Figurative Languages on Edith Nesbit’ The Railway Children: A Content Analysis
Keywords:
moral message, The Railway Children, figurative languageAbstract
Figurative language encompasses the use of words or expressions that deviate from their literal meanings to convey more complex, vivid, and imaginative ideas. Moral messages are the ethical lessons or principles communicated through narrative elements, reflecting societal values and encouraging reflective thought. Edith Nesbit's novel, “The Railway Children,” is a rich text for examining these literary devices and their impact on readers. The objective of this research is to explore the figurative language used by E. Nesbit in novel "The Railway Children”, and to investigate the moral message of “The Railway Children” novel. Employing a qualitative content analysis methodology, the study scrutinizes Nesbit's stylistic techniques and their contributions to narrative richness and ethical instruction. The findings of this study reveal that “The Railway Children” incorporates eight distinct types of figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and personifications, which significantly enhance the narrative's vividness and emotional resonance. Additionally, the novel conveys multiple moral messages, emphasizing themes such as family solidarity, resilience, and compassion, tby affirming its pedagogical value and sustained relevance in literary studies.
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