FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND DICTION ANALYSIS: SIMILE, HYPERBOLE, AND DICTION IN "A RED, RED ROSE" BY ROBERT BURNS

1. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND DICTION
ANALYSIS: SIMILE, HYPERBOLE, AND
DICTION IN “A RED, RED ROSE” BY
ROBERT BURNS
Anju Prasasti Ramadani

2. ABSTRACT
In this writing, the writer aims to analyze the instrinsic
elements of "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns. The
purpose of this writing is to understand the using of
figurative language and diction in the poem. The
writer uses the theories of figurative language and
diction with close reading method. The writer finds
that the poem is dominated by simile, hyperbole, and
diction. In conclusion, the figurative language and
diction enrich the meaning of the poem itself.
keywords: figurative language, diction,
simile, hyperbole

3. I. INTRODUCTION
I.1 Background of The Study
There are some definitions from the theorists which will help us to understand
what poetry is. Laurence Perrine in “Sounds and Sense: An Introduction to
Poetry” (1969:3) defines poetry as a kind of language that says more and says it
more intensely than does ordinary language. With the definition above, the
author attempts to discuss the poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns in
order to fully understand what the message that Burns try to convey through
figurative language and diction.
I.2 Purpose of The Study
The purpose on this study are:
1. To understand the using of simile in the poetry.
2. To understand the using of hyperbole in the poetry.
3. To understand the using of diction in the poetry.
I.3 Scope of The Study
The scope of this study is the analysis of figurative language which are simile
and hyperbole, and imagery which is diction, in the poem by Robert Burns
entitled “A Red, Red Rose”.

4. II. THE POET, THE POEM, AND THE
TRANSLATION
II.1 The biography of Robert Burns
Born on January 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland, Robert Burns was the
eldest son of tenant farmers William Burnes and Agnes Broun. After some
rudimentary education, Robert’s parents encouraged him to read books by
important contemporary writers as well as Shakespeare and Milton. Burns
began life as a poor tenant farmer but was able to channel his intellectual energy
into poetry and song to become one of the most famous characters of Scotland's
cultural history. Burns had his first child, Elizabeth Paton Burns with his mother’s
servant Elizabeth Paton, while he was in relationship with Jean Armour, who
became pregnant with his twins in March 1786. Burns was ready to marry Jean
but her father was against the marriage. They, eventually, got married in 1788.
The couple had nine children, out of which only three survived infancy.
Burns is best known as a pioneer of the Romantic movement for his lyrical
poetry and his rewriting of Scottish folk songs, many of which are still well known
across the world today. Since his death on July 21, 1796, his work has inspired
many Western thinkers. Considered the national poet of Scotland, he is
celebrated there and around the world every year on "Burns Night,” January 25.

5. II.2 The poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
“A Red, Red Rose”
(1794)
O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

6. II.3 The translation of the poem “A Red, Red Rose”
Mawar Merah Yang Merekah
Oh cintaku bagaikan mawar merah yang merekah,
Yang bersemi saat bulan Juni;
Oh cintaku bagaikan melodi,
Yang mengalun indah dalam laras nada.
Seindah dirimu, gadisku yang cantik,
Begitu dalamnya cintaku;
Dan aku akan selalu mencintaimu, kasihku,
Hingga seluruh samudera mengering.
Hingga seluruh samudera mengering, kasihku,
Dan bebatuan leleh oleh sinar mentari;
Dan aku akan selalu mencintaimu, kasihku,
Walau pasir kehidupan harus terus berlari.
Dan terus seperti itu, cinta sejatiku!
Dan akan terus seperti itu sepanjang hidupku!
Dan aku akan kembali lagi, kasihku,
Walau sepuluh ribu mil harus kutempuh!

7. III. LITERARY REVIEW
III.1 Figurative language
III.1.1 Simile
In a simile, a comparison between two distinctly different things is explicitly indicated by
the word “like” or “as” (M.H. Abrams, 1999:97).
“It looks as if some magic of the sun”
In that line, Robert frost compares the object with “some magic of the sun” by using
“looks as if”.
III.2.1 Hyperbole (Overstatement)
Richard E. Mezo in his book “Fire I’ The Blood”: A Handbook of Figurative Language
(1999:2) states that Hyperbole is an overstatement of the literal-an exaggeration.
III.2 Diction
Diction is the choice of words. Michael Meyer in his book “The Bedford Introduction
Literature (Second Edition)” states that diction is the use of elevated language over
ordinary language. What matters in a poem is not only which words are used but how
they are used.

