ANALYSIS OF JAMES STEPHENS’S POEM IRONY

By
Evi Wahyuni
06620160003

DEPARTEMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION

FACULTY LETTERS
UNIVERSITAS MUSLIM INDONESIA
2019
 Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1. Background
Figurative language is commonly applied in literary works. One of the literary

works is poetry. With the assumption that figurative language is often used in poetry.

The descriptive words of figurative language have a meaning that beyond the literal

meaning. Figurative is language that used symbol to describe other things, or event

metaphor which means using a word to identify other words, so it cannot interpret

based on literary view d also the reader cannot find those meaning in dictionary. Poetry

might be defined as a kind of language that says more intensely than ordinary language

(Laurence & Thomas, 1992). That’s why figurative language mostly find in the poetry,

because it used the language that beyond the ordinary language.

Between poetry and others forms of imaginative literature is no sharp

distinction. Perrine (1977) says, “The difference between poetry and other literature is

one only of degree.” It means that the language used in poem is more condensed that

the language of prose and drama in the way it sends the message. Poem expresses the

idea in line by using diction, figure of speech, imaginary, rhyme, rhythm, sound and

meaning, pattern, tone as elements of poem. We can see that the language used in poem

is more complex in meaning. The meaning offered is not as clear as the meaning of

prose.

The language of poetry is different from the language of our daily community

that gives straight meaning or simple meaning of some information. Poetic speech has

plastic character that enables the readers to interpret a multidimensional meaning from

what it is literally stated. Volve (in Siswantoro, 2002) says that poetry is perhaps the
most difficult kind of language. Poem is the most complicated language of speech

because of its compact in condensed diction in expressing ideas. Its compactness is

reflected in its multi meaning words that also a second meaning builder of figure of

speech. Poetic diction is different from daily expressions that have straight cleared

one-meaning and literal purposes. Perrine (1977) says that the meaning is one to one

correspondence between word and meaning. In literary work, especially poetry form,

a poet will find difficulty to bring the message if he merely uses denotative meaning.

Poetry also has significance to education such as poetry can benefit students in

the ways to increase reading comprehension. Through poetry, students experienced

increase in vocabulary, and critical analysis skill. Many of students systematically

abandon a text based on length alone. They simply do not believe that they are capable

of reading long passages and never attempt to read a novel. Poetry might be a

possibility to reading comprehension because poetry just shorter pieces of text (Norris,

2010).

1.2. Problem Statement

The writer can conclude the problem statement is:

What is the figurative language in the poetry?

1.3. Objective Research

The writer has an objective in analyzing poetry entitled Irony. The researcher

objectives is:

To know the figurative language in the poetry?

1.4. Research Significant

1.1.Theoretical Significance

 The research can be a reference to conduct research in literary work

 This research will give benefit in order to enrich literary work study.

2.1.Practical Significance

 For student hopefully, it is useful to make them read more about

literary works and enrich their knowledge.

 For the reader, the result of this research can be a reflection about

their social problem.

1.5. Research Scope

The research scope is focus on figurative language in James Stephens’s poem

Irony.
 Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature
2.1. Some Previous Findings

2.1.1. Definition of Poetry

Poetry is any kind of verbal or written language that is structured rhythmically

and is meant to tell a story, or express any kind of emotion, idea, or state of being.

Poetry is used to achieve this artistic expression in several ways. There are certain

forms and patterns that poets follow in the composition process of their work. These

different forms were birthed out of separate artistic and cultural movements. Most of

these forms coincide with the previously mentioned definition of poetry; and, the most

popular of these forms are elegy, narrative, ode, ballad, sonnet, villanelle, sestina, free

verse, and epic.

Different schools of poetry are each characterized by or associated with

specific styles of composition, and/or themes that give them their identities. However,

these themes and methods of composition are complex. Structure and technique to

follow in order to become inspired and compose poetry to achieve goals set for

expression have been problems for writers throughout history. There have been

acclaimed works that address these troubles written by credible writers, most notably

Aristotle’s “Poetics,” Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Philosophy of Composition,” and Sir

Philip Sydney’s “The Defense of Posey.” They each incorporate their respective

writer’s ideas on how a poem should be composed and structured, as well as how to

evoke a catharsis or other emotion from the reader, and they give the writer’s ideas on

what a poem should contain in order to classify it. It is mandatory that people meaning
to be educated in poetry understand these works in order to be able to comprehend and

identify different poetic forms.

2.1.2. Figurative Language

Pickens (2007) declared that “figurative language is noticed and frequently

interpreted inconsiderable detail, and evaluation takes place”. From the definition

above, it can be concluded that figurative language is a form of language that departs

from normal word or sentence on form common literal meaning of word or sentence

to form common literal meaning and goes beyond the literary meaning of words to

achieve a particular effect. The function of figurative language is to stimulate a certain

image. It affects the language beauty of work in both oral and written communication.

