An Analysis of Figurative Language in Taylor Swift's Album "Folklore"

Tia, Viea (2026) An Analysis of Figurative Language in Taylor Swift's Album "Folklore". Undergraduate (S1) thesis, UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri.

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Abstract

Figurative language is frequently used in song lyrics to express emotional and symbolic meanings beyond literal interpretation. However, understanding figurative expressions in song lyrics can be challenging because the meanings are often implied indirectly. This research aims to identify the types of figurative language and analyze their meanings in the album, in order to understand how the lyrics communicate human experiences such as love, heartbreak, loneliness, regret, memory, and selfreflection. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method using the official lyrics of all 17 songs in the album as the data source. The analysis was based on the theory of figurative language proposed by Kennedy and Gioia (2007). The researcher identified, classified, and interpreted figurative expressions found in the lyrics. The findings revealed 44 instances of figurative language consisting of 12 metaphors, 9 personifications, 5 similes, 9 hyperboles, 5 litotes, and 4 paradoxes. No valid instances of irony were found in the data. The figurative expressions mainly conveyed meanings related to love, heartbreak, loneliness, regret, memory, and self-reflection. The research concludes that figurative language plays an important role in enhancing the emotional depth, poetic quality, and artistic value of the lyrics in Folklore.

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