As a literary device, apostrophe refers to a speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object, such as Yorick
Yorick
Yorick is a character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. He is the dead court jester whose skull is exhumed by the First Gravedigger in Act 5, Scene 1, of the play. It is suggested that Shakespeare may have intended his audience to connect Yorick with the Elizabethan comedian Richard Tarlton, …
What are some literary examples of apostrophe?
What are the 5 examples of apostrophe?
- Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. ( …
- O holy night! …
- Then come, sweet death, and rid me of this grief. ( …
- O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth. ( …
- Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean – roll! ( …
- Welcome, O life!
What are the 10 literary devices?
Here are ten literary magazines open to submissions right now, with no firm deadlines. These publications want everything from horror, to SFF, to social commentary, to anarchist poetry, to Yiddish humor. The sky’s the limit. None charge submission fees ...
How do you write an apostrophe?
To type e apostrophe in Word using the alt code:
- Launch your Word document.
- Place the insertion pointer where you want to type the apostrophe e.
- Press and hold the Alt key.
- Type the Alt code (0233 or 0201)using the numeric keypad.
- Release the Alt key.
What are the most popular literary devices?
What are literary devices and examples?
- Metaphor. Metaphors, also known as direct comparisons, are one of the most common literary devices.
- Simile.
- Imagery.
- Symbolism.
- Personification.
- Hyperbole.
- Irony.
- Juxtaposition.
What is an apostrophe and examples?
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used in contractions to replace missing letters. The contraction "we'll" stands for "we will," with the apostrophe replacing "wi." It can also show possession, as in "Mary's car." The apostrophe indicates the car belongs to Mary.
Why is apostrophe literary device used?
The purpose of an apostrophe in literature is to direct the reader's attention to something other than the person who's speaking. Apostrophes frequently target an absent person or a third party. Other times, they focus on an inanimate object, a place, or even an abstract idea. They'll often begin with an exclamation.
What are 5 examples of apostrophe?
A few apostrophe examples below:I am – I'm: “I'm planning to write a book someday.”You are – You're: “You're going to have a lot of fun with your new puppy.”She is – She's: “She's always on time.”It is – It's: “I can't believe it's snowing again.”Do not – Don't: “I don't like anchovies.”More items...
What are the 10 examples of apostrophe?
ExamplesIt's a nice day outside. ( contraction)The cat is dirty. Its fur is matted. ( possession)You're not supposed to be here. ( contraction)This is your book. ( possession)Who's at the door? ( contraction)Whose shoes are these? ( possession)They're not here yet. ( contraction)Their car is red. ( possession)More items...
Is apostrophe a kind of personification?
The difference between personification and apostrophe is that personification gives human qualities to animals, objects, and ideas, while apostrophe has characters talking aloud to objects and ideas as if they were human.
What is apostrophe technique?
As a literary device, an apostrophe is a poetic phrase or speech made by a character that is addressed to a subject that is not literally present in the literary work. The subject may be dead, absent, an inanimate object, or even an abstract idea.
What are the 3 Uses of apostrophe?
Forming Possessive Nouns. Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas. When we want to show that a noun has possession of something, we use an apostrophe. ... Showing Omission of Letters or Numbers. To omit means to leave something out. ... Forming Strange Plurals. We always use these to show plurals of lowercase letters.
What is apostrophe used for in poetry?
An address to a dead or absent person, or personification as if he or she were present. In his Holy Sonnet “Death, be not proud,” John Donne denies death's power by directly admonishing it.
Where is apostrophe used?
An apostrophe is a small punctuation mark ( ' ) placed after a noun to show that the noun owns something. The apostrophe will always be placed either before or after an s at the end of the noun owner. Always the noun owner will be followed (usually immediately) by the thing it owns. 2.
What is an apostrophe in speech?
Figures of Speech: The Apostrophe as a Literary Device. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. In addition to being a punctuation mark, an apostrophe is a figure of speech in which some absent or nonexistent ...
What is the meaning of the apostrophe in the figure of speech?
As a form of direct address to an inanimate object, apostrophe serves to further poetic imagery and often emphasizes the emotional weight of objects in our everyday world . The figure of speech serves a vital function in everyone from Mary Shelley's works ( "Scoffing devil! Again do I vow vengeance" from "Frankenstein" to Simon & Garfunkel's hit smash "The Sound of Silence" ("Hello darkness, my old friend,/I’ve come to talk with you again").
What is an apostrophe in a persuasive essay?