8. IV. DISCUSSION
Simile
O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
In the first stanza, Robert Burns using simile to compare his love with a “red rose” that “newly sprung
in June”. It gives the readers a sense that his love is beautiful, strong, full of passion just like a red rose.
It is even stronger because he use the repeat of “red”. Then he says “that newly sprung in June” which
means his love is like a flower that has just grew from the ground, new, young, fragrant and fresh.
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.
This time, Burns chooses to compare his love like a beautiful melody from a song that is “sweetly
play’d” in a tune. However, how sweet the melody is, this beauty is just temporary. When the song has
ended, the melody of the song is just gone. Yet, in this point that is not what Burns try to say. He
perhaps states that his love is like a melody which sound lovely when the tone is harmonic.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
Burns says he is as “deep in love” as the “bonnie lass”. Bonnie is a word that means beautiful or pretty
just like “fair”. While “lass” is refers to a girl that sometimes means something like a sweetheart. Burns
is trying to tell the readers that his love as beautiful as how his lady appearance.

9. Diction
1. Red rose : “Rose” is usually a symbol of love, and Burns add
“red” to suggest an excitement of strong and passion. So, he is
trying to tell the readers that his love to his lady is the kind of strong
feeling and full of passion.
2. June : The reason why Burns choose to use June instead of
other months is quite interesting. When June comes, spring is going
to end but summer starts to come. Floral growth is the best in
summer season. So does rose, the flower is blooming the best in
summer. It is new, fresh, fragrant, and beautiful.
3. Bonie : Bonie is a given name commonly used for female
which comes from the Scottish word “bonnie”. This word not just
means pretty but also attractive, which is why Burns use “Bonie”
instead of beautiful or else. Bonnie is often used as a nickname or a
form of endearment towards a loved one. This word has much more
meaning.
4. Melodie : Melody is the main theme of musical pieces, the part
you sing along with, the succession of tones that are most salient in
your mind. Burns compares his love with melody to show that his
love is the most important in his life.

10. Hyperbole
Till a' the seas gang dry,
In the last line of the second stanza, Burns claims that he will love his lady until all the seas
dries up. It is literally impossible to says that the seas will dries up, but that is why he use
the phrase that he is so deep in love that his love will last forever.
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
Like the sea going dry, it is also impossible that rocks are going to “melt”. Burns is again
emphasizing the fact that he will love her forever or at least until long after their lives are
over.
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.
The lines are trying to show the readers that Burns will love his lady until “the sands o’ life
shall run”. The phrase “the sands o’ life shall run” means like “while I’m still life”. The word
“sands” here just like the sands of Burns life. So once again, he is emphasizing that he will
love his bonie lass for a really long time or as long as he lives.
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!
In this last two lines, Burns is saying that he will do whatever to meet again with his love
eventhough he has to walk ten thousand miles. That is how much he loves his lady that he
will do whatever to make the love work.

11. V. CONCLUSION
The poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns is
a beautiful poem. It shows the readers about how
much he loves his young lady. A man who once fell in
love deeply will always loves his lady no matter what
happens. Once he fell in love, he will give the whole
world for his lady. Just like in his poem, Burns is using
simile to compare how much his love for her by
compares her with beautiful things in the world. Then
he use hyperbole to emphasizing how much the love
he has. As we know, if Burns did not use those
figurative language, we will not know how much his
love and how beautiful his love. It will just makes the
readers know that he loves a lady but we do not know
how his love to the lady. The point is he is trying to
shows the readers how strong his love through his
poem which as beautiful as his lady.

12. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abrams, M. H. 1999. 7th ed. A Glossary of Literary Terms. United States of
America : Earl McPeek
Connell, F.M. 1913. A Textbook For The Study of Poetry. Boston : Allyn
and Bacon.
Meyer, Michael. 1990. 2nded. The Bedford Introduction to Literature.
Boston : Bedford-St.Martin’s.
Mezo, Richard E. 1999. “Fire i’ the blood” : A Handbook of Figurative
Language. USA : Universal Publisher.
Perrine, Laurence. 1969. 3th ed. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to
Poetry. United States of America : Harcourt College Pub.