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Introduction

When people seek to make their language more vibrant and colorful, literary device is an

essential component in both oral and written literature. One such mechanism is metaphor. It is

used in a variety of fields and situations to provide meaning according on the user's purpose.

Many linguists strive to categorize metaphors and restrict their quantity. Metaphors can be

classed into three to ten distinct categories depending on the categorization criteria. To answer

the issue, Ullmann (2009) proposed a theory that categorizes metaphors into four categories:

anthropomorphic metaphor, synesthetic metaphor, abstract to concrete metaphor, and zoological

metaphor.

I. Theoretical Framwork

According to Hoang (2014), metaphor is all about conceptualizing. Metaphor is a figure

of speech that “refers to an implied, implicit, or hidden comparison between two things that are

unrelated, but which share some common characteristics” (English Medium, n.d., para. 1). In

other terms, a similarity is drawn between two conflicting or dissimilar objects based on a single

or shared attribute. It has the potential to clarify (or obfuscate) a situation or reveal hidden

parallels between two concepts. It proposes a description method that compares one object to

another by referring to it as if it were another (Keraf, 2010). Metaphor is the use of words or

phrases to convey a meaning that is not literal (Cruse, 2004). Therefore, metaphor is a language

phrase for expressing something indirectly by comparing one object to another with similar

features without the usage of conjunction. Many researchers divide or classify metaphors based

on their semantics review point of view while evaluating them. According to Ullman (2009),

categorizes metaphors into four categories, namely anthropomorphic metaphor, synesthetic

metaphor, abstract to concrete metaphor, and animal metaphor.


1. Anthropomorphic Metaphors

1.1. Definition of Anthropomorphic Metaphors

Sasri (2020) noted that Anthropomorphic Metaphors are metaphors that are derived from

human bodily parts or traits and then applied to inanimate objects such as a table leg or an

avenue mouth. The resemblance that emerges in the preceding example is in place. The table leg

is the component of the table that supports the table when it is standing. The role of the feet,

which is to support the body, is the same. Furthermore, the aisle mouth, which is the alley's

furthest point. This is a useful method of entering and exiting a place. Obviously, it has parallels

with the human mouth, which is an exterior bodily component utilized to take food into the

human body (Sasri, 2020).

1.2. The importance of Anthropomorphic Metaphor

Humans are predisposed to perceive and react to human behavior in certain ways; in general,

we react viscerally and emotionally to anthropomorphism (Literary Terms, n.d.). Using

anthropomorphism in descriptions and analogies can help writers tap into this. Consider how

much more vivid your mental image becomes if the author characterizes the storm as "an angry,

bitter storm" rather than "a strong storm" (Literary Terms, n.d.).

Anthropomorphism can also help youngsters understand a narrative better (Literary Terms,

n.d.). Nobody knows why, but kids enjoy it when animals and inanimate objects (like cars or

kitchen tools) act like people. Perhaps the anthropomorphism adds to the story's fantasy and

whimsy.

Anthropomorphic metaphors can also aid in the concretization of an abstract concept

(Literary Terms, n.d.). Obviously, these metaphors/analogies alter the reality of situation, but

they simplify it in a way that makes it simpler to comprehend.


1.3. Analyzing examples

The following examples are taken from the “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”

novels.

(1) “He scrambled back to the chest of drawers when Uncle Vernon banged on the unlocked

door---and it opened.” (Sasri, 2020, p. 12)

The foregoing text contains anthropomorphic metaphor, notably in the phrase "chest of

drawers." The word chest, which refers to a portion of the human body, is contrasted with the

word drawer, which refers to a chest similar to what people have.

Another example can help us comprehend this concept:

(2) “Led by Fawkes, whose wide scarlet wings emitted a soft golden glow in the darkness,

they walked all the way back to the mouth of the pipe.” (Sasri, 2020, p. 13)

The expression "the mouth of the pipe" attempts to equate a portion of the human body that

is a mouth to a pipe, which is an unloving object. In the above statement, the similarity of shape

and function becomes the analogous point of resemblance.

(3) “His love is passionate.” (Sasri, 2020, p. 13)

In the metaphorical sense, “love” is the sensation of the heart that is abstract, lifeless, and

universally recognized by mankind. This term means that someone's love for others is not always

the same, that it may be joyful or sad at times, and that he expresses his passionate love as a

result.

III. Functions of Metaphors in literature

Metaphor is more than simply a matter of words. It also demonstrates thought and logic.

Metaphor is more than just a literary device used in writing. In truth, metaphors appear
frequently in our daily lives. We use metaphors all the time without even recognizing it. The

expressive role of metaphor seems to be the most important (Sasri, 2020). In the field of art, this

is the most general and fundamental function (such as literature, song, lyrics, or comedy).

Metaphorical speech may evoke attraction, interest, and lyrical force in a discourse by

performing this purpose. Furthermore, it promotes in the avoidance or reduction of boredom

(Sasri, 2020). The monotonous way of speaking will result in boredom, which will result in less

attractiveness. This function is closely related to expressive function. Therefore, every speaker

will try to present a metaphorical speech to avoid boredom.

According to Sasri’s research (as cited in Subroto, 2020) it can be found that metaphors

can also be used to communicate something in an indirect manner, so that the meaning of

metaphorical speech is not immediately apparent. Metaphor, as mentioned by Subroto (2011), is

extremely important in the use of language, particularly in the creation of literary works, such as

poetry, novels, and songs. The expressive function is the most important function in songwriting,

and it is present in every lyric written by the poet. As a result, metaphors are extremely

beneficial in attaining the aesthetic impact in poetry and songwriting. There expressions can

reduce the essence of thoughts into a few words while also generating a variety of links between

existing meanings.

Conclusion

In a brief, metaphor is a literary device that is widely used nowadays. The basic principle

of metaphor has been explained in this essay, with a special focus on the anthropomorphic

metaphor. Furthermore, the article focuses on explaining the functions of metaphor in literature.

It is fair to say that the usage of metaphor is not uncommon; people use this literary device to

make it more vivid and impressive.


REFERENCES:

Department of Applied Liguistics and British-American studies. (2018). English

Lexicology. Department of Applied Liguistics and British-American studies (Hanoi

University of Science and Technology).

Hoang, H. (2014, August). Metaphor and Second Language Learning: The State of the Field.

The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language. http://www.tesl-

ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume18/ej70/ej70a5/

Metaphors-Characteristics and Examples. (n.d.). English Medium. Retrieved December 6, 2021,

from https://englishmedium.in/metaphor/

Literary Terms. (2015, June 1). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from

https://literaryterms.net/

Hoang, H. (2014, August). Metaphor and Second Language Learning: The State of the Field.

(2). The Electronic Journal for English as a Second Language. Retrieved from

http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume18/ej70/ej70a5/

Ullmann. 2009. Divides Metaphors Into Four Types.


Cruse. 2004. Definition of Metaphor. Cruse. 2004. Metaphors Can be Defined as the Use.

Subroto, Edi. (2011). Introduction to Semantic and Pragmatic Studies (Book 1.


Introduction to Semantic Studies). Surakarta: Media Horizon. ISBN : 978-979- 1533-28-
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