Homophone in Literature

Homophone in Literature: Introduction

The use of homophone in literature adds a layer of linguistic richness and complexity to literary works. Writers often employ homophones, words that share a similar pronunciation but differ in meaning, to create clever wordplay, evoke subtle humor, or enhance poetic effects. Whether in the form of puns, double entendres, or playful language, homophones contribute to the texture of the narrative, inviting readers to engage with language in a dynamic and nuanced manner. From the timeless verses of Shakespeare, where homophones are woven into sonnets and plays, to the whimsical tales of Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky,” where invented words with homophonic elements create a fantastical linguistic landscape, the deliberate use of these phonetic similarities showcases the writer’s skill in manipulating language for both artistic and communicative purposes. As readers navigate the interplay of sound and meaning within the context of homophones, they embark on a journey that transcends the literal, exploring the intricacies and pleasures of language in the literary realm.

Homophone in Literature: Shakespearean Examples

1. Sonnet 2:
   • “When forty winters shall beseige thy brow,”
   • “Besiege” sounds like “be siege,” playing on the homophonic relationship between the two.
2. Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1:
   • “To be, or not to be, that is the question:”
   • The famous opening line uses the homophones “be” and “bee.”
3. Sonnet 18:
   • “Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;”
   • “Ow’st” (ownest) sounds like “oast,” playing on the homophonic relationship.
4. Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4, Scene 2:
   • “There’s a double meaning in that!”
   • The wordplay here involves the homophones “double” and “doubtful.”
5. Sonnet 73:
   • “In me thou seest the twilight of such day”
   • “Seest” sounds like “sees,” using homophones for poetic effect.
6. Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 1:
   • “If music be the food of love, play on;”
   • The homophones “be” and “bee” are used for a playful effect.
7. Sonnet 116:
   • “Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds,”
   • The repetition of “alters” and “alteration” involves homophones in a poetic structure.
8. Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 3:
   • “What, man! Ne’er pull your hat upon your brows;”
   • The homophones “ne’er” and “near” are used in a way that can be pronounced similarly.
9. Sonnet 130:
   • “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;”
   • The homophones “mistress” and “missed stress” create a play on words.
10. The Tempest, Act 5, Scene 1:
    • “Full fathom five thy father lies;”
    • The homophones “fathom” and “father” are used for a clever play on words.

Homophone in Literature: Examples Other than Shakespeare

1. Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”:
   • “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,”
   • “Weak” and “week” are homophones used for their similar sounds.
2. Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” (from “Through the Looking-Glass”):
   • “Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;”
   • “Toves” sounds like “toes,” creating a playful use of homophones.
3. O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”:
   • “But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.”
   • “Wise” and “wise” are homophones used for a clever play on words.
4. William Wordsworth’s “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”:
   • “Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.”
   • “Tossing” and “tossin'” (a colloquial shortening of “tossing”) serve as homophones.
5. William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Act 2, Scene 2:
   • “Eye, do you see? How can it be?”
   • The homophones “eye” and “I” are used for wordplay.
6. Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”:
   • “He was thinking ’bout his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home before in his life;”
   • The homophones “low” and “lo” are used in this passage.
7. Langston Hughes’s “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”:
   • “I’ve known rivers: I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.”
   • “Flow” and “flo” (a colloquial shortening of “flow”) are homophones used here.
8. Emily Dickinson’s “A Bird Came Down the Walk”:
   • “He did not know I saw; He bit an angle-worm in halves And ate the fellow, raw.”
   • “Halves” and “halves” are homophones in this excerpt.
9. Shel Silverstein’s “Homework Machine”:
   • “The homework machine, Oh the homework machine,”
   • The homophones “oh” and “owe” are used for a humorous effect.
10. Anton Chekhov’s “The Complaints Book”:
    • “It is stifling, suffocating. I am being smothered by circumstances, as a man in a crowd is suffocated by the air.”
    • The homophones “stifling” and “smothered” are used to convey a sense of oppression.