An apostrophe is a form of personification that essayist Brendan McGuigan describes in "Rhetorical Devices" as "a forceful, emotional device" most ideally used in "creative writing and persuasive essays that lean heavily on emotional strength.".
What does Edgar Allen Poe say about the raven?
In Edgar Allen Poe's works, he distinctly speaks to a raven sitting "upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door as if it could understand him in the poem of the same name, and in the poem "To One in Paradise," he starts out addressing his love (absent from the scene) thus: "Thou wast all that to me, love. ".
When was the star written?
To provide a bit of context, look no further than the famous poem by Jane Taylor turned modern-day nursery rhyme "The Star," written in 1806, which calls out to the celestial body of a star saying, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star,/How I wonder what you are.".
What is an Apostrophe?
An apostrophe is a literary device in which the speaker addresses either an absent person or a non-human object, idea, or being and is commonly found in plays and poems.
Purpose of Apostrophe in Literature
Playwrights and poets employ apostrophes for several reasons, including allowing a character or speaker to address someone who is not present, philosophize on an abstract concept, or address a part of nature.
Apostrophe Examples in Literature
Writers have used apostrophes since ancient times and by many well-known writers of the English-language literary tradition. William Shakespeare frequently made use of the apostrophe in his characters' speeches. In a famous scene from the play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet delivers a soliloquy on her balcony, which begins with the following line:
Apostrophe Examples in Poetry
In poetry, apostrophes are often used to address abstract concepts or parts of nature. They are a common feature of odes; poems addressed to a particular subject in heightened language and elegies lament the dead. In John Donne's Sonnet Death, be not proud he personifies and addresses death:
Why is the apostrophe in "To the Reader" an example?
Beaudelaire's poem "To The Reader" may therefore be considered an example of apostrophe, because Beaudelaire describes the reader and makes him come to life, addressing him directly at the end:
What is an apotrophe in writing?
Apostrophe often involves the speaker or writer addressing an inanimate object or abstract idea. In doing so, the speaker or writer will often impart to the object human characteristics. The object, in other words, gets personified. Take these two lines from William Wordsworth's "Prelude":
What are the apostrophes in a sentence?
Some additional key details about apostrophe: 1 Apostrophe, the figure of speech, should not be confused with apostrophe, the punctuation mark. 2 The word "apostrophe," which comes from ancient Greek, literally means "turning away," because to perform apostrophe on stage, an actor turns away from the scene to address an absent entity. 3 An apostrophe is often introduced by the exclamation "O," as when Juliet cries out: "O Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo?" 4 Apostrophe appears most often in poetry and plays, though it can appear in prose literature as well. 5 Apostrophe always addresses its object in the second person. Sometimes this address involves the word "you" or the more formal "thou." Other times the "you" is not included, as when the narrator of Herman Melville's story Bartleby, the Scrivener ends his tale with the despairing apostrophe: "Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity!"
What is an apostrophe and an aversion?
Though everyone agrees that apostrophe is a form of address to a silent listener, some scholars insist that apostrophe must involve what they call an "aversion," a turning away from an original audience to then address the subject of the apostrophe.
What does the apostrophe mean in the figure of speech?
The word "apostrophe," which comes from ancient Greek, literally means "turning away, " because to perform apostrophe on stage, an actor turns away from the scene to address an absent entity.
How does Wordsworth personify the cliffs and islands?
Here, in addition to performing an apostrophe in which the speaker addresses the cliffs and islands, Wordsworth personifies those cliffs and islands by imagining them as capable of knowing someone. However, though apostrophe often involves personification of inanimate objects or abstract ideas, it certainly doesn't always.
What is an apotrophe?
Here’s a quick and simple definition: Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses someone (or something) that is not present or cannot respond in reality. The entity being addressed can be an absent, dead, or imaginary person, but it can also be an inanimate object (like stars or the ocean), ...
What is the other kind of apostrophe?
What to Know. As a literary device, apostrophe refers to a speech or address to a person who is not present or to a personified object, such as Yorick's skull in Hamlet. It comes from the Greek word apostrephein which means "to turn away.".
What is an apostrophe in rhetoric?
If you study drama or rhetoric, you will be familiar with an entirely different idea of apostrophe —that is, the making of a speech or address to an absent person or a thing that is personified (such as Death).
What is an epistrophe in a sentence?
Micawber has; capital, Mr. Micawber has not.". Epistrophe is the repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses (such as Abraham Lincoln's "of the people, by the people, for the people").
Where did the word "apostrophe" come from?
