alliteration [əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən]n(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) the use of the same consonant (consonantal alliteration) or of a vowel, not necessarily the same vowel (vocalic alliteration), at the beginning of each word or each stressed syllable in a line of verse, as in around the rock the ragged rascal ran[from Medieval Latin alliterātiō (from Latin al- (see ad-) + litera letter), on the model of obliterātiō obliteration]
alliterative adj.
lliteration is a term that describes a literary stylistic device. Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close to a row) have the same first consonant sound. For example, “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore” or “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” are both alliterative phrases. In the former, all the words start with the “s” sound, while in the later, the letter “p” takes precedence. Aside from tongue twisters, alliteration is also used in poems, song lyrics, and even store or brand names.
alliterative adj.
lliteration is a term that describes a literary stylistic device. Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close to a row) have the same first consonant sound. For example, “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore” or “Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” are both alliterative phrases. In the former, all the words start with the “s” sound, while in the later, the letter “p” takes precedence. Aside from tongue twisters, alliteration is also used in poems, song lyrics, and even store or brand names.
allusion
A brief, usually indirect reference to a person, place, or event--real or fictional. Adjective: allusive
- "I violated the Noah rule: predicting rain doesn't count; building arks does."
(Warren Buffett)
figurative language
Definition:Figurative language is a word or phrase that departs from everyday literal language for the sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity, or freshness. Metaphor and simile are the two most commonly used figures of speech, but things like hyperbole, synecdoche, puns, andpersonification are also figures of speech."Its fleece was white as snow" is an example of a figurative language from a children's rhyme. In this case, comparing the lamb's fleece to snow helps create a picture of how white Mary's lamb really was.
To discover more examples of figurative language and to test your knowledge, take the quiz on figurative language.
To discover more examples of figurative language and to test your knowledge, take the quiz on figurative language.
free verse
free versen(Literature / Poetry) unrhymed verse without a metrical patternFree verse poems will have no set meter, which is the rhythm of the words, norhyme scheme, or any particular structure. Some poets would find this liberating, being able to whimsically change your mind, while others feel like they could not do a good job in that manner. Robert Frost commented that writing free verse was like "playing tennis without a net."
hyperbole
hy·per·bo·le (h-pûrb-l)n.A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton..
"I was helpless. I did not know what in the world to do. I was quaking from head to foot, and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far."
(Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi")
"I was helpless. I did not know what in the world to do. I was quaking from head to foot, and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far."
(Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi")
imagery
im·age·ry (mj-r)n. pl. im·age·ries
2.a. The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.
When writing descriptive poetry it becomes increasingly necessary to review exactly what imagery is and its innate relevance to poetry as an art form
2.a. The use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.
When writing descriptive poetry it becomes increasingly necessary to review exactly what imagery is and its innate relevance to poetry as an art form
lyric
lyr·ic (lrk)adj.1.a. Of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses subjective thoughts and feelings, often in a songlike style or form.Lyric poetry abounds in Shakespeare’s sonnets. Lyric poetry is one of three genres of poetry; the other two are dramatic and narrative.
metaphor
met·a·phor [met-uh-fawr, -fer] Show IPA
noun1.a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile.
The definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another (Ex.: the curtain of night, “all the world's a stage”)."
A metaphor is distinct from, but related to a simile, which is also a comparison. The primary difference is that a simile uses the word like or as to compare two things, while a metaphor simply suggests that the dissimilar things are the same. If this is confusing, take a look at some of these metaphor examples to get a better understanding of exactly what a metaphor is.
noun1.a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.” Compare mixed metaphor, simile.
The definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another (Ex.: the curtain of night, “all the world's a stage”)."
