Table of Contents
Introduction
An apostrophe in literature is a rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, an inanimate object, or an abstract concept as though they were present and capable of comprehension.
This article offers a comprehensive exploration of the meaning of apostrophe, accompanied by illustrative examples, starting with a precise definition of this intriguing figure of speech.
What is apostrophe Figure of Speech?
Apostrophe, as a figure of speech, involves a speaker addressing an absent, deceased, or non-human entity as if it were present and capable of responding. This rhetorical device serves to convey intense emotions, often in moments of high tension, passion, or reflection. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the concept with illustrative examples:
Definition:
Apostrophe in literature is a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent, imaginary, or non-human entity as if it were present and capable of understanding or responding.
Examples:
- Addressing the Dead:
- Example: “Oh, Juliet, why did you have to leave us so soon? Your absence is a dagger in our hearts!”
- Talking to Inanimate Objects:
- Example: “O, Sun, thou art too glorious! Shed your light upon this darkness and illuminate our path.”
- Conversing with Abstract Concepts:
- Example: “Love, do not elude me now! Stay, and let your warmth envelop my soul.”
- Appealing to Nature:
- Example: “Storm, rage on! Your fury echoes the turmoil within my heart.”
- Direct Address to the Divine:
- Example: “God, grant me the strength to endure this hardship and emerge stronger on the other side.”
Function of Apostrophe as a Figure of Speech
This stylistic device has various functions:
- Expressive Emotion: Apostrophe allows writers to convey intense emotions by directly addressing entities that may not physically exist or respond, creating a powerful emotional impact on the audience.
- Heightened Dramatic Effect: It is often employed in dramatic works to intensify a scene or emphasize a character’s emotional state, fostering a deeper connection with the audience.
- Symbolic Representation: By addressing abstract concepts or inanimate objects, apostrophe can be used to symbolically represent larger ideas, enhancing the thematic depth of a literary work.
- Reader Engagement: This figure of speech actively involves readers, prompting them to imagine the addressed entity’s response or consider the emotional weight of the speaker’s words.
Examples of Apostrophe from Literature and Pop Culture
Here are examples of apostrophe from various literary works:
William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”:
In these lines from William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Romeo addresses the sun as if it were a person, imploring it to rise and dispel the darkness. This use of direct address to an inanimate object, in this case, the sun, is a clear instance of apostrophe in literature.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
From “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespear
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar:
In the following lines from William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” the speaker is addressing the lifeless body of Julius Caesar, treating it as if it were able to hear and respond. The use of “thou” and the direct appeal to Caesar’s body characterize this as an instance of apostrophe in literature.
“O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
From “Julius Caesar“ ( Act 3, Scene 1) by William Shakespeare
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.”
John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”:
In these lines from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” the speaker is addressing “holy Light” as if it were a person. The use of “Hail” and the direct address to Light personifies it and is characteristic of apostrophe in literature.
Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn,
From “Paradise Lost” by John Milon
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam May I express thee unblam’d? since God is light,
And never but in unapproached light
Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee
Bright effluence of bright essence increate.
Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights”:
In Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights,” Heathcliff is addressing the deceased Catherine Earnshaw as if she were present. He passionately implores her to haunt him and expresses a desire for her presence, showcasing the use of apostrophe to address an absent or deceased person.
“May she wake in torment!” he cried, with frightful vehemence, stamping his foot, and groaning in a sudden paroxysm of ungovernable passion. “Why, she’s a liar to the end! Where is she? Not there — not in heaven — not perished — where? Oh! you said you cared nothing for my sufferings! And I pray one prayer — I repeat it till my tongue stiffens — Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest, as long as I am living! You said I killed you — haunt me, then! The murdered do haunt their murderers. I believe — I know that ghosts have wandered on earth. Be with me always — take any form — drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!”
From “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “To a Skylark”:
In Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “To a Skylark,” the speaker addresses the skylark with the exclamation “Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!” The speaker then goes on to describe the skylark’s qualities and actions as if it were a sentient being.
Hail to thee, blithe Spirit!
From “To a Skylark” by Percy Bysshe Shelley’s
Bird thou never wert,
That from Heaven, or near it,
Pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unpremeditated art.
John Keats’s “Ode to a Grecian Urn”:
In these lines from John Keats’s “Ode to a Grecian Urn,” the speaker addresses the Grecian Urn directly, using “Thou” and describing its qualities. This direct address to an inanimate object characterizes the use of apostrophe in literature.
THOU still unravish’d bride of quietness,
From “Ode to a Grecian Urn” by John Keats
Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fring’d legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstas
Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!”:
In Walt Whitman’s poem “O Captain! My Captain!”, the speaker addresses the deceased Abraham Lincoln, the captain, as if he were alive. The speaker expresses grief, admiration, and longing for the captain’s guidance, embodying the use of apostrophe by directly addressing an absent or deceased figure.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
From “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X:
In John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X, the speaker addresses Death directly, personifying it as if it were a conscious entity. The use of “thou” and the direct communication with Death exemplify the apostrophic element in these lines.
“Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
From “Holy Sonnet” X by John Donne
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.”
Paul Simon’s The Sound of Silence:
The speaker in “The Sounds of Silence” by Paul Simon addresses darkness as if it were a conscious entity with the words “Hello darkness, my old friend.”
“Hello darkness, my old friend
From The Sounds of Silence by Paul Simon.
I’ve come to talk with you again.”
Paul Simon, The Sounds of Silence
Conclusion
In summary, apostrophe is a figure of speech that involves directly addressing absent, imaginary, or non-human entities as if they were present and capable of understanding. It is mainly used to evoke emotions, intensify dramatic moments, and create a profound connection between the speaker and the addressed entity.
Using this figure of speech in your writing adds a layer of expressiveness, allowing for poignant exploration of emotions, emphasizing key themes, and fostering a more engaging and vivid connection with your audience.
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