Figurative language serves a variety of purposes. They are used to clarify meaning, to

provide vivid examples, to emphasize, to stimulate associations and emotions, to give

a life to inanimate object, to amuse or to ornament.

It is declared by Keraf (2009) that figure of speech has function to explain,

strengthen, a live, stimulate, decorate an object. It gave beneficial for the teachers and

students for focusing on figurative language in the classroom which provide a way of

exposing students to use it in leaning writing literary terms. Examples: (1) The stars

dancing happily in the sky, (2) The cold night touch my deepest skin. In the examples

showed that figurative language used is “Personification” because the stars and cold

night as if as human being who is able to do their activities such as touch and dancing

in human’s daily life.

In this research, the researcher discusses the figurative language based on

Keraf‘s perception. Keraf (2009) declared that “figurative language consists of 16

kinds, they are: Simile, Metaphor, allegory, Personification, Allusion, Eponym,

Epithet, synecdoche, metonymy, Antonomasia, Hipflask or Hipalase, Irony, Satire,

Innuendo, Antiphrasis, and Paronomasia”.

 Simile is a part of figurative language in English uses the conjunction such as,

like, resemble and etc. to express the comparison two different things.

 Metaphor is a part of figurative language using an analogy or close comparison

between two things that are not normally treated as if they had anything in

common. Metaphor is common means of extending the uses and references of

words. Arvius (2003) declared that “Metaphors are common in language use,

and ordinarily it does not seem to require any particular effort to construct and

understand them”. Metaphor is a kind of figurative language to think something

analogy.

 Allegory is narrative or description that has meaning beneath the surface one.

Allegory is description that has another meaning. The meaning beneath is

different from its description. Keraf (2009) declared that “allegory is a short

story which contains figurative language”.

 Personification is a part of figurative language that is giving the attribute of

human beings to animal, an object or a concept. It is sub type of metaphor, an

implied comparison in which the figurative term of the comparison is always

human being. Keraf (2009:140) declared that “personification is a kind of

figurative language which describes lifeless thing as if has human being nature”.

 Satire is an expression which rejects someone or something. This formed is not

needed should have irony nature. Satire contains a critic about the weakness of
 human being. It main purpose is there will be improvement esthetically (Keraf,

2009).

 Innuendo is like betray with decrease or smaller someone. It declared a critic

with indirect suggestion, and often seem not to hurt heart if we see clearly (Keraf,

2009: 142)

 Irony is word using that say something other than what we mean actually. Irony

is one type of figurative language that declare the opposite meaning and

contradiction with the fact. Etymologically, the word ‘irony’ derived from Greek

word eironia’ meaning deception’ or ‘trick’. There is some argument about what

qualities as ironic, but all senses of irony revolve around the perceived notion an

incongruity between what is said and what is meant, or between an

understanding or expectation of a reality and what actually happens.

 Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is created to emphasize a point or bring out a

sense of humor. It is often used in everyday conversations without the speaker

noticing it. The exaggeration is so outrageous that no one would believe that it

is true. It used to add depth and color to a character.

 Allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to place, event or people.

Moreover, Abrams (1999) defines allusion as a passing reference without

explicit identification not only to a literary or historical person, place, or event

but also another literary work or passage. Moreover, according to Keraf (2000)

Allusion is a reference that suggests the similarities between people, places, or

events
 Chapter 3
Research Method
3.1. Research Design
The goal of qualitative descriptive studies is a comprehensive summarization, in

everyday terms, of specific events experienced by individuals or groups of individuals.

To some researchers, such a qualitative design category does not exist. Unfortunately,

this has forced other researchers, especially novices to the methods of qualitative

research, to feel they have to defend their research approach by giving it

‘epistemological credibility.’ This has led to the labeling of many research studies as

phenomenology, grounded theory, or ethnography, when in fact these studies failed to

meet the requirements of such qualitative approaches.

Qualitative descriptive studies are the least “theoretical” of all of the qualitative

approaches to research. In addition, qualitative descriptive studies are the least

encumbered studies, compared to other qualitative approaches, by a pre-existing

theoretical or philosophical commitment. For example, phenomenology, grounded

theory, and ethnographic are based on specific methodological frameworks that

emerged from specific disciplinary traditions.

By comparison, qualitative descriptive studies tend to draw from naturalistic

inquiry, which purports a commitment to studying something in its natural state to the

extent that is possible within the context of the research arena. Thus, there is no pre-

selection of study variables, no manipulation of variables, and no prior commitment to

any one theoretical view of a target phenomenon. Although qualitative descriptive

studies are different from the other qualitative research designs, qualitative descriptive

studies may have some of the overtones of the other approaches. In other words, a
qualitative descriptive study may have grounded theory overtones, because it used

constant comparative analysis when examining the data. However, a qualitative

descriptive study is not grounded theory, because it does not produce a theory from

the data that were generated.

