CHAPTER II LITERATUREREVIEW, CONCEPTS AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Literature Review This chapter presents review of previous writing related to this study. First, is the paper entitled symbolic Meaning of the poem The Rainbow" which is written by Handayani (2001). The study focuses on the use of symbols and its function to give the meaning to the poem itself by interpreting those words which are supported by the poet background. The study tried to discover the symbolic meaning used by the writer to hide what actually the writer wants to convey to us as the readers. The similarities between Handayani s study and the current study can be seen from: both studies have similar topic to be discussed which is symbolic meaning and both apply the theory proposed by Knickerbocker (1963:368). The second one, a paper written by Dewi (2006) which is entitled The Symbolic Meaning of the Poem "The Road Not Taken". The study tried to find out what exactly the symbolic meaning of the poem "The Road Not Taken" is and how the poetical devices support such meanings. The study found that the use of symbol is to make a poem more beautiful and to express the poet's imagination and ideas indirectly. By using symbol, a poet can present a wider subject matter, which is based on both the fact and on his own imagination. Through "The Road Not Taken". 7
8 A poet wants to tell the readers about a condition under which a choice should be decided. Besides, the poem also gives the reader an insight into and reflects on the theme about the man s choice. Symbolically, the poem tells the readers the choice people stand for when traveling the road of life. The study also found that through the literary devices such as diction, symbol, etc the poet can be considered successful in making the poem as an effective media to attain both entertaining and teaching purposes. In comparison with the current study, the Dewi's study and the current study have similarities and differences. The similarity is both of these studies have the same topic that is about symbolic meaning in the poem. The differences between Dewi's study and the current study can be seen from: First, in her study she used the theory taken from book Chief Modern Poets of England and America (1957) while the current study used the theory of symbol proposed by Knickerbocker (1963:368). Second, her study is focused on what exactly the symbolic meaning of the poem "The Road Not Taken" is and how poetical devices support such meanings. Third, a paper written by Mosambonga (2012) which is entitled The Analysis of Symbolic Meaning in Hearst s Snake in The Strawberries In this study, the main theory applied is proposed by Knickerbocker (1963:368) while others are supporting theories. A symbol, defined most simply is one thing used to stand for to represent, another thing. A symbol is, therefore, a figure of speech although there is a technical difference between the two which should be understood in order to identify the kinds of symbol in poems (Knickerbocker,1963:368). According to Warren and Wellek (1984: 194), a
9 symbol has given its name to a specific literary movement and it continues to appear in widely different contexts and very different purposes. Symbol is applied only to a word or set of words that signify on object or event which itself signifies something else, that is, the word refers to something which suggests a range of references beyond itself. The symbol is the richest and at the same time the most difficult of the poetical figures. Both its richness and its difficulty result from its imprecision. A symbol is any object or action that means more than itself, any object or action that represents something beyond itself (Dianny, 1993:419). According to Abrams (1970:168) symbol is applied only to a word or set of words that signify an object or event which itself signifies something else, that is, the Words refer to something which suggests a range of references beyond themselves. Poets, partly, use such conventional symbols; others also use " private "or" personal symbols ", which they develop themselves some poets often use symbols to convey what they want to express and this sets the readers a more difficult problem in interpretation. The other review is journal review, Figurative Language: Meaning is often more than just a sum of the parts written by Martha Palmer Meaning is more than just a sum of the parts. Human Understanding of figurative language requires more than the monotonic combination of individual word meanings. In order to process figurative language, the brain may be organized in such a way that the two cerebral hemispheres work in parallel, each with somewhat different priorities, competing to reach an appropriate interpretation. If this is indeed the case, a biologically-inspired
10 cognitive architecture for automated language processing may need to include similar parallel-processing capabilities. Ultimately, we hope that the results of our current work will contribute to a biologically inspired solution to automated language processing. 2.2 Concepts Symbol has given its name to a specific literary movement and it continues to appear in widely different contexts and very different purposes (Warren and Wellek, 1984:194). A symbol is one thing used to stand for, to represent, another thing (Knickerbocker, 1963: 368). A symbol is any object or action that means more than itself, any object action that represents something beyond itself (Dianny, 1993:419).Symbol in poetry, a symbol is any object, person, place, event, action, or image which represents (ie stands for), or suggests, something else (Leng, 2003: 127). 2.2.1 Concepts of Symbol A symbol is any object or action that means more than itself, any object or action that represents something beyond itself (Dianny, 1993: 419). A symbol is one thing used to stand for, to represent, another thing (Knickerbocker, 1963: 384). Symbol in poetry, a symbol any project, person, place, event, action, or image which represent (ie stand for), or suggest, something else (Leng, 2003: 127).