Origin of 'Apostrophe'. The words for both the punctuation mark and the dramatic device come from a Greek verb, apostrephein, meaning “to turn away.”. But they took slightly different paths en route to English, with the dramatic device passing through Latin and the punctuation through Late Latin and French.
What is the punctuation mark for "s"?
You are already familiar with the punctuation mark known as the apostrophe. It’s used chiefly in tandem with an s to indicate possession (as in Joe’s car) or in contractions to stand in for letters that are elided (as in couldn’t or you’ll ).
What is an apostrophe in literature?
Apostrophe in Literature: Examples, Meaning, and Purpose. Just as it does in punctuation, an apostrophe in literature often marks something that is left out. In the case of apostrophe as a literary device, the thing that’s left out is a character, place, object, or something else that is not part of the action of the story or ...
What is an apostrophe in a play?
Apostrophe is commonly used in plays, but you’ll also see it in many types of poetry and even in novels. The following examples can help you understand the concept and identify it when you see it. O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman. In this famous poem, Walt Whitman uses apostrophe to great effect.
Why do we use apostrophes in writing?
Apostrophe also offers a way for the writer to personify a concept or object.
What does the apostrophe mean in Walt Whitman's poem?
The speaker is talking to a captain who has died. This is a metaphor for the death of Abraham Lincoln, and it’s a poem about loss and the absence of a great leader. The use of apostrophe makes that absence palpable for the reader.
Which Shakespeare play uses an apostrophe?
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare uses apostrophe in many of his plays, but one of the most notable is Romeo and Juliet. In this passage, Juliet speaks to the dagger, making it a highly noticeable and important part of the scene.
Why does Mary Shelley use an apostrophe in Frankenstein?
In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses apostrophe to add poetic beauty and make the setting appear more powerful. Here, her speaker talks directly to the clouds and stars, drawing the reader’s attention to those things.
What is the purpose of an apostrophe in literature?
What is the format of literary apostrophe? The purpose of an apostrophe in literature is to direct the reader’s attention to something other than the person who’s speaking. Apostrophes frequently target an absent person or a third party. Other times, they focus on an inanimate object, a place, or even an abstract idea.
When were apostrophes used in literature?
Apostrophes in literature were used a lot in the early 1900s and before, but today they’re much less common. Sometimes you’ll still see them in poems, plays, and songs. You’ve definitely heard them in everyday speech.
What does an apostrophe mean in a song?
Apostrophe to a thing. Apostrophes to inanimate objects can create strong imagery. Songwriters tend to do this a lot. The song “Blue Moon,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, starts with an apostrophe to the moon: “Blue moon / You saw me standing alone / Without a dream in my heart.”.
What does an apostrophe address?
Apostrophe to an idea. Apostrophes can also address an abstract idea, like love. In Shakespeare’s King Lear, there’s one addressed to the concept of ingratitude: “Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, / More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child / Than the sea-monster.”.
What is an apostrophe?
Apostrophe. This could be a person they know or don’t know someone who is alive or dead, or someone who never existed at all. It might also be a non-human animal, an abstracted, but personified force, or even an object. Often, this technique is used when a speaker addresses a god or group of gods. These disparate recipients ...
What is the apostrophe in Romeo and Juliet?
It occurs towards the end of the play at the climax after Juliet has woken up from her deep sleep and found Romeo dead. Rather than go on living she decides to kill herself.
Why does Juliet talk to the dagger?
She speaks directly the dagger she is about to kill herself with. It is “happy,” she says. This is in reference to the ironic joy it will take in her death. Juliet feels completely alone in the world and by talking to the dagger she is able to explain her intentions and direct some of her sorrow outward.
What is an extended metaphor?
An extended metaphor is a literary term that refers to a long metaphorical comparison that can last an entire poem. Catastrophe. A catastrophe is a turning point in a story, usually a tragedy, in which something terrible happens to the main character/s. Parenthesis.
What is trope in literature?
A trope, in literature, is the use of figurative language to make descriptions more evocative and interesting. Byronic. The term “Byronic” is used to describe anything that exhibits the characteristics of Lord Byron’s writing or evokes the type of life he led. Penny Dreadful.
Why do writers use personification?
As with techniques such as personification and anthropomorphism, it helps the reader empathize with the recipient of the speaker’s words and understand it/them better.
Where does the word "apostrophe" come from?
The word “apostrophe” comes from the Greek meaning “turning back”. It was a technique used in works like Homer’s Odyssey. In these examples the narrator reasserts himself into the story, adding commentary or addressing a character, or even a god.
What does an apostrophe mean in a literary device?
