When do you use an apostrophe literary term?

Answer 1

There 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.

Answer 2

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).

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

"Let us not look back" (Hawthorne 190).