Abstract

Defamiliarization refers to the technique of presenting works of art through deviations in convention to create tension, astonishment, or strangeness to produce new perceptions and foster creativity. This article aims to explain the defamiliarization forms found in the novel Ayah, written by Andrea Hirata, as a medium for appreciation and as a bridge between the readers’ understanding and the author’s intent. Data collected in this study were in the form of words, sentences, paragraphs, symbols, ideas, expressions, or language styles that indicate defamiliarization. Mile and Huberman’s interactive model consisting of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing was used in the data analysis. Analysis results show that the novel Ayah contains seven defamiliarization forms: using a zigzag plot structure; using contradictive gender stereotype to develop ideas; elaborating ideas on the basis of everyday matters; selecting the characters’ names on the basis of their personalities; creating new expressions; integrating poetry into stories; and using an analogy to create humor.