AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN GIFTED (2017): A STYLISTIC APPROACH
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This study analyzes the use of figurative language in the movie Gifted (2017), directed by Marc Webb. The study aims to identify the types of figurative language found in the movie and interpret the meanings conveyed through the identified expressions. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach. The data consisted of characters' utterances containing figurative language, collected through document analysis by repeatedly watching the movie and examining the subtitles as a textual reference. The data were analyzed through identification, classification, and contextual interpretation based on Perrine's (1977) theory of figurative language. The findings reveal 77 instances of figurative language classified into eight types: metaphor, hyperbole, simile, personification, metonymy, irony, paradox, and understatement. Metaphor was the most frequently identified type, with 41 instances (53.25%), followed by hyperbole with 22 instances (28.59%). The findings indicate that figurative language in Gifted is used not merely as a stylistic feature but also to convey emotions, attitudes, interpersonal relationships, and conflicts. The analysis further demonstrates that figurative expressions contribute to characterization and narrative development, particularly in representing the conflict between intellectual giftedness, family relationships, and the need for a normal childhood and emotional well-being.
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