Antonomasia. Personification.

Antonomasia is a literary term in which a descriptive phrase replaces a person’s name. Antonomasia can range from lighthearted nicknames to epic names.

The phrase antonomasia is derived from the Greek phrase antonomazein meaning “to name differently.”

Oftentimes, antonomasia is used to call attention to a certain characteristic.

Normal sentence:“Oh, look! Sam’s arrived!” Sentence with Antonomasia:“Oh, look! The great chef has arrived!”

Personification Definition

Personification is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings.

For example, when we say, “The sky weeps” we are giving the sky the ability to cry, which is a human quality. Thus, we can say that the sky has been personified in the given sentence.

Function of Personification

Personification adds vividness to expressions as we always look at the world from a human perspective. Writers and poets rely on personification to bring inanimate things to life, so that their nature and actions are understood in a better way. Because it is easier for us to relate to something that is human or that possesses human traits. Its use encourages us to develop a perspective that is new as well as creative.

 

 

Asyndeton. Polysyndeton. Other peculiarities of the connectives.

1/ Asyndeton a figure of speechin which one or severalconjunctionsare omitted from a series of related clauses. (Examples areveni, vidi, viciand its English translation "I came, I saw, I conquered".)

The connection of sentences, phrases or words without any conjunctions is called asyndentic.

Asyndeton helps the author to make each phrase or word sound independent and significant and creates an effect that the enumeration is not completed, a certain rhythmical arrangement, usually making the narrative measured and energetic. e.g. (She watched them go; she said nothing; it was not to begin then.)

2/Polysyndeton is the connection of sentences, phrases or words based on the repetition of conjunctions or prepositions.

The repetition of the conjunction “and” before each word or phrase stresses these enumerated words or phrases. Polysyndeton is sometimes used to retard the action and to create the stylistic effect of suspense. Besides, polysyndeton is one of the means used to create a certain rhythmical effect.

e.g. He put on his coat and found his mug and plate and knife and went outside.

3/ There is a one more peculiar type of connection of sentences which for want of a term we shall call the gap-sentence link (GSL). GSL is a way of connecting two sentences seemingly unconnected and leaving it to the reader's perspicacity to grasp the idea implied, but not worded. Every detail of the situation need not be stated. Some must remain for the reader to divine.

The device of GSL is deeply rowed in the norms of the spoken language. The intonation helps in deciphering the communication.

"She says nothing, but it is clear that she is harping on this engagement, and—goodness knows what." (Galsworthy)

The gap-sentence link requires a certain mental effort to embrace the unexpressed additional information.

The gap-sentence link is indicated by and or but. The gap-sentence link as a stylistic device is based on the peculiarities of the spoken language and is used in represented speech.The gap-sentence link serves to signal the introduction of inner represented speech; it may be used to indicate a subjective evaluation of the facts; it may introduce an effect resulting from a cause which has already had verbal expression. In all these functions GSL displays an unexpected coupling of ideas. GSL aims at stirring up in the reader's mind the suppositions, associations and conditions under which the sentence uttered can really exist.

 

 

Zeugma and pun.

Zeugma Definition Zeugma, from Greek “yoking” or “bonding”, is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas. For instance, in a sentence “John lost his coat and his temper”, the verb “lost” applies to both noun “coat” and “temper”. Losing a coat and losing temper are logically and grammatically different ideas that are brought together in the above-mentioned sentence. Zeugma, when used skillfully, produces a unique artistic effect making the literary works more interesting and effective as it serves to adorn expressions, and to add emphasis to ideas in impressive style.

Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend. (Francis Bacon, Of Studies)

Function of Zeugma it adds flavor to literary texts as it helps produce a dramatic effect, which could possibly be shocking in its result.

Pun Definition A pun is a play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings. Humorous effects created by puns depend upon the ambiguities words entail. The ambiguities arise mostly in homophones and homonyms. For instance, in a sentence “A happy life depends on a liver”, liver can refer to the organ liver or simply the person who lives. Similarly, in a famous saying “Atheism is a non-prophet institution” the word “prophet” is used instead of “profit” to produce a humorous effect. Common Pun Examples In everyday life, pun examples are found intentionally or accidentally used in jokes and witty remarks. Such as: The life of a patient of hypertension is always at steak. Why do we still have troops in Germany? To keep the Russians in Czech. A horse is a very stable animal. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. An elephant’s opinion carries a lot of weight. What is the difference between a conductor and a teacher? The conductor minds the train and a teacher trains the mind.