A metaphor is distinct from, but related to a simile, which is also a comparison. The primary difference is that a simile uses the word like or as to compare two things, while a metaphor simply suggests that the dissimilar things are the same. If this is confusing, take a look at some of these metaphor examples to get a better understanding of exactly what a metaphor is.
mood
mood 1 (md)n.1. A state of mind or emotion.Mood is the way you are feeling at any particular time. It is also the emotional quality of literature, music, or other expressive arts.e
example of common moood
example of common moood
- Aggravated
- Amused
- Angry
- Annoyed
- Anxious
- Apathetic
- Bewildered
- Blissful
- Bouncy
- Calm
- Cheerful
- Complacent
- Confused
- Content
- Cranky
- Crappy
- Crazy
- Curious
- Cynical
- Depressed
- Devious
- Disappointed
- Discontent
- Ditzy
- Dreamy
- Ecstatic
- Energetic
- Enraged
- Enthralled
- Envious
- Excited
- Flirty
- Frustrated
- Giddy
- Giggly
- Gloomy
- Good
- Grateful
- Grumpy
- Guilty
- Happy
- High
- Hopeful
- Impressed
- Indifferent
- Infuriated
- Irate
- Irritated
- Jealous
- Joyful
- Jubilant
- Lazy
- Lethargic
- Listless
- Lonely
- Loved
- Mad
- Melancholy
- Mellow
- Mischievous
- Moody
- Mournful
- Numb
- Optimistic
- Peaceful
- Pessimistic
- Pleased
- Rejected
- Rejuvenated
- Relaxed
- Relieved
- Restless
- Sad
- Satisfied
- Shocked
- Silly
- Smart
- Stressed
- Surprised
- Sympathetic
- Thankful
- Uncomfortable
- Weird
onomatopoeia
on·o·mat·o·poe·ia [on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, ‐mah-tuh‐] Show IPA
noun1.the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by orassociated with its referent.
Common Onomatopoeia Letter CombinationsMany times, you can tell what an onomatopoeic word is describing based on letter combinations contained within the word. These combinations usually come at the beginning, but a few also come at the end.
The following examples have been grouped according to how they are used.
1. Words Related to Water – These words often begin with sp- or dr-. Words that indicate a small amount of liquid often end in -le (sprinkle/drizzle).
water plops into pond
splish-splash downhill
warbling magpies in tree
trilling, melodic thrill
whoosh, passing breeze
flags flutter and flap
frog croaks, bird whistles
babbling bubbles from tap
2. Words Related to the Voice – Sounds that come from the back of the throat tend to start with a gr- sound whereas sounds that come out of the mouth through the lips, tongue and teeth begin with mu-.
My senses tell me hubba
And I just can't disagree.
I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . .
It's sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine
Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape
Clink, clank, clunk, clatter
Crash, bang, beep, buzz
Ring, rip, roar, retch
Twang, toot, tinkle, thud
Pop, plop, plunk, pow
Snort, snuck, sniff, smack
Screech, splash, squish, squeak
Jingle, rattle, squeal, boing
Honk, hoot, hack, belch."
(Todd Rundgren, "Onomatopoeia")
noun1.the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by orassociated with its referent.
Common Onomatopoeia Letter CombinationsMany times, you can tell what an onomatopoeic word is describing based on letter combinations contained within the word. These combinations usually come at the beginning, but a few also come at the end.
The following examples have been grouped according to how they are used.
1. Words Related to Water – These words often begin with sp- or dr-. Words that indicate a small amount of liquid often end in -le (sprinkle/drizzle).
- bloop
- splash
- spray
- sprinkle
- squirt
- drip
- drizzle
water plops into pond
splish-splash downhill
warbling magpies in tree
trilling, melodic thrill
whoosh, passing breeze
flags flutter and flap
frog croaks, bird whistles
babbling bubbles from tap
2. Words Related to the Voice – Sounds that come from the back of the throat tend to start with a gr- sound whereas sounds that come out of the mouth through the lips, tongue and teeth begin with mu-.
