Ontological Metaphor in the Knight, the Princess, and the Falling Star

This research paper explores the role of metaphor as a significant stylistic device in the novel "Kesatria, Putri, dan Bintang Jatuh" (KPBJ) by Dee Lestari, with a particular focus on Gal’s formalist ontology (2020). It argues that metaphors are not merely cognitive tools facilitating emotional and conceptual connections but are transformative agents that reconfigure the reality of their subjects through their external, aesthetic, and material properties. By employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the study analyzes original, stock, and dead metaphors, revealing how they enrich narrative depth and convey complex themes. The findings highlight that metaphors create new ontological identities, allowing readers to engage with the text on a sensory and imaginative level. This work contributes to the understanding of figurative language in literature, emphasizing the importance of stylistics in analyzing metaphors and their aesthetic effects, while challenging traditional views that limit metaphors to cognitive mappings. Overall, the research underscores the transformative power of metaphors in shaping both literary meaning and reader experience, advocating for a broader appreciation of their creative potential in literary analysis.