Stylistic Study of Figures of Speech in Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.9.4.P1.16Keywords:
stylistics, metaphor, personification, The Yellow Birds, Kevin PowersAbstract
The present study aims to explore the stylistic features with a special focus on the use of figures of speech in The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers. It examines how these devices such as metaphor, repetition, personification, hyperbole and irony contribute to the novel’s structure and affect the narrative. Using Leech and Short’s (2007) model, the study adopts a qualitative approach to analyze seven purposively selected extracts. The researcher obtains the data from the novel itself. The analysis reveals that Powers skillfully employs figurative language to convey the psychological disintegration and emotional intensity of war, enriching the poetic texture of the narrative. This study contributes to the field of stylistics by showing how figures of speech function not only as aesthetic devices but also as tools for expressing the profound human experience of war. Particularly in the context of war literature, it emphasizes how figures of speech are not just instruments of artistic expression but also vital in conveying the inexpressible elements of human experience.
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