Figurative Language in the Song Lyrics of “Superache” Album by Conan Gray and Its Contribution to Poetry Teaching

Abstract

This research aims to provide an in-depth analysis of Conan Gray's song lyrics from the "Superache" album to enhance understanding of figurative language and its contribution to poetry teaching. The data included the lyrics of all songs (12 songs) from Conan Gray’s “Superache” album. This research employed a descriptive qualitative method as well as a content analysis design to describe the kinds of figurative language and the messages to be conveyed in the song lyrics. This research is based on Leech's (2014) theory that figurative language consists of eight kinds: simile, personification, hyperbole, metaphor, irony, metonymy, litotes, and oxymoron. There are fifty-six expressions of metaphor, followed by hyperbole with ten expressions, irony with eight expressions, metonymy with two expressions, and simile, personification, litotes, and oxymoron, each with one expression. It was found that metaphor is the most frequent type of figurative language used by Conan Grey in the "Superache" album to convey the themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and personal growth. The album explores the pain and longing after heartbreak while emphasizing the importance of moving on and focusing on self-development. This research demonstrates that the song lyrics in the album significantly contribute to teaching poetry, serving as a valuable resource for teachers and helping students develop their analytical skills and appreciation of literary works. The album can also be an effective tool and an excellent example for teaching poetry more engagingly.