Apostrophe

continues throughout the poem. The use of the comma after “busy old fool” draws the reader in by thinking that they have been insulted, or someone is about to be insulted further. By talking to the sun, Donne is using a poetic technique called an apostrophe, addressing something that isn 't immediately there. The first two lines are comparatively short compared to the rest of the stanza creating a conversational feel to the piece. The speaker adopts a chiding and arguing tone towards the sun…

Frederick Douglass and His Use of Rhetorical Devices “The political character of one’s actions is inextricably bound to the political status of one’s subjectivity.” So says Frank B. Wilderson III, a writer focusing on critical and racial theory. For many authors, their message is heavily impacted not only by how they relate to the message, but through their style of writing itself. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the author has an incredibly personal connection to the anecdotes…

Robert Haight’s poem, “Early October Snow,” has many feasible interpretations. One viable way to read the poem is in the literal sense. Therefore, in the literal sense this poem is about the speaker describing the beauty in a snowy October day. The speaker uses vibrant words to make this black and white picture become vibrant with colors. After carefully analyzing this poem, the focus of the poem has emphasized the value of time and has explained to cherish the time available. Furthermore, the…

‘Flowers for Algernon,' written in 1958 by Daniel Keyes, is a short science fiction story about a mentally disabled protagonist called Charlie Gordon. Charlie, who is a 37-year-old man, due to his eagerness to learn, receives the opportunity to increase his intelligence through an experimental surgery. Following the experimental process, Daniel Keyes uses the techniques of the juxtaposition of events such as the thematic apperception test, as well as changes his writing style’s literacy skills…

comparison allows the reader to better visualize an unseen soul. Repetition in the poem like “It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;” adds depth and allows the reader to picture and feel the movement. Finally, Whitman uses the apostrophe with “And you, O my Soul, where you stand.” Directly addressing the soul makes it seem more tangible (Koelsch, Nelson, and Berliner 407). Whitman is known to end poems on an optimistic note. His…

a reflection of the human experience. The fifth stanza takes the form of a monologue as Machado speaks to the elm in first person, which reflects the intensity of his emotional attachment to the elm. Moreover, his use of the rhetorical figure apostrophe (direct address) portrays the elm as a sentient being, treating it as if it were capable of response, thus evoking his readers to feel greater empathy for it, like they would for a human. This use of personification here, also reinforces the…

Shakespeare’s prolific story of star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, stands as one of the world’s most recognizable plays. It has spun out countless reincarnations and parodies so each time a new director sets forth to produce the play, he must consider how to craft a show that is inventive yet still authentic to the source material. Adrian Noble’s 1995 production of Romeo and Juliet evoked a more lighthearted tone than traditionally seen in productions. Instead of depicting the tragedy of two…

In this selection from Frederick Douglass' 1845 autobiography, the third paragraph stands out from the rest of the passage due to differences in its construction. Douglass' use of syntax and figurative language set this paragraph apart and reinforce Douglass' demonstration that although slavery would leave the reader to "behold a man transformed into a brute" (16-17), slaves were not animals but men, with thoughts and desires of their own. The third paragraph is distinguished from the rest of…

blisses? Who’ll love you now? Or bite your lips in kisses? Not Catullus! He’s determined to abstain. (16-19) This repetition occurs in the form of questions towards Clodia, asking her who will meet her needs. This four line stanza also creates an apostrophe as Catullus proclaims these multiple question to Clodia. This also displays a sense of irony, because Clodia has a husband who will supply all her needs, unlike what Catullus is saying. Lesbia says She’ld Rather Marry Me The theme of this…

In The Crisis, a pamphlet from the American Revolutionary War in 1776, Thomas Paine attempts to rally the American soldiers to victory over the British forces. Thomas Paine is a revolutionary author most well known for his book Common Sense, where he spoke out against the tyranny of the King of England. The Crisis advocates for revolution and famously inspired the American soldiers under George Washington’s command at Valley Forge to cross the Delaware and fight victoriously against the British.…