Detachment. Inversion. Percolation. Parenthesis.

A specific arrangement of sentence members is observed in detachment, a stylistic device based on singling out a secondary member of the sentence with the help of punctuation (intonation). The word-order here is not violated, but secondary members obtain their own stress and intonation because they are detached from the rest of the sentence by commas, dashes or even a full stop as in the following cases: "He had been nearly killed, ingloriously, in a jeep accident." (I. Sh.) "I have to beg you for money. Daily." (S. L.) Both "ingloriously" and "daily" remain adverbial modifiers, occupy their proper normative places, following the modified verbs, but-due to detachment and the ensuing additional pause and stress-are foregrounded into the focus of the reader's attention.

By inversion is meant an unusual order of words chosen for emphasis greater expressiveness. The notion of stylistic inversion is broader than the notion of inversion in grammar, where it generally relates only to the position of subject and predicate. Thus, in stylistics it may include the postposition of an adjective in an attributive phrase: Little boy blue, Come blow your horn (Nursery rhyme). It may also refer to a change in the standard position of all other members of the sentence (Subject - Predicate - Object). Thus, in poetic language secondary members (object, adverbial modifier) may stand before the main members: At your feet I fall. (Drydan)

As for the position of the predicate before subject, we may distinguish cases of:

1) full inversion:

On goes the river

And out post the mill. (Stevenson)

2) cases of partial inversion, usually when an adverbial modifier, object or a predicative begins the sentence and only part of the predicate comes before the subject: Terribly cold it certainly was. (Wilde)

Parenthesis is a stylistic device that comes from a Greek word, meaning to place or alongside. The normal progression of a sentence is interrupted by extra information or explanations enclosed in commas, brackets or dashes. The extra information can be a single word, a phrase or even a sentence. Example: We (myself, wife Lorraine and daughters Caroline and Joanna) boarded our boat 'Lynn', a Duchess class vessel barely a year old, at Black Prince Holidays' Chirk boatyard.

 

Irony. Bathos.

Irony Definition

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between the appearance and the reality.

Types of Irony

On the grounds of the above definition, we distinguish two basic kinds of irony i.e. verbal irony and situational irony. A verbal irony involves what one does not mean. When in response to a foolish idea, we say, “what a great idea!” it is a verbal irony. A situational irony occurs when, for instance, a man is chuckling at the misfortune of the other even when the same misfortune, in complete unawareness, is befalling him.

Common Examples of Irony:

· I posted a video on YouTube about how boring and useless YouTube is.

· The name of Britain’s biggest dog was “Tiny”.

· You laugh at a person who slipped stepping on a banana peel and the next thing you know, you slipped too.

· The butter is as soft as a marble piece.

· “Oh great! Now you have broken my new camera.”

Bathos Definition

Bathos is a literary term derived from a Greek word meaning “depth”. Bathos is when a writer or a poet falls into inconsequential and absurd metaphors, descriptions or ideas in an effort to be increasingly emotional or passionate.

Some confuse with pathos. The term was used by Alexander Pope to explain the blunders committed inadvertently by unskilled writers or poets. However, later on, the comic writers used it intentionally to create humorous effects. The most commonly used Bathos involves a sequence of items that descend from worthiness to silliness.

Example:

The British radio series I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again also provides us with many Bathos examples. John Cleese and Jo Kendall appeared in the roles of a couple whose relationship is on the brink of failure.

MARY: John – once we had something that was pure, and wonderful, and good. What’s happened to it?

JOHN: You spent it all.

When Mary says “something pure and wonderful”, she is actually referring to the deep, sacred, noble form of love. However, the description is vague enough for John to manipulate.

 

Epithet.

Epithet Definition

Epithet is a descriptive literary device that describes a place, a thing or a person in such a way that it helps in making the characteristics of a person, thing or place more prominent than they actually are. Also, it is known as a by-name or descriptive title.

One can find many examples of epithet in Shakespeare’s works. Many of which were his own coinages. Like, “Thou mad mustachio purple-hued maltworms! (Henry IV) and “Death lies on her like an untimely frost. Upon the sweetest flower of all the field…” (Romeo and Juliet).

Types of Epithet:

· Kenning as Epithet:

Kenning examples may also be considered as epithet examples. Kenning is a type of an epithet, which is a two-word phrase that describes an object by employing metaphors.

· The Fixed Epithet:

Fixed epithets are found in epic poetry that involves the repetitive use of a phrase or word for the same object. Such as in Homer’s Odyssey, the wife is “prudent”, Odysseus himself as “many–minded” and their son Telemachus as “sound-minded”.

· Argumentative Epithet:

Expert orators use argumentative epithets. Short arguments use this type of epithet to give hints.

· Epithet used as Smear Word:

An epithet used as a smear word means a derogatory word or name for someone or something.

Example:

“The earth is crying-sweet,

And scattering-bright the air,

Eddying, dizzying, closing round,

With soft and drunken laughter …”

(Beauty and Beauty by Rupert Brooke)

In this excerpt, the description of the air and earth is enhanced by the usage of epithets: crying-sweet, scattering-bright, and soft and drunken laughter. These epithets help in developing imagery in the minds of readers.