Apostrophe

Definition

An apostrophe is a rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing, as if it were present and capable of responding. This device allows the speaker to express emotions more vividly and engage the audience's imagination. In medieval writing, apostrophes were often used to create a sense of urgency or invoke a response from the audience regarding moral lessons or themes explored in the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Apostrophes in medieval writing often served to highlight the emotional state of characters, emphasizing their struggles and desires by directly addressing absent figures or ideals.
2. This device was frequently employed by poets and playwrights to engage their audience emotionally, making abstract themes like love, death, or justice more tangible.
3. In works like 'The Canterbury Tales,' Chaucer utilized apostrophes to create dialogue with moral concepts, prompting readers to reflect on ethical dilemmas within the narrative.
4. The use of apostrophe can evoke a sense of longing or desperation in characters, making their situations more relatable and impactful for the audience.
5. Apostrophes can also serve as a call to action, urging characters or audiences to consider their choices and the consequences that follow.

Review Questions

• How does the use of apostrophe enhance emotional engagement in medieval writing?
  • Apostrophe enhances emotional engagement by allowing characters to directly address absent figures or abstract ideas, which amplifies their feelings and makes their struggles more relatable. This technique invites the audience to experience the character's emotions firsthand and creates a deeper connection between the narrative and its themes. For example, when a character laments their situation by speaking to death itself, it emphasizes the urgency and weight of their plight.
• Discuss the relationship between apostrophe and exempla in conveying moral lessons in medieval literature.
  • The relationship between apostrophe and exempla lies in their shared goal of imparting moral lessons. Apostrophes can emphasize the emotional stakes involved in a particular situation, while exempla serve as illustrative anecdotes that reinforce these lessons. Together, they work to create a compelling narrative that not only entertains but also instructs readers on ethical considerations and societal values prevalent during the medieval period.
• Evaluate how the use of apostrophe in medieval texts reflects broader societal values and concerns during that time.
  • The use of apostrophe in medieval texts reflects broader societal values by addressing themes such as morality, faith, and human struggle. By invoking abstract ideals or absent figures through direct address, writers highlighted contemporary concerns about justice, piety, and personal responsibility. This rhetorical device encouraged audiences to reflect on their own lives in relation to these ideals, making literature a means of not just storytelling but also social commentary that resonated with readers' experiences and beliefs.

Related terms

Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, often utilizing various techniques and devices to enhance communication.

Exemplum: A short example or anecdote that illustrates a moral point or lesson, commonly used in medieval literature to reinforce the main themes.

Personification: A figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract ideas, often used to make concepts more relatable.