Anthimeria in Literature

Anthimeria in Literature: Introduction

Anthimeria in literature appears to defy the conventional boundaries of words by giving them different shapes and nuances. This literary term involves the strategic and deliberate transformation of a word’s grammatical form to create vivid and unconventional expressions.

Authors employ anthimeria to infuse their language with freshness, versatility, and imaginative flair, allowing nouns to morph into verbs, adjectives into nouns, and verbs into nouns, among other transformations. Such syntactic innovation enhances the linguistic palette of literature, offering writers a nuanced means of conveying emotions, ideas, and perspectives. Anthimeria stands as a testament to the dynamic nature of language within the artistic tapestry of literature.

Anthimeria in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

Example	Play/Work	Explanation
“The nightingale sings with a gall’d throat.”	Romeo and Juliet	Shakespeare transforms the noun “gall” into a verb, portraying the nightingale singing despite having an irritated throat.
“He childed as I fathered.”	The Tempest	Anthimeria is employed as “childed” transforms the noun “child” into a verb, describing the act of parenting or begetting.
“She childed like a girl.”	King Lear	Again, Shakespeare uses anthimeria, turning “child” into a verb to depict the process of giving birth, characteristic of girls.
“The day is almost itself.”	Macbeth	Here, the adjective “itself” is anthimerically employed as a noun, referring to the day nearing its typical state or condition.
“The thunder would not peace at my bidding.”	Henry IV, Part 2	Shakespeare transforms the noun “peace” into a verb, illustrating the inability of thunder to become calm or tranquil at command.

Anthimeria in Literature: Examples

1. Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451“:
   • Example: “We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”
   • Explanation: In this example, the noun “bothered” is used as a verb, showcasing anthimeria. The author employs this figure of speech to emphasize the necessity of facing thought-provoking challenges.
2. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby“:
   • Example: “He smiled understandingly—much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it that you may come across four or five times in life.”
   • Explanation: Fitzgerald uses anthimeria by transforming the adjective “understanding” into an adverb. This creative usage enhances the description of the character’s smile, adding depth to its meaning.
3. Langston Hughes’s “Dream Deferred“:
   • Example: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun?”
   • Explanation: Hughes employs anthimeria by turning the noun “deferred” into a verb. This linguistic shift contributes to the poem’s exploration of the consequences and transformations of unfulfilled dreams.
4. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird“:
   • Example: “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
   • Explanation: In this instance, Lee uses anthimeria to transform the verb “reading” into a noun, creating a parallel with the essential nature of breathing. The comparison emphasizes the intrinsic value the narrator places on reading.
5. George Orwell’s “Animal Farm“:
   • Example: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
   • Explanation: Orwell employs anthimeria by using the adjective “equal” as a noun. This satirical phrase underscores the hypocrisy and manipulation present in the story’s political context.
6. Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms“:
   • Example: “I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice and the expression in vain.”
   • Explanation: Hemingway utilizes anthimeria by turning the nouns “sacred,” “glorious,” and “sacrifice” into adjectives. This linguistic choice reflects the protagonist’s discomfort with the idealized language associated with war.
7. Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights“:
   • Example: “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
   • Explanation: Brontë uses anthimeria by transforming the possessive pronoun “his” into a verb. This linguistic innovation adds a poetic and intimate dimension to the expression of shared souls between characters.

Anthimeria in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Anthimeria
Structuralism	Anthimeria can be seen as a deviation from expected linguistic structures. In a structuralist analysis, it may be examined as a disruption or transformation within the system of language, offering insights into underlying patterns.
Semiotics	Within semiotics, anthimeria serves as a signifier that takes on new signified meanings. It highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of language, illustrating how words can adopt different roles and contribute to changing sign systems.
Deconstruction	Anthimeria can be viewed as a deconstructive strategy, challenging fixed categories and the traditional boundaries between parts of speech. It disrupts linguistic norms, inviting readers to question and explore the instability of language.
Reader-Response	From a reader-response perspective, anthimeria engages readers by requiring them to actively interpret the transformed language. The unconventional use of words prompts a reader’s personal and subjective engagement with the text.
New Criticism	New Criticism may analyze anthimeria as a formal aspect of a literary work, examining how the use of this figure of speech contributes to the overall structure and meaning. It may emphasize the aesthetic impact and unity achieved.
Postcolonial Theory	In postcolonial literature, anthimeria can be employed to subvert colonial language and challenge established power structures. It allows authors to reclaim and redefine language, contributing to the broader discourse of postcolonial identity.
Feminist Criticism	Anthimeria may be analyzed through a feminist lens to explore how language, traditionally shaped by patriarchal norms, can be subverted and reconstructed. It enables writers to challenge gendered linguistic conventions and express alternative perspectives.

Please note that the relevance of anthimeria in literary theories is not limited to the examples provided, and its interpretation may vary based on the specific context of each literary work and the theoretical approach applied.

Anthimeria in Literature: Relevant Terms

Literary Term	Definition
Metonymy	Substituting the name of one thing with another closely associated with it.
Synecdoche	Using a part of something to represent the whole or vice versa.
Zeugma	A figure of speech in which a word applies to multiple parts of the sentence.
Antanaclasis	Repetition of a word with a different meaning each time.
Polyptoton	Repeating a word, but in a different form.
Paronomasia	Play on words, often using similar-sounding but different-meaning words.
Catachresis	The use of a word in a way that is not conventionally correct, often for a metaphorical effect.
Syllepsis	A figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others in different senses.
Enallage	Intentional grammatical mistake for emphasis or stylistic effect.
Periphrasis	Using more words than necessary to express an idea.

Anthimeria in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Fry, Paul H. The Language of Literature: Linguistic Approaches to Classical Texts. Oxford University Press, 2002.
2. Crystal, David. English as a Global Language. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
3. Pinker, Steven. The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature. Viking, 2007.
4. Tannen, Deborah. Talking Voices: Repetition, Dialogue, and Imagery in Conversational Discourse. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
5. Quirk, Randolph, et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1985.
6. Eco, Umberto. Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language. Indiana University Press, 1986.
7. Orwell, George. Politics and the English Language. Penguin, 2013.
8. Crystal, David. Making Sense of Grammar. Pearson, 2004.
9. Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By. University of Chicago Press, 2003.
10. Pinker, Steven. Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language. HarperCollins, 1999.