- giggle
- growl
- grunt
- gurgle
- mumble
- murmur
- bawl
- belch
- chatter
- blurt
- bam
- bang
- clang
- clank
- clap
- clatter
- click
- clink
- ding
- jingle
- screech
- slap
- thud
- thump
- flutter
- fisst
- fwoosh
- gasp
- swish
- swoosh
- whiff
- whoosh
- whizz
- whip
- whisper
- arf
- baa
- bark
- bray
- buzz
- cheep
- chirp
- chortle
- cluck
- cock-a-doodle-doo
- cuckoo
- hiss
- meow
- moo
- neigh
- oink
- purr
- quack
- ribbit
- tweet
- warble
- "Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-dong. The little train rumbled over the tracks."("Watty Piper" [Arnold Munk], The Little Engine That Could)
- "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is." (slogan of Alka Seltzer, U.S.)
My senses tell me hubba
And I just can't disagree.
I get a feeling in my heart that I can't describe. . .
It's sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine
Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape
Clink, clank, clunk, clatter
Crash, bang, beep, buzz
Ring, rip, roar, retch
Twang, toot, tinkle, thud
Pop, plop, plunk, pow
Snort, snuck, sniff, smack
Screech, splash, squish, squeak
Jingle, rattle, squeal, boing
Honk, hoot, hack, belch."
(Todd Rundgren, "Onomatopoeia")
oxymoron
ox·y·mo·ron (ks-môrn, -mr-)n. pl. ox·y·mo·ra (-môr, -mr) or ox·y·mo·ronsA rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
Oxymorons from Everyday LifeWhether you know it or not, you have probably used some, or at least heard, some oxymorons in your every day life.
Oxymorons from Everyday LifeWhether you know it or not, you have probably used some, or at least heard, some oxymorons in your every day life.
- Great Depression
- Jumbo shrimp
- Cruel to be kind
- Pain for pleasure
- Clearly confused
- Act naturally
- Beautifully painful
- Painfully beautiful
- Deafening silence
- Pretty ugly
- Pretty fierce
- Pretty cruel
- Definitely maybe
- Living dead
- Walking dead
- Only choice
- Amazingly awful
- Alone together
- Virtual reality
- Random order
- Original copy
- Happy sad
- Disgustingly delicious
- Run slowly
- Awfully good
- Awfully delicious
- Small crowd
- Dark light
- Light darkness
- Dark snow
- Open secret
- Passive aggressive
- Appear invisible
- Awfully lucky
- Awfully pretty
- Big baby
- Tiny elephant
- Wake up dead
- Goodbye reception
- Growing smaller
- Least favorite
- True myth
- Typically weird
- Typically odd
- Naturally strange
- Weirdly normal
- Unpopular celebrity
- Worthless gold
- Sad joy
- Liquid food
- Heavy diet
- Noticeable absence
- Quiet presence
- Short wait
- Sweet agony
paradox
par·a·dox (pr-dks)n.1. A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking.Paradox Concept: Starts with ShrimpStarting with some very basic examples of paradox will lead to the examination of how and why paradox is used in literature.
One of the most well known examples that teachers frequently use to introduce the idea of a paradox is a "jumbo shrimp." Certainly, "jumbo" and "shrimp" are contradictory statements. However, that is merely an introductory example, since a shrimp can certainly be jumbo sized in comparison to other smaller shrimp. Still, it is an appropriate starting point for students who are new to the concept of paradox.
Here are some more examples of paradox in simple forms in order to further define the term "paradox":
One of the most well known examples that teachers frequently use to introduce the idea of a paradox is a "jumbo shrimp." Certainly, "jumbo" and "shrimp" are contradictory statements. However, that is merely an introductory example, since a shrimp can certainly be jumbo sized in comparison to other smaller shrimp. Still, it is an appropriate starting point for students who are new to the concept of paradox.
Here are some more examples of paradox in simple forms in order to further define the term "paradox":
- You can save money by spending it.
- I'm nobody.
- "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw
- Wise fool
- Bittersweet
- "I can resist anything but temptation."-Oscar Wilde
- I'm a compulsive liar- am I lying when I say that?
- A rich man is no richer than a poor man.
- Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded.
- You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim.
- If you didn't get this message, call me.
