Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Hyperbole: exaggeration and
overstatement
• Polysyndeton: the use of extra
conjunctions
• Apostrophe: addressing a person
or object that is absent or far off
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Hyperbole: exaggeration and
overstatement
• “over-throw”
– it was so cold my ears froze
– I hate poetic figures. They bore me to
death.
– I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Hyperbole: in epic, lends a sense of
grandeur to a passage
At this <Polyphemus> sent up an unearthly roar
At which the waves on the deep sea were shaken,
Italy was frightened far inland, . . . (Aeneid 3.672-4)
As he flung out these words, a howling gust
From due north took the sail aback and lifted
Wavetops to heaven, . . .
(Aeneid 1.102-3)
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: the use of extra
conjunctions
• “many conjunctions”
– My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me: And I give unto them
eternal life: and they shall never perish.
(John 10:27)
– When men drink, then they are rich and
successful and win lawsuits and are happy
and help their friends.
(Aristophanes)
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his
oxen
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his
oxen, and his asses
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his
oxen, and his asses, and his sheep
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his
oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Polysyndeton: an increasing list of
supporting details
Not snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor dark of night
keeps these messengers from accomplishing
their appointed rounds with all speed. (Herodotus)
And Joshua . . . took Achan the son of Zerah, and
his silver, and the garment, and the wedge of
gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his
oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent,
and all that he had.
(Joshua 7:24)
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Apostrophe: the direct address of a
person or object that is absent or far
away
• “turn away”
– Tell me the causes now, O Muse, . . .
(Vergil, Aeneid 1.12)
–
Cypris, you are no god.
You are something stronger than a god . . .
(Euripides, Hippolytus 359-60)
Poetic Figures 2
EXCESSIVE WORDS
• Apostrophe: usually an emotional
plea for help, often a prayer
O triply lucky, all you men
To whom death came before your fathers’ eyes
Below the walls of Troy!
(Aeneid 1.94-6)
Ashes of Ilium!
Flames that consumed my people! Here I swear
That in your downfall . . .
(Aeneid 2.431-2)