a star. The World Is Too Much With Us This poetry tells about critics to the world that First Industrial Revolution absorbed in materialism and distancing itself from nature. This poem is a sort of an accusation to the people living in the modern age. Wordsworth thinks that modern age people have lost its relationship to nature. The anger by the poet can be felt in the lines of the poem.
The world is too much with us: late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not. -- Great God! I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathd horn.

From that poetry the writer found three figures of speech, namely simile, personification, and metaphor. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly

compared with one by use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The similes are: - The winds that will be howling at all hours - And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers. In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are the winds like sleeping flowers means winds and sleeping flowers. The above four lines emphasize his point. Up-gathered like sleeping flowers is an image he uses to make the point of how the winds that will be howling at all hours are internal noises or the noise of industry at all hours. The noise could be either internal or external, but the simile of the upgathered flowers indicates that the hours (changes and fast pace) are stealing away harmonious unity with nature. Personification Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes or feelings or is spoken of as if it were alive (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:302). The personification is: - This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon In the sentence above there is a thing which is given human attributes or feelings as if it were alive that is the sea. The writer compared the sea to a woman and of the moon to a person who sees the woman. Metaphor Metaphor is a figure of speech in which two unlike objects are implicitly compared without the use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:300). The metaphors are: A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn. We have given our hearts away. In the sentence above there are two unlike objects are implicitly compared they are a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn means a creed and outworn. It is a comparison of creed to a mother nursing her child. this sentence explain about a Pagan who always creed to their idol. In the next sentence it is a comparison of hearts to attention. The meaning of that sentence is the author felt that most people loose their heart and because they prefer to get world pleasure.

Upon Westminster Bridge This poetry tells about Westminster Bridge on the morning of July 31, 1802, when most of the residents were still in bed and the factories had not yet stoked their fires and polluted the air with smoke.
Earth has not anything to show more fair: Dull would he be of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its majesty: This City now doth like a garment wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie Open unto the fields, and to the sky; All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. Never did sun more beautifully steep In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill; Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still!

From that poetry the writer found two figures of speech, namely simile and metaphor. Simile Simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar are expressly compared with one by use of like or as (Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:305). The similes are: - This City now doth like a garment wear The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, In the sentences above there are two things which are expressly compared they are this city now doth like a garment means city and a garment. The things compared are city to garment. It means that the beauty of the city was covered by smoke, dust, grimy urchins, clacking carts, ringing hammers, barking dogs, jostling shoppers, smelly fish, rotting fruit. Metaphor Metaphor is a figure of speech in which two unlike objects are implicitly compared without the use of like or as ((Pickering and Hoeper, 1981:300). The metaphor is: - Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; In the sentence above there are two unlike objects are implicitly compared they are comparison of houses to a creature that sleeps. It described a London when the smoke at factory hasnt soared yet, the life of the city seems slack.

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 1. Conclusion After the writer analyzing the figure of speech are used in William Wordsworths poetry. The writer concludes that there are three main figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and personification. The largest number of figure of speech are simile and metaphor. The sentences that showed of simile are I wandered lonely as a cloud inThe Daffodils, his eternal motion make a sound like thunder in Evening on Calais Beach, her eyes as stars of twilight fair in Perfect Woman, fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky in She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways, and are upgathered now like sleeping flowers in The World is Too Much with Us, this city now doth like a garment wear in Upon Westminster Bridge. The sentences that showed of metaphor are the broad sun is sinking down in its tranquility in Evening on Calais Beach, she was a phantom of delight in Perfect Woman, a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn in The World is Too Much with Us, Dear God! the very houses seem asleep in Upon Westminster Bridge. The writer concluded William Wordsworth as a poet mostly use simile and metaphor to modify his poetry. Simile and metaphor is used because the simplest and the clearest of figure of speech. We can identify the words which are expressly compared by using like and as in simile and without the use like or as in metaphor. 2. Suggestion Figure of speech is kind of figurative language. If we want to get the meaning we must pay attention with the context. Since poetry is kind of literary works meaning not only be obtained from the words that have been written in the literary work it. So for readers of literary works such as poetry, novels and short stories, should pay attention to the meaning contained the words that exist because usually there is the allegorical meaning.

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