An Analysis of Metaphor as a Figurative Language Element in Children’s Literature: A Case Study of The Little Prince

Abstract

This study aims to classify the types of metaphors found in the children’s literature, The Little Prince, and to examine whether these metaphors are appropriate for presentation as children’s literature. The framework of figurative language proposed by Leech (1969) was employed to categorize the metaphors, while the literary elements of children’s literature were analyzed based on the framework of Short, Lynch-Brown, and Tomlinson (2014). The findings reveal that the metaphors in The Little Prince can be classified into three categories: (1) Concretive Metaphors 79.17%, (2) Humanizing Metaphors 12.50%, and (3) Animistic Metaphors 8.33%, with frequencies appearing in descending order. Moreover, the analysis indicates that the metaphors in this text are complex and require interpretative engagement, suggesting that The Little Prince does not fully conform to the characteristics of children’s literature. Instead, it represents philosophical literary work that encourages deeper interpretation, making it more suitable for adult readers than for young readers in its original form.