Homophone in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Homophones
Structuralism	Structuralist theory focuses on the relationships between elements in a literary work. Homophones can be seen as linguistic elements that create intricate patterns and relationships within the structure of a text, contributing to its overall meaning.
Deconstructionism	Deconstruction emphasizes the instability of language and the impossibility of fixed meanings. Homophones, with their multiple meanings, align with the deconstructive idea that language is fluid and open to interpretation, challenging the notion of fixed and stable meaning.
Feminist Criticism	Feminist literary theory explores gender roles, power dynamics, and language. Homophones can be used to subvert traditional gendered language or highlight linguistic nuances related to gender, contributing to the feminist discourse within literature.
Postcolonialism	Postcolonial theory examines the impact of colonialism and imperialism on literature. Homophones may be employed to explore linguistic hybridity or challenge linguistic imperialism, showcasing the intersection of different linguistic and cultural influences in a text.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	Psychoanalytic theory delves into the subconscious and the symbolic meanings in literature. Homophones, with their potential for wordplay and hidden meanings, can be analyzed through a psychoanalytic lens to uncover latent desires, fears, or subconscious elements in the text.
Reader-Response Theory	Reader-response theory emphasizes the role of the reader in constructing meaning. Homophones may engage readers by prompting them to consider alternative meanings, inviting personal interpretations and participation in the creation of meaning within the text.
New Criticism/Formalism	New Criticism focuses on the intrinsic qualities of a literary work. Homophones, as linguistic devices, can be examined for their formal aspects, such as rhythm, rhyme, and sound patterns, contributing to the overall aesthetic and formal analysis of a text.
Cultural Criticism	Cultural criticism explores the intersections of literature with cultural contexts. Homophones can reflect linguistic diversity, cultural influences, or subcultural nuances, offering insights into the ways language and culture intertwine within a particular literary work.

While these connections provide insights into how homophones might be considered within various literary theories, it’s important to note that literary analysis often involves multiple perspectives, and interpretations may vary based on individual readings and theoretical approaches.

Homophone in Literature: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Homophone	Words sounding the same but with different meanings.
Wordplay	Creative use of language, including homophones.
Phonetic Ambiguity	Deliberate use of sounds creating ambiguity, often with homophones.
Pun	Wordplay exploiting multiple meanings or similar sounds.
Double Entendre	Phrase with dual meanings, often using homophones.
Linguistic Ambiguity	Intentional use of unclear language, possibly involving homophones.
Rhyme	Repetition of similar sounds, including homophonic rhymes.
Sound Symbolism	Idea that word sounds convey meaning, with homophones influencing perception.
Diction	Author’s word choice, incorporating homophones for specific effects.
Wordplay in Humor	Use of homophones for comedic effects in language.

Homophone in Literature: Suggested Readings

1. Carroll, Lewis. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Penguin, 1871.
2. Chekhov, Anton. “The Complaints Book.” Selected Stories of Anton Chekhov. Translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Modern Library, 2000, pp. 386-389.
3. Dickinson, Emily. “A Bird Came Down the Walk.” The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson. Edited by R.W. Franklin, Harvard University Press, 1999, p. 328.
4. Hughes, Langston. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Edited by Arnold Rampersad, Vintage Classics, 1994, p. 94.
5. O. Henry. “The Gift of the Magi.” The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories. Dover Publications, 1992, pp. 1-7.
6. Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Raven.” The Complete Poems and Stories of Edgar Allan Poe. Knopf, 1984, pp. 83-92.
7. Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library, 1993.
8. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, Arden Shakespeare, 1982.
9. Silverstein, Shel. “Homework Machine.” A Light in the Attic. HarperCollins, 1981, p. 116.
10. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Norton Critical Edition, 2001.
11. Wordsworth, William. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.” The Major Works. Oxford University Press, 2008, pp. 346-347.