A Brief Linguistic-stylistic Analysis of MY LIFE and SOMEONE I’M AFRAID OF

Abstract

Linguistic devices in poetry have always been a research hotspot in the field of literature. Combined with important linguistic devices, the researcher made an attempt to compare and discuss the systematic stylistic functions between the poem MY LIFE and the poem SOMEONE I’M AFRAID OF. More specifically, two research questions are addressed: which linguistic features are used to achieve the foregrounding in the poem to support the theme? And what is the functional significance of these linguistic devices from the stylistic point of view? This paper first identified and classified the linguistic devices employed by these two poems for theme foregrounding. Then this paper analyzed and discussed the functions and the meaning implications produced through those linguistic features. The analysis of these two poems finds that metaphor, repetition, parallelism, simile, and personification are more prominent linguistic devices that are used to allow the poets to create literary plays, reiterate visual images, convey emotional tension, enhance emotive cohesion, stimulate emotional resonance and add literary color. The research finds that these different functional effects can be reflected by the same linguistic devices, also by using different linguistic devices, which mainly depends on the poet’s flexible use of these linguistic techniques.