- The person who wrote something so stupid can't write at all
- Men work together whether they work together or apart. - Robert Frost
- Be cruel to be kind
- The beginning of the end
- Drowning in the fountain of eternal life
- Deep down, you're really shallow.
personification
per·son·i·fi·ca·tion (pr-sn-f-kshn)n.1. The act of personifying.
50 Ways to Use PersonificationThe following sentences use the personification technique. See if you can identify which part of the word or phrase is the personification. The answers are below:
50 Ways to Use PersonificationThe following sentences use the personification technique. See if you can identify which part of the word or phrase is the personification. The answers are below:
- The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.
- The run down house appeared depressed.
- The first rays of morning tiptoed through the meadow.
- She did not realize that opportunity was knocking at her door.
- He did not realize that his last chance was walking out the door.
- The bees played hide and seek with the flowers as they buzzed from one to another.
- The wind howled its mighty objection.
- The snow swaddled the earth like a mother would her infant child.
- The river swallowed the earth as the water continued to rise higher and higher.
- Time flew and before we knew it, it was time for me to go home.
- The ocean waves lashed out at the boat and the storm continued to brew.
- My computer throws a fit every time I try to use it.
- The thunder grumbled like an old man.
- The flowers waltzed in the gentle breeze.
- Her life passed her by.
- The sun glared down at me from the sky.
- The moon winked at me through the clouds above.
- The wind sang through the meadow.
- The car was suffering and was in need of some TLC.
- At precisely 6:30 am my alarm clock sprang to life.
- The window panes were talking as the wind blew through them.
- The ocean danced in the moonlight.
- The words appeared to leap off of the paper as she read the story.
- The phone awakened with a mighty ring.
- The funeral raced by me in a blur.
- While making my way to my car, it appeared to smile at me mischievously.
- The car, painted lime green, raced by screaming for attention.
- The butterflies in the meadow seemed to two-step with one another.
- The waffle jumped up out of the toaster.
- The popcorn leapt out of the bowl.
- When the DVD went on sale, it flew off the shelves.
- I tripped because the curb jumped out in front of me.
- Time creeps up on you.
- The news took me by surprise.
- The fire ran wild.
- The thunder clapped angrily in the distance.
- The tornado ran through town without a care.
- The door protested as it opened slowly.
- The evil tree was lurking in the shadows.
- The tree branch moaned as I swung from it.
- Time marches to the beat of its own drum.
- The storm attacked the town with great rage.
- My life came screeching to a halt.
- The baseball screamed all the way into the outfield.
- The blizzard swallowed the town.
- The tsunami raced towards the coastline.
- The avalanche devoured everything in its path.
- The pistol glared at me from its holster.
- The car beckoned me from across the showroom.
- I could hear Hawaii calling my name.
repetition
rep·e·ti·tion (rp-tshn)n.1. The act or process or an instance of repeating or being repeated.nswer:
Fourteen examples of repetition and where it was used are:
"My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain."
(William Shakespeare, Richard III)
"I want her to live. I want her to breathe. I want her to aerobicize."
(Weird Science, 1985)
"A kleptomaniac is a person who helps himself because he can't help himself."
(Henry Morgan)
"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space."
(Douglass Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979)
"A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
And no one can talk to a horse of course
That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed."
(Theme song of 1960s TV program Mr. Ed)
"Swallow, my sister, O sister swallow,
How can thine heart be full of the spring?"
(Algernon Charles Swinburne, "Itylus")
"And I looked upwards, and there stood a man upon the summit of the rock; and I hid myself among the water-lilies that I might discover the actions of the man. . . .
"And the man sat upon the rock, and leaned his head upon his hand, and looked out upon the desolation. . . . And I lay close within shelter of the lilies, and observed the actions of the man. And the man trembled in the solitude;--but the night waned, and he sat upon the rock."
(Edgar Allan Poe, "Silence")
"The man who stood, who stood on sidewalks, who stood facing streets, who stood with his back against store windows or against the walls of buildings, never asked for money, never begged, never put his hand out."
(Gordon Lish, "Sophistication")
"If you think you can win, you can win."
(William Hazlitt)
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised."