11 2.3 Theoretical Framework Theories of literature are theories about how we read literary texts. From theories, we can learn the strengths and weakness of a particular practice of reading.in this study, the main theory applied is proposed by Knickerbocker (1963:368) while others are supporting theories. A symbol, defined most simply is one thing used to stand for to represent, another thing. A symbol is therefore a figure of speech although there is a technical difference between the two which should be understood in order to identiff the kinds of symbol in poems (Knickerbocker,1963:368). According to Warren and Wellek (1984: 194), symbol has given its name to a specific literary movement and it continues to appear in widely different contexts and very different purposes. Symbol is applied only to word or set of words that signify on object or event which itself signifies something else, that is, the word refers to something which suggests a range of reference beyond itself. The symbol is the richest and at the same times the most difficult of the poetical figures. Both its richness and its difficulty result from its imprecision. A symbol is any object or action that means more than itself, any object or action that represents something beyond itself (Dianny, 1993:419). According to Abrams (1970:168) symbol is applied only to a word or set of words that signify an object or event which itself signifies something else, that is, the Words refer to something which suggests a range of references beyond themselves. Poets, partly, use such conventional symbols; others also use " private "or" personal symbols ",
12 which they develop themselves some poets often use symbols to convey what they want to express and this sets the readers a more difficult problem in interpretation. 2.4 Intrinsic Approach Intrinsic approach is the internal structural elements of a lyrics. The most important thing in analyzing a poem is to understand the structure of the poem. Structure consists of the elements that can be identified in the work. Through the Structure of the poem, the idea and meaning of the poem can be grasped, which is something that the poet wants to convey. Therefore, the analysis of Bring Me the Horizon s Album Lyrics entitled Sempiternal is necessary hrough the intrinsic approach, in which the theme and the poetic devices are the important elements to be understood before analyzing the symbolic meaning. Through this study, we will explore the lyric intrinsically. Wellek and Warren (1977: 139) in their book Theory of Literature said that intrinsic approach are being introduced based on a survey of the wider range of forms in modern literature. They also stated that the main part of intrinsic approach is based on the text of literary works itself by doing an interpretation and analysis of it (1977: 139). 2.4.1 Theme Abrams (1970:76) states that theme is sometimes used interchangeably with motif, but the term is more usually applied to a thesis or doctrine in which an imaginative work is designed to incorporate and make persuasive to the readers.
13 Theme is a basic idea which is then developed to convey the idea of the poet. It is the developed of the theme which later becomes a poem. Thus we can assume that theme is the poet's reason in writing a poem. In short, theme plays an important role in literature including poem. 2.4.2 Poetical Devices There are some poetical devices, which play an important role in helping understand the whole poem. Poetical devices are used to make the poem beautiful and understandable to the active and imaginative readers. The following are some poetical devices including diction, imagery and figurative language. 2.4.2.1 Diction The terms diction signifies the selection of words in a work of literature. Diction is the kind of vocabulary selected for a poem. For instance, the vocabulary used could be formal, standard English. Or a poet might choose informal, colloquial English (eg. Singlish), or a dialect. Poetical devices related with diction including the use of denotation and connotation. Denotation is the dictionary meaning or meanings of the word. Beyond its denotation, a word may also have connotations. The connotations are what it suggests beyond what it expresses: its overtones of meaning. A poet usually tends to have selected words which could convey his idea.
