Journal of English Language Teaching and Literature (JELITA)
Vol 7 No 1 (2026): IN-PRESS Issue Journal of English Language Teaching and Literature (JELITA)

Emotion and Figurative Language in Taylor Swift’s Selected Songs

Dewi, Ni Nengah Wulan Anggita (Unknown)
Afrianto, Afrianto (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Feb 2026

Abstract

This research explores the connection between symbolic language and how emotions are portrayed in Taylor Swift’s selected songs: The Prophecy and The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived. Based on a descriptive qualitative approach, this investigation aims to explore how rhetorical devices, including metaphors, personification, irony, and hyperbole, serve as methods for conveying complex emotional states. The results suggest that within "The Prophecy," Swift utilizes metaphors, religious references, and reiteration to illustrate feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and acceptance of destiny. In contrast, "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" depends on the use of irony, overstatement, and explicit descriptions to convey sentiments of treachery, fury, and personal agency. These patterns of figurative speech demonstrate a shift from a state of weakness to one of resilience, indicating that Swift's songwriting leverages symbolic communication not simply to outline feelings but also to represent the development of emotional change in itself. The research determines that the integration of the psychological study of emotions and the linguistic study of figurative language allows for a more profound comprehension of how current songwriters generate significance and emotional impact through innovative lyrical composition.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jelita

Publisher

Subject

Arts Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

This journal aims at covering (but not limited) the fields of: Education: Basic and Intermediate Education, Higher Education, Issues in Education, Educational Theories, Educational Psychology, Educational Philosophy, Teacher Training and Education Science, Curriculum and Materials Development, ...