(Jack Sparrow, The Pirates of the Caribbean)
"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."
(Henri Bergson)
"If it wasn't in Vogue, it wasn't in vogue."
(promotional slogan for Vogue magazine)
"I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."
(George W. Bush, April 2006)
rhyme scheme
rhyme schemen.The arrangement of rhymes in a poem or stanza.
Whose woods these are I think I know - a
His house is in the village though - a
He will not see me stopping here - b
To watch his woods fill up with snow -a
rhyme scheme: a-a-b-a
another example:
Let me not in the marriage of true minds - a
admit impediments love is not love - b
when it alters when it alteration finds - a
or bends with the remover to remove - b
rhyme scheme: a-b-a-b
another example:
tiger, tiger burning bright - a
in the forest of the night - a
what immortal hand or eye - b
could frame thy fearful symmetry - b
rhyme scheme: a-a-b-b
N.B. Shakespearean sonnets follow a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b / c-d-c-d / e-f-e-f / g-g
Whose woods these are I think I know - a
His house is in the village though - a
He will not see me stopping here - b
To watch his woods fill up with snow -a
rhyme scheme: a-a-b-a
another example:
Let me not in the marriage of true minds - a
admit impediments love is not love - b
when it alters when it alteration finds - a
or bends with the remover to remove - b
rhyme scheme: a-b-a-b
another example:
tiger, tiger burning bright - a
in the forest of the night - a
what immortal hand or eye - b
could frame thy fearful symmetry - b
rhyme scheme: a-a-b-b
N.B. Shakespearean sonnets follow a rhyme scheme of a-b-a-b / c-d-c-d / e-f-e-f / g-g
rhythm
rhythm (rm)n.1. Movement or variation characterized by the regular recurrence or alternation of different quantities or conditions: the rhythm of the tides.Here are some poems that Rhyme >:(
The wind in her hair over there
The chair that sat with her hair
Eyes on eyes
Fire and lye
in the river sky on I
Roses are red (or white)
Violets are blue
in the sky
i will tell you buy
Hello! im special im dumb. Rhythm is the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables in language. So an example of rhythm in poetry would be anything written in Iambic Pentameter (stressed syllable, followed by unstressed, five syllables per line). I would try Shakespeare because almost everything he writes is in this form. Rhyme on the other hand is the repetition of accented vowel sounds and sound following them in words that are close together in a poem, and is completely different from rhythm.
The wind in her hair over there
The chair that sat with her hair
Eyes on eyes
Fire and lye
in the river sky on I
Roses are red (or white)
Violets are blue
in the sky
i will tell you buy
Hello! im special im dumb. Rhythm is the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables in language. So an example of rhythm in poetry would be anything written in Iambic Pentameter (stressed syllable, followed by unstressed, five syllables per line). I would try Shakespeare because almost everything he writes is in this form. Rhyme on the other hand is the repetition of accented vowel sounds and sound following them in words that are close together in a poem, and is completely different from rhythm.
simile
sim·i·le noun \ˈsi-mə-(ˌ)lē\
Definition of SIMILE: a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as (as in cheeks like roses) — comparemetaphorA simile is an easy way to compare two things, so examples of simile poems include any poem that makes comparisons using the words "like," "as," or "than." As long as you compare one thing to another, whether or not the two things you are comparing are actually alike or not, you can consider it a simile poem.
Definition of SIMILE: a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as (as in cheeks like roses) — comparemetaphorA simile is an easy way to compare two things, so examples of simile poems include any poem that makes comparisons using the words "like," "as," or "than." As long as you compare one thing to another, whether or not the two things you are comparing are actually alike or not, you can consider it a simile poem.
stanza
A stanza can also be better understood as one paragraph in the poem.
