Aposiopesis

Examples Help! What is the definition of Aposiopesis?

How do you define Aposiopesis? What is a Aposiopesis? The word derives from the from the Greek word aposiopesis meaning to be fully silent. Plural: Aposiopeses. The definition of Aposiopesis is as follows:

 

English Grammar & Terminology Definition of Aposiopesis - a poetic device
Definition: A figure of speech in which the speaker breaks off suddenly, as if unwilling or unable to state what was in his mind possibly overcome by excitement, passion, fear or modesty etc.

Leaving a statement unfinished at a dramatic moment.

Aposiopesis is an example of a rhetorical trope.

Definition of Aposiopesis - a poetic device

Examples of Aposiopesis in Literature,  Poems & Poetry
Poems with Aposiopesis examples can be found by the most famous poets including William Shakespeare.

  • From Henry IV by William Shakespeare
    Hotspur: O, I could prophesy,
    But that the earthy and cold hand of death
    Lies on my tongue. No, Percy, thou art dust,
    And food for --------
    Prince Hal: For worms, brave Percy.
  • From Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain:
     "Well, I lay if I get ahold of you I'll–."
  • From Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
    O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
    And men have lost their reason. Bear with me,
    My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
    And I must pause till it come back to me.

Examples Help! Use of Aposiopesis in Literature
Examples of Aposiopesis can be found in many examples of the poem, poems or poetry. Famous poets use this figure of speech to convey and emphasize unusual and vivid images. The use of strong word association changes the mode of thought and adds variation, embellishment and adornment to literary works.

Examples Help - Figures of Speech - Aposiopesis
In Figurative Language we use words in such a way that they differ somewhat from ordinary every-day speech and convey meanings in a more vivid and impressive manner. Figures, like Aposiopesis make speech more effective, they beautify and emphasize it in Rhetoric which is the art of speaking and writing effectively. Figures of speech such as Aposiopesis use word association to convey emotion and mood often in a non-literal sense.

Examples Help! Using Aposiopesis
Figures of speech such as Aposiopesis adds adornment, beautifies, colors, elegant variation, embellishment, embroidery, emphasis, exaggeration, exclamation, flourish, floweriness, irony, lushness and luxuriance to the English language. This page providing facts and info about Figures of Speech will help with the understanding of this subject.

  • Free educational resource
  • Literature - Aposiopesis
  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.
  • Definition, sample and example - poetic device
  • Figure of Speech in English Grammar
  • Definitions, info, samples and examples of different English Figurative Language
  • Aposiopesis - figure, image, trope
  • Word association to convey emotion and mood.
  • Definition, info, sample and example - figure, image, trope - Poetic device
  • Literature
  • Examples Help!

Aposiopesis

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