As mentioned earlier, this refers to a fictional character’s reference to an addressee who is not physically present in the scene. You may also check out meiosis examples.
Why is it important to use an apostrophe in literature?
The Greeks who basically invented everything we now appreciate in this world (literature, art, and architecture, to name a few), used apostrophe as a part of the storytelling technique they used for their drama.
What is an apostrophe in writing?
A writer or the literary speaker who uses apostrophe is directly speaking to someone who is either not physically present, to someone who is dead, or to an inanimate object.
What does it mean when a poem has an apostrophe?
When you read a novel or a poem and the writer starts talking directly to abstract concepts like love, death, or hope as if they are standing right in front of them, if you do not know, you are seeing a speech example of an apostrophe. To know more, you may look at these apostrophe samples first.
Why do writers use apostrophes?
By using an apostrophe in literary works, writers can effectively bring abstract ideas and even nonexistent persons to life, so that the emotions they want to communicate can have a medium which can help make the reader more empathetic toward the sentiments since it is being felt and expressed by a character. You might be interested in simile examples for kids.
What does Donne mean by "die not poor death"?
In this poem, Donne is directly addressing Death as if it is a person any of us can see. (Apostrophe alert.)
When to use an apostrophe in a play?
The apostrophe is used back then in cases where the writer uses an omniscient third-person point of view in his writing. The technique can be seen in most plays, but it can also be observed in a few poetry and prose pieces.
Common Examples of Apostrophe in Everyday Speech
- When we “speak” to something that is inanimate, abstract, or absent, we are using apostrophe. People may do this internally or by speaking aloud. Here are some common examples of apostrophe in everyday speech: 1. Love, who needs you? 2. Come on phone, give me a ring! 3. C…
Examples of Apostrophe in Song Lyrics
- Apostrophe is often utilized in song lyricsas a means of addressing something that is inanimate or an abstract idea. This adds to a song’s entertainment value and meaning for the listener. Here are some examples of apostrophe in well-known song lyrics: 1. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star/ How I wonder what you are 2. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree / How lovely are thy branches 3. He…
Examples of Apostrophe in Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare utilized apostrophe in many of his plays as a device to allow characters to convey their emotions and/or internal viewpoints. By allowing the speaker to express their thoughts and feelings to an absent or inanimate “third party,” the audience becomes more aware of the character’s motivationsand personal truth. Here are some examples of apostrophe in Sha…
Difference Between Apostrophe as Literary Device and Punctuation
- Most people have heard of apostrophe in terms of punctuation. As a punctuation mark, an apostrophe indicates possession (the student’s book) or an intentional omission of letters or numbers (they’re studying). Though it may appear that apostrophe as punctuation is entirely different from apostrophe as a literary device, there is a similar foundation to their functions. A li…
Examples of Apostrophe in Literature
- As a literary device, apostrophe is used in literature to allow a character to speak to an object, abstract idea, absent person, or someone who doesn’t exist as if it is a living, present person. Apostrophe is effective in a literary work for its dramatic effect, to demonstrate the importance of the object, idea, or absent person, and to allow readers to witness a character’s personal and inti…
Apostrophe Definition
Apostrophe Examples
- Examples of Apostrophe in Literature
Apostrophe is found throughout literature: it appears in poetry, prose, and drama, and across all eras from ancient Greek epic poetry through modern times. - Examples of Apostrophe in Song Lyrics
Many different genres of music make use of apostrophe, as it creates a direct emotional attachment between the singer and his or her subject.
Why Do Writers Use Apostrophe?
- Apostrophe is used primarily to express strong emotion (like love, hate, fear, or anger), but it allows the speaker or writer to do so by directly addressing the subject of their thoughts or feelings, which makes the expression less abstract. Speakers or characters may use apostrophe to make an impassioned plea or prayer, to celebrate a happy occas...
Other Helpful Apostrophe Resources
- The Wikipedia entry on apostrophe:on apostrophe: short and sweet, with a bunch of good examples.
- A dictionary definition of apostrophe:This definition covers both the punctuation mark and the figure of speech. It also provides a brief etymology of the word.
- Macbeth's apostrophe to the dagger:Macbeth, played by Patrick Stewart, addresses his visio…
- The Wikipedia entry on apostrophe:on apostrophe: short and sweet, with a bunch of good examples.
- A dictionary definition of apostrophe:This definition covers both the punctuation mark and the figure of speech. It also provides a brief etymology of the word.
- Macbeth's apostrophe to the dagger:Macbeth, played by Patrick Stewart, addresses his vision of a dagger.