anzaStanza #1Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, (line 1)
And sorry I could not travel both (line 2)
And be one traveler, long I stood (line 3)
And looked down one as far as I could (line 4)
To where it bent in the undergrowth; (line 5)
Stanza #2Then took the other, as just as fair (line 6)
And having perhaps the better claim, (line 7)
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; (line 8)
Though as for that, the passing there (line 9)
Had worn them really about the same, (line 10)
Stanza #3And both that morning equally lay (line 11)
In leaves no step had trodden black (line 12)
Oh, I kept the first for another day! (line 13)
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, (line 14)
I doubted if I should ever come back. (line 15)
Stanza #4I shall be telling this with a sigh (line 16)
Somewhere ages and ages hence: (line 17)
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I (line 18)
I took the one less traveled by, (line 19)
And that has made all the difference. (line 20)
anzaStanza #1Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, (line 1)
And sorry I could not travel both (line 2)
And be one traveler, long I stood (line 3)
And looked down one as far as I could (line 4)
To where it bent in the undergrowth; (line 5)
Stanza #2Then took the other, as just as fair (line 6)
And having perhaps the better claim, (line 7)
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; (line 8)
Though as for that, the passing there (line 9)
Had worn them really about the same, (line 10)
Stanza #3And both that morning equally lay (line 11)
In leaves no step had trodden black (line 12)
Oh, I kept the first for another day! (line 13)
Yet knowing how way leads on to way, (line 14)
I doubted if I should ever come back. (line 15)
Stanza #4I shall be telling this with a sigh (line 16)
Somewhere ages and ages hence: (line 17)
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I (line 18)
I took the one less traveled by, (line 19)
And that has made all the difference. (line 20)
symbol
sym·bol [sim-buhl] Show IPA noun, verb, sym·boled, sym·bol·ing or ( especially British )sym·bolled, sym·bol·ling.
noun1.something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representingsomething, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
Symbolism is the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea. An action, person, place, word, or object can all have a symbolic meaning. When an author wants to suggest a certain mood or emotion, he can also use symbolism to hint at it, rather than just blatantly saying it.
noun1.something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representingsomething, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
Symbolism is the practice or art of using an object or a word to represent an abstract idea. An action, person, place, word, or object can all have a symbolic meaning. When an author wants to suggest a certain mood or emotion, he can also use symbolism to hint at it, rather than just blatantly saying it.
tone
tone [tohn] Show IPA noun, verb, toned, ton·ing.
noun1.any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc.: shrill tones.
Tone gives shape and life to literature, because it is through tone that the attitude and mood of a work are created and presented. Tone gives voice to the characters, both literally and figuratively. Through tone, the reader is able to learn about a character's personality and disposition. However, the tone also shapes the work as a whole, and whether the piece should be read as a serious, funny, dramatic or upsetting.
noun1.any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc.: shrill tones.
Tone gives shape and life to literature, because it is through tone that the attitude and mood of a work are created and presented. Tone gives voice to the characters, both literally and figuratively. Through tone, the reader is able to learn about a character's personality and disposition. However, the tone also shapes the work as a whole, and whether the piece should be read as a serious, funny, dramatic or upsetting.
understatement
un·der·state·ment (ndr-sttmnt, ndr-stt-)n.1. A disclosure or statement that is less than complete.
Examples Of Understatement
Examples Of Understatement
- "It's a bit yellow" - while describing a very yellow canary.
- "There is some music by Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony" - while describing Beethoven's famous work.
- "The desert is sometimes dry and sandy" - While describing the driest desert in the world.
- "It is just a little cool today" - when the temperature outside is 5° below zero.
- "The food was tolerable" - on the food that was prepared by the best chef in the world.
- "The cars drove at a fair clip" - while watching a car race.
- "I know a little about running a company" - comment by a successful businessman.
- "I think we have slightly different opinions on this topic" - instead of saying "I don't agree with you at all.
- "It was ok" - when a top ranker was asked about his exam results.
- "I wouldn't say he was thin" - describing a very obese person.
- "He is a little on the old side" - describing a very old person.
- "I wouldn't say it tasted great" - on terrible food.
- "Mumbai is not the cheapest place in the world" - instead of saying Mumbai is expensive.
- "We have had a little rain" - when the entire area is flooded.
- "It's just a scratch" - when there is a huge dent.