14 2.4.2.2 Imagery Poems are grounded in the concrete and specific in detail that stimulate our senses for it is through our senses that we perceive the world. When such specific details appear in poems they are called images. Imagery is used to signify all the objects and qualities of sense perception referred to in a poem or other work of literature, whether, by literal description, by allusion, or in the analogues used in its similes and metaphors. Imagery includes auditory, touch, smell (olfactory), taste (gustatory), or sensations of movement (kinesthetic) as well as visual qualities. Imagery is also used to signify only description of visible object and scenes, especially if the description is vivid and particularized (Abrams, 1970:76). Most commonly, imagery is used to signify figurative language especially the vehicles of metaphors and similes. It can also be said that imagery is the images, pictures or sensory which are found in a poem. 2.4.2.3 Figurative Language Language can be conveniently classified as either literal or figurative. Abrams (1970) states that figurative language deviates from what is apprehended as the standard of significance or sequence of words, in order to achieve special meaning or effect. Figures have for long been characterized as "ornaments" of literal language, but they are entirely integral to the functioning of language, and in fact of indispensable, not only to poetry, but to all modes of fluid discourse.
15 There are some kinds of figures of speech used in poetry, such as simile, metaphor, personification, synecdoche, metonymy, hyperbole, irony, paradox, dead metaphor, and allusion that proposed by Knickerbocker and Reninger. The following subsections are a short review of these subcategories of figurative language. l) Simile Simile is a stated comparison, introduced by like or as. For example, "My love is like a red red rose." "There is no frigate like a book." 2) Metaphor Metaphor is an implied comparison, without like or as. For example, "Life's but a walking shadow"-instead of saying Life is like a walking shadow. 3) Personification Personification is given human characteristics to an object such as animal, or an abstract idea. Personification is a metaphor, of course, in the sense that there is an implied comparison between a nonhuman thing and a human being. For example, "There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray." "My little horse must think it queer or to stop without a farmhouse near."
16 4) Synecdoche Synecdoche is using a part for the whole. For example, "Fifty winters [years] passed him by." Or using the whole for the part: for example, "the halcyon year"- meaning summer. 5) Metonymy Metonymy is describing one thing by using the term for another thing closely associated with it. For example, "the crown" used for'1he king." 6) Hyperbole Hyperbole is an exaggeration used for special effect. For example, "Drink to me only with thine eyes"; Go and catch a falling star." 7) Irony Irony is a statement, whose real meaning is completely opposed to its professed, or surface, meaning. For example, "The czar is the voice of God and shall live forever." 8) Paradox Paradox is a statement whose surface, obvious meaning seems to be illogical, even absurd, but which makes good sense upon closer examination. For example, "light is the darkest thing in physics." Irony, of course, is related to
17 paradox because their surface meaning is never their real meaning, and hence both rely on an indirect method, a well-established device in poetry. 9) Dead Metaphor Dead Metaphor is a metaphor which has lost its figurative meaning through endless use. For example, 'the back of the chair"; "the face of the clock." l0) Allusion Allusion is a reference to some well-known place, event, or person. Not a comparison in the exact sense, but a figure in the sense that it implies more than its narrow meaning. For example: 'No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be. "Miniver loved the Medici." "There is a stubborn torch that flames from Marathon to Concord. 2.4.2.4 Symbolism Not to be confused with metaphors (expression making figurative comparisons between unlike things for the purpose of describing one of them with greater precision), symbols are objects, places, beings or actions that operate in two separate levels of meaning. A symbol operates on one level as the thing described literally, but it also operates on a different, higher plane of meaning in what it suggests, represents, or "stands for". A symbol, defined most simply, is one thing used to stand for, to represent. another thing. A lion stands for strength and courage; a lamb stands for gentleness; a burning torch held aloft stands for
18 liberty. The word's Greek ancestor is symballein, meaning to compare by throwing together. A symbol is therefore a figure of speech although there is a technical difference between the two which should be understood in order to identify the kinds of symbol in poems (Knickerbocker and Reninger, I963: 368). According to Warren and Wellek (1984:194), symbol has given its name to a specific literary movement and it continues to appear in -widely different purposes. In literary theory, it seems desirable that the word should be used in the sense; as an object which refers to another object. Basically there are two kinds of symbols: l) Conventional Symbols These are things which large numbers of people agree have the same symbolic meaning (eg money, traffic signs and national flags). 2) Private or Personal Symbols These are things which are made symbolic by any person, or in this case, any poet. Poets often attach symbolic meanings and significance to characters, objects, places or events, in their work. Usually these things only have a symbolic meaning in the specific poem and nowhere else, because the writer has 'made them' symbolic (Leng, 2003: 127).