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Apostrophe in Literature

Gives a definition of the literary device, the apostrophe, along with some examples in classic literature

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Marianne
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53 views2 pages

Apostrophe in Literature

Gives a definition of the literary device, the apostrophe, along with some examples in classic literature

Uploaded by

Marianne
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

ApostropheAn exclamatory figure of speech when a character turns from


addressing one party to another party or inanimate object.

Examples of Apostrophe in Literature


Example #1
JULIET: Yea, noise? Then Ill be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy
sheath; there rust, and let me die.
(Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)
Near the very end of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, the tragic
heroine Juliet awakes from her sleeping draught to find Romeo
dead. In this apostrophe example, Juliet takes Romeos dagger
and addresses it. It is ironically happyit will take her to her
death to be joined once again with Romeo. The drama of this
scene is that Juliet can no longer address her love, who is dead,
and must instead consult an inanimate object in her final
moment.

Example #2
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so;
For those whom thou thinkst thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
(Holy Sonnet 10 by John Dunne)
John Donnes Holy Sonnet 10 addresses Death as a concept and
inspired a famous novel of the same name by John Gunther. Donnes
point is that, while some are awed and in fear of death, the
personified Death has nothing to be proud of. Inspiring awe and fear

in others is not something that anyone should strive for, in Donnes


opinion.

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