FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN WRIGHT’S CASE NO. 39

Abstract

This study focuses on the use of figurative language in a mystery movie, Wright’s Case No. 39.

The manner of writing by adopting figurative language has been found helpful to trigger the reader’s anxiety and to support the mysteriousness of the story. This research is under the scope of stylistics which is aimed to (1) identify types of figurative language; and (2) explain the functions of figurative language in Wright’s Case No. 39. Qualitative method was employed to scrutinize the data which were in the form of utterances which contain kinds of figurative language by including the data frequency to support the explanation of the findings. The quantity of the data helped to show the dominance and lesser amount of types and functions of figurative language in Wright’s Case No. 39. The contexts of the data were dialogues and their setting in Wright’s Case No. 39. The main instrument of the study was data sheet. After being collected, the data were classified and interpreted based on the types and functions of figurative language by Perrine (1969). To make sure the data were acceptable and valid; trustworthiness was employed through peer triangulation process. The research reveals two findings. Firstly, eight out of twelve types of figurative language are employed by the characters in Wright’s Case No. 39. Paradox, as the most dominant type is always used by some characters to catch the meaning by employing contradictory statement to reveal a truth. Because of investigating a series of clue, it needs to apply a statement that can help to reveal the truth. It helps to collect the evidence to solve the problem of the story.  Secondly, in Wright’s Case No. 39, the use of figurative language mostly create specific functions. Through these functions, the characters try to create tension in discovering clues; that is why the language can trigger the reader’s emotion.

Keywords: stylistics, figurative language, mystery, Wright’s Case No. 39