Etymology Literary Device of Apostrophe
The term “apostrophe” has entered the English language from Greek where it occurs as apostrophos means turning away or averting. It originated from the combination of two Greek terms: apo, meaning away from, and strophē, meaning “a turning.”
Meanings of Apostrophe
- One of its literal meanings is a punctuation mark (‘). It is used to indicate the omission of letters or numbers such as in contractions like “can’t” (short for “cannot”) or possessives like “John’s car” (meaning “the car belonging to John”).
- Another literal meaning of “apostrophe” is a symbol used to indicate feet or inches in measurements, as in 5’10” (meaning “five feet, ten inches”).
- In addition to these technical meanings, “apostrophe” also refers to a type of figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, object, or idea.
Apostrophe as a Word in Grammar
Grammatically, “apostrophe” is a noun. Its plural form is “apostrophes.” However, when used as a literary device, the term “apostrophe” also functions as a verb, meaning to address something or someone absent or inanimate as if it were present or alive.
For example, one might say, “In this poem, the speaker apostrophizes the moon.” Here, “apostrophizes” is being used as a verb to describe the act of addressing the moon as if it were a living being.
Definition of Literary Device of Apostrophe
In literature, an apostrophe means to call an absent or imaginary person, object, or idea as if that person or idea were present and able to respond. It is often used to create emotional connections and emphasize the importance of the subject being addressed.
Types of Apostrophes
| Type of Apostrophe | Explanation | Example |
| Apostrophe to an absent person | Addressing a person who is not present as if they were there | In Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “To a Skylark,” the speaker addresses the skylark as if it were a person, saying “Hail to thee, blithe spirit!” |
| Apostrophe to an abstract concept | Addressing an abstract concept or idea as if it were a person | In John Donne’s poem “Death Be Not Proud,” the speaker addresses Death as if it were a person, saying “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so.” |
| Apostrophe to an inanimate object | Addressing an inanimate object as if it were a living being | In William Wordsworth’s poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” the speaker addresses a field of daffodils as if they were people, saying “Ten thousand saw I at a glance, / Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.” |
| Historical or mythological apostrophe | Addressing a historical or mythological figure as if they were present | In John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost,” the speaker addresses the fallen angel Satan as if he were present, saying “O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers!” |
| Self-Apostrophe | Addressing oneself or one’s own emotions as if they were a separate entity | In William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the title character says “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” Here, Hamlet is addressing his own character flaws and shortcomings as if they were another person. |
| Rhetorical Question as Apostrophe | Asking a question to an inanimate object, abstract concept, or absent person as if they could respond | In Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights, the character Heathcliff says “Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? Why did you stray from your own happiness?” Here, Heathcliff is asking rhetorical questions to his deceased love interest, Cathy, as if she were present and able to respond. |
Literary Examples of Apostrophe
- “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman
“O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting”
In this famous poem, Whitman addresses Abraham Lincoln as if he were present, following the president’s assassination. He uses this apostrophe to convey his grief and admiration for Lincoln, who he imagines as the captain of a ship that has just weathered a storm. The poem is a tribute to Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War, and his subsequent death.
- “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats
“Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird!
No hungry generations tread thee down;
The voice I hear this passing night was heard
In ancient days by emperor and clown”
Here, Keats uses apostrophe to address the nightingale, imagining it as a symbol of immortality and freedom. The poem explores the tension between the beauty of the natural world and the transience of human life.
- “Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
“O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”
Here, Shelley uses the apostrophe to address the wind, asking it a rhetorical question about the cyclical nature of the seasons. The poem is a meditation on the power of the natural world to inspire and transform, and the wind serves as a symbol of creative energy and renewal.
- “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” by John Milton
“God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
Here, Milton uses apostrophe to address God, acknowledging his own limitations and submitting to the divine will. The poem is a meditation on the meaning of service and sacrifice, and the role of faith in the face of adversity.
Benefits of Using Apostrophe
- Clarification
- Emphasis
- Style
Using apostrophes helps make your writing more clear, engaging, and effective. However, it’s important to use them correctly and in appropriate contexts in order to avoid confusion or errors.
Literary Device of Apostrophe in Literary Theory
| Literary Theory | Critique of Apostrophe | Example |
| Formalism Literary Theory | It could argue that apostrophe disrupts the objective nature of literature and introduces subjective elements that can be seen as a distraction. | In T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Waste Land,” the use of apostrophes to address the Thames River may be seen as a departure from the objective portrayal of the urban landscape. |
| New Criticism Literary Theory | This literary theory may ask to view apostrophe as a powerful poetic device that allows for emotional engagement and exploration of complex ideas and themes. | In Sylvia Plath’s poem “Daddy,” the use of apostrophes to address her deceased father enables a deep exploration of her complex emotions and unresolved conflicts. |
| Reader-Response Literary Theory | This literary theory could emphasize the significance of the reader’s interpretation and emotional response to the apostrophe, as it can evoke personal connections and reflections. | In Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son,” the apostrophe used by the mother to address her son creates a relatable and emotionally resonant experience for the reader. |
| Feminist Literary Theory | This literary theory critiques apostrophe for perpetuating gender stereotypes or reinforcing patriarchal power dynamics by addressing women or feminized objects. | In John Keats’ poem “Ode to a Nightingale,” the use of apostrophe to address the nightingale as a female entity may be seen as reducing the bird to a passive, objectified symbol of inspiration. |
| Postcolonial Literary Theory | This literary theory analyzes apostrophe in relation to colonial power structures and argue that it perpetuates a Eurocentric perspective by addressing non-Western entities. | In Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, the use of apostrophe to address Africa as a dark, mysterious entity can be seen as reinforcing colonial stereotypes and marginalizing indigenous cultures. |
However, it must be noted that these critiques and examples are generals. They could be different, depending on the specific interpretation and analysis of the literary works.
Suggested Readings
- Harmon, William, and Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature. 12th ed., Pearson, 2014.
- Abrams, M. H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 11th ed., Cengage Learning, 2014.
- Beckson, Karl, and Arthur Ganz. Literary Terms: A Dictionary. Revised ed., Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2008.
- Murfin, Ross C., and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. 4th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2015.
- Baldick, Chris. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Baldick, Chris. The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.
- Greene, Roland, et al., editors. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. 4th ed., Princeton University Press, 2012.
- Childs, Peter, and Roger Fowler. The Routledge Dictionary of Literary Terms. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2013.