Etymology of Anagram
The word “anagram” comes from the Greek “ana-” meaning “back” or “again,” and “graphein” meaning “to write.” Anagrams have been used as a literary device for centuries. They are present in literature from ancient times to the present day.
Meanings:
The meanings behind anagrams can vary widely depending on the context in which they are used.
- An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.
- Anagrams serves various purposes, including entertainment, creating distinctive names, conveying hidden messages or meanings, and adding humor, depth, or complexity to a work of literature.
- Anagrams are a versatile literary device that can be used in many different contexts, from casual word games to serious writing.
Anagram in Grammar
Grammatically, “anagram” is a noun and its plural form is “anagrams.” As a verb, “anagram” means to form a word or phrase by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. For example, one could say “I will anagram the word ‘cinema’ to get the word ‘iceman.’” In this case, “anagram” is used as a transitive verb. It is not used as an intransitive verb or a linking verb.
Definition of Literary Device of Anagram
The literary device of anagram involves rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to form a new word or phrase. Anagrams are used in literature to create wordplay, reveal hidden meanings, or add a sense of mystery or intrigue.
Types of anagrams
There are several types of anagrams used as literary devices. Here are a few examples:
- Direct anagram: This is the simplest type of anagram, where the letters of the original word or phrase are simply rearranged to form a new word or phrase. For example, “listen” and “silent” are direct anagrams of each other.
- Reverse anagram: In a reverse anagram, the letters of the original word or phrase are reversed and then rearranged to form a new word or phrase. For example, “desserts” and “stressed” are reverse anagrams of each other.
- Transposition anagram: In a transposition anagram, some of the letters of the original word or phrase are swapped with each other to form a new word or phrase. For example, “debit card” and “bad credit” are transposition anagrams of each other.
- Substitution anagram: In a substitution anagram, some of the letters of the original word or phrase are replaced with other letters to form a new word or phrase. For example, “funeral” and “real fun” are substitution anagrams of each other.
- Hybrid anagram: This is a combination of two or more types of anagrams. For example, “astronomer” can be rearranged to form the phrase “moon starer,” which is a hybrid of a direct and a substitution anagram.
Common Examples of Anagram
Here are some common examples of anagrams:
- Dormitory = Dirty room
- Funeral = Real fun
- A gentleman = Elegant man
- The eyes = They see
- Astronomer = Moon starer
- Debit card = Bad credit
- Mother-in-law = Woman Hitler
- Eleven plus two = Twelve plus one
- Listen = Silent
- Clint Eastwood = Old West action
Literary Examples:
- “Madam, in Eden, I’m Adam” – This famous anagram is a palindrome popularized by Lewis Carroll in his book, Through the Looking Glass. The anagram is a play on the names Adam and Eve, the first humans according to the Bible.
- “The Morse code” = “Here come dots” – This anagram English writer, poet, and mathematician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, presents his fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. The anagram is a witty play on words that transforms “The Morse Code” into “Here come dots,” emphasizing the use of dots in Morse Code.
- “Astronomer” = “Moon starer” – This anagram is from the play, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe, a famous Elizabethan playwright. The anagram is a clever play on words that transforms “Astronomer” into “Moon starer,” highlighting the interest in celestial bodies and stars that an astronomer might have.
- “Dormitory” = “Dirty room” – This anagram was made famous by the British novelist, playwright, and essayist, Tom Stoppard, in his play, Jumpers. The anagram is a humorous play on words that transforms “Dormitory” into “Dirty room,” highlighting the uncleanliness of a typical dorm room.
- “Eleven plus two” = “Twelve plus one” – This anagram is a play on the arithmetic equation. The British writer and mathematician, James Joyce, used it in his novel, Ulysses. The anagram emphasizes the mathematical equivalence of “Eleven plus two” and “Twelve plus one.”
- “Funeral” = “Real fun” – This anagram is a humorous play on words that transforms the word “Funeral” into “Real fun.” The American writer and humorist, Mark Twain, used it in his book, Following the Equator. The anagram emphasizes the irony of a funeral being described as “real fun.”
How to Create Anagram
- Choose a Word or Phrase
- Decide on a word or phrase that you want to make an anagram of.
- This could be anything, from a simple four-letter word to a longer phrase or sentence.
- Rearrange the Letters
- Take the letters from your chosen word or phrase and rearrange them.
- You can move the letters around in any order you like to create a new arrangement of letters.
- It’s important to use all of the letters from the original word or phrase.
- Create a New Word or Phrase
- Using the rearranged letters, create a new word or phrase.
- The new word or phrase can have a completely different meaning from the original, or it can be related in some way.
- Check your Spelling
- Make sure that your new word or phrase is spelled correctly.
- Check that you haven’t left out any letters from the original word or phrase.
- Have Fun!
- Anagrams are a fun and creative way to play with language.
- Experiment with different words and phrases to see what you can come up with.
Benefits:
Anagrams are words or phrases formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. There are several benefits of using anagrams, including:
- Vocabulary Building: Creating and solving anagrams help improve your vocabulary. It is because you think of words and their various spellings.
- Brain Exercise: Anagrams require your brain to work and think creatively, which can help improve your cognitive skills and memory.
- Improved Spelling: Anagrams can help improve your spelling skills as you need to know the correct spellings of words to create them.
- Fun and Entertaining: Anagrams can be a fun and entertaining way to pass the time.
- Educational Tool: Anagrams are a good educational tool to help children learn new words and improve their language skills.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Creating anagrams requires you to think outside the box and develop your problem-solving skills.
- Communication Skills: Anagrams can help improve your communication skills as you articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly.
Literary Device of Anagram in Literary Theory
Anagram is a literary device in which the letters of a word or phrase are rearranged to form a new word or phrase. In literary theory, it can be interpreted and analyzed through various lenses.
- Structuralism: Structuralism emphasizes the underlying structures that shape and give meaning to human experiences. In the context of anagram, structuralists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase reveals underlying structures and patterns in language.
- Post-structuralism: Poststructuralism challenges the assumptions of structuralism by emphasizing the instability and indeterminacy of language. In the context of anagram, post-structuralists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase destabilizes the meaning of the original word or phrase and highlights the arbitrariness of language.
- Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis emphasizes the role of the unconscious in shaping human behavior and experience. In the context of anagram, psychoanalysts might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase reveals hidden meanings and unconscious desires.
- Feminist theory: Feminist theory emphasizes the importance of gender and the role that it plays in shaping human experience. In the context of anagram, feminist theorists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase reveals gendered biases and assumptions in language.
- Queer theory: Queer theory challenges normative assumptions about gender and sexuality. In the context of anagram, queer theorists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase reveals alternative possibilities for gender and sexuality.
- New Criticism: New Criticism emphasizes close reading and analysis of literary texts. In the context of anagram, New Critics might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase contributes to the overall meaning and effect of a literary work.
- Reader-response theory: Reader-response theory emphasizes the role of the reader in shaping the meaning of a literary work. In the context of anagram, reader-response theorists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase invites readers to participate in the creation of meaning.
- Deconstruction: Deconstruction challenges the binary oppositions that underlie much of Western thought. In the context of anagram, deconstructionists might analyze the way that the rearrangement of letters in a word or phrase disrupts and destabilizes the binary oppositions that underlie language and thought.
Suggested Readings
Baudrillard, Jean. Simulacra and Simulation. University of Michigan Press, 1994.
Kristeva, Julia. Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art. Columbia University Press, 1980.
Queneau, Raymond. Exercises in Style. New Directions Publishing, 1981. Steiner, George. After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Oxford University Press, 1975.