Apostrophe (figure of speech) explained

Apostrophe (Greek ἀποστροφή, apostrophé, "turning away"; the final e being sounded) is an exclamatory figure of speech.[1] It occurs when a speaker breaks off from addressing the audience (e.g., in a play) and directs speech to a third party such as an opposing litigant or some other individual, sometimes absent from the scene. Often the addressee is a personified abstract quality or inanimate object.[2] [3] In dramatic works and poetry written in or translated into English, such a figure of speech is often introduced by the vocative exclamation, "O". Poets may apostrophize a beloved, the Muses, God or gods, love, time, or any other entity that can't respond in reality.

Examples

See also

Notes and References

  1. Apostrophe. 2. 205. y.
  2. Book: Hays. J. Daniel. Duvall. J. Scott. [{{google books|id=ydz4A4nNHFoC|page=891|plainurl=yes|text=apostrophe}} The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook ]. Text Only. 1 September 2011. Baker Books. 978-1-4412-3785-9. 891.
  3. Book: Ford, Margaret L.. [{{google books|id=E8ft5Ub4r6oC|page=27|plainurl=yes|text=apostrophe}} Techniques of Good Writing]. 8 August 2013. 1984. Irwin Pub. 978-0-7725-5001-9. 27.
  4. Book: Greenblatt, Stephen. Stephen Greenblatt. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8. D. 2006. Norton. New York. 429.
  5. News: Politics of friendship. (Cover Story) . American Imago . September 22, 1993.