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Apostrophe as a literary term denotes a figure of speech in which someone absent, inanimate or dead is addressed as if were alive and present and able to reply.
Cliché example. Warrior: 'Thou sword at my left hand, wilt thou serve me in the coming battle?'
(Note also the phrase to apostrophize the multitude - to talk to a crowd as if did not consist of people ..., to 'shout' at it).
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
An apostrophe in literature is when a character addresses a person or object that is not present or is incapable of responding, such as talking to the dead or an inanimate object. It is used to convey strong emotions or to create a dramatic effect in the text.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThere are two kinds of apostrophe in English.
This question is about the literary term where a non-living thing is spoken to.
For the punctuation mark (the raised comma), see the related question below.
In the poem "The Rising Sun" by John Donne:
"Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains, call on us?"
Donne is personifing the Sun, and addressing it as if it could respond.
Another example of apostrophe is:
"You stupid chair!"
Pretend you hit your toe on a chair. You are talking a non-living object. The definition of apostrophe is: A person not present that is spoken to. Now, a chair is not a person, but another definition just states that apostrophe is when you talk to something that is either not there, or not alive.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago"Let us not look back" (Hawthorne 190).
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What is the literary term for addressing an absent person?
The literary term for addressing an absent person is "apostrophe." It involves directly addressing a person, object, or abstract concept as if they were present and able to respond. This technique is often used to convey strong emotions or to make a point more dramatic or personal.
What is Literary term?
A literary term is what you can use to define the makeup of a story. Sample literary terms include characterization, plot, genre, foreshadowing, and more.
What literary term defines the use of I?
personal pronoun
How do you use it's as a sentence?
The term it's is a contraction of the words it is with an apostrophe, and is often confused with its, which means the possession of a thing, but without an apostrophe.
When to use a apostrophe with will not?
you dont use an apostrophe in will not
How would you use Meiosis in a sentence?
Maybe if you knew the definition of meiosis you would know how to use it in a sentence. It depends what type of meiosis you are talking about...the science term or the literary term. The literary term means underestimating which is the opposite of hyperbole. And speaking of literary terms...I need to get my literature homework done. XO
Do you use an apostrophe for culture's?
you do not use an apostrophe in cultures.
What literary term is used for people who use a phrase too often?
repetitive
What literary term is use in they were As cannons overcharged with double cracks in Macbeth?
Simile
How do they use the literary term foil in Romeo and Juliet?
They don't use the term, but they do use the device. Mercutio is a foil to Romeo in 1,4 and Benvolio is a foil to Mercutio in 3,1.
What is the literary definition of an apostrophe?
The word apostrophe comes from the Greek word "apostrephein" meaning to avert or turn away. It is used to represent the omission of a letter. As a literary term, apostrophe is a figure of speech that is used to represent something that is either dead, absent, or nonhuman and acts as if the subject was present. In short it is a figure of speech that is used when an author speaks directly to an idea, object, quality, or an absent person.
What is a literary term for a small stream?
A literary term for a small stream is "brook."