3.2. Data Analysis

The data analysis of the research problem in qualitative research is similar in many

ways to that in quantitative research. As a consequence, before commencing data

collection, researchers carefully examine available knowledge and theory, carrying out

a thorough literature search that includes up to date information on the topic of

investigation. Strauss and Corbin (1998) refer to this as ‘theoretical sensitivity’ quoting

Pasteur’s motto, ‘Discovery favors the prepared mind”. The step of data analysis of

this research as follows:

1. The writer reads Irony by James Stephens carefully.

2. The writer categorize figurative language of the poetry Irony.

3.1. Data Collection Technique

According to Nursalam (2008:111)

The data collection is a processed approach to the subject and the process of

collecting the required characteristics of the subjects in a study. Techniques of data

collection in this study is used secondary data, where researcher collect data by

observation and documents techniques.

In this paper, the writer use descriptive method to analysis data. After sorting

the data collected selectively adjusted to the issues raised in the study. After that, the
processing performed by the analyzing process, namely by examining the data,

whether the data can be analyze for the next process. In this technique researcher is

required to read the contents of the story first and then analyze the contents so that the

research conducted is more objective.

 Chapter 4
Finding and Discussion
In this chapter the writer analyze figurative language each verse of James

Stephens’s poetry Irony. In poetry, figurative language is as the speech figures in order

to make poetry sound more beautiful and meaningful. Poetry is one kind of literary

work that should be learned so that we can understand it very well. Then this chapter

will analyze the figurative language each verse.

no Verse Figurative Language Reason

Allonym A man in days old refer to

emphasize a man who talk
1 Thus spake a man in days of old:
to himself

2 I will believe that God can be Pars Pro Toto The man mention God as
the whole mean
3 The kind, the just, that we told, Parallelism Same phrases

4 Innuendo A critic with indirect

if he will throw down here to me suggestion

5 but when her wife rose from her Explain an event happen in
Allusion
bed the similarities with the wife
And on the ground beside him lay and the man
6 To see what kept her man away Pleonasm The wife wondering about
her husband
7 She found him, with a broken head Hyperbole Excessive meaning

8 A bag of gold A contradiction meaning

with the real fact
Paradox
…… A bag of lead
 Allonym is a figurative language using a several of names to confirm. In first

verse, the poetry use “a man”. This word mean a person who are speak by himself

in the past time.

 Pars Pro Toto is a part for the whole. The verse say that this man will believe God.

Here the verse explain the God that he will believe

 Parallelism is a literary device in which parts of the sentence are grammatically

the same, or are similar in construction. It can be a word, a phrase, or an entire

sentence repeated. Here explain the man believe what people say about God.

 Paradox as a figure of speech that contain a real contradiction with the facts. In

the fourth and eighth verse have paradox meaning. A bag of gold and a bag of lead

are contradiction with the real fact.

 In the fourth verse also have innuendo figures. If he will throw down here a bag

of gold, he refers to God who the man wish to give him a bag of gold. In here the

man try to critic with indirect suggestion to God.

 In the fifth and eighth verse have allusion figures, here to explain suggestion of

the similarities between people, places, or events. But when her wife rose from her

bed means the man’s wife just wake up from her sleep. And on the ground beside

him lay, here mean something lay beside the man.

 To see what kept her man away have pleonasm figures that explain about the

man’s wife wondering why her husband move away from her. Here the verse did

not use improperly word.

 Chapter 5
Conclusion and Suggestion
5.1. Conclusion
Figurative language has some purposes in order to help convey meaning.

Expressions and ideas in writing are as an art creation. It is a device of the writer to

deliver the ideas in writing. The purposes of figurative language is to develop the

certain impression and condition, certain sense reaction, and beautify the pronouncing.

The use of figurative language in headline news title usually make the title more

interesting, having not true meaning and beautiful. The figurative language is also used

in many literary works such as novels, short stories, poem and prose.

The figurative language consists of figure of comparison (personification,

metaphor, allegory, and antithesis), the figure of contradiction (hyperbole, litotes,

irony, paradox, oxymoron, and sarcasm), the figure of contacting (Synecdoche,

metonymy, ellipsis, allusion, and euphemism), and figure of repetition (alliteration,

chiasmus, and repetition).

There are so many kinds of figurative language, but some used by several to

make headline title. One of them is figure of comparison (personification, metaphor,

allegory, and antithesis) and figure of contacting (synecdoche, metonymy, ellipsis,

allusion, euphemism).

5.2. Suggestions

The writer realizes that there are still many mistakes because of the limited

source book that discuss the figurative language. In this research, the writer has four

suggestions in the analysis, as follows:

 The writer suggests to those who are interested in doing the research about

figurative language, to analyze other parts of figurative language. Exploring

the books which are related to the figurative language to more know about it.

 Other researchers who are interested in doing the same research should be

aware of translating the idiomatic form of figurative language.

 The use of figurative language is very helpful in sending ideas that want to be

express.
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