FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE ON VISUAL IMAGERY OF VOICES OF THE NIGHT BY HENRY WODSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Abstract

Figurative language and imagery play important roles in literary works. This research
analyzes the application of Figurative language and visual imagery in poetry. The
research problems are: (1) What are visual imagery used in the five selected poem by
Henry Wodsworth Longfellow?, (2) What are types of figurative language found on
visual imagery of the selected poems? This research aims to analyze visual imagery
and types of figurative language on visual imagery in “Prelude, Hymn to the night, a
psalm of life, The Reaper and the sunflower, foursteps of angels.” This research show
the most dominant types of figurative language. The research method is descript ive
qualitative which attempt to describe and interpret the objects in accordance with
reality. The data of this research is taken from five selected poems of voices of the night
collected volume .The data is then analyzed further by describing the visual imagery
and figurative language of the visual imagery. The result of this research shows two
things: first, The result of this research shows that the percentage of visual imagery
with and without figurative language are 42,7 % and 58,5 %. The second result of this
research shows that there are four types of figurative language of visual imagery used
in the five selected poems. The result is as follows: simile (5,7%), Metonymy
(12,4%),Hyperbole (4,5%) ,Personification (20,3%), The most dominant type figurative
language is personification. This research contributes further understanding of the
application of figurative language in literary work especially in the field of poetry.