What is an example of aposiopesis?

An example would be the threat "Get out, or else—!" This device often portrays its users as overcome with passion (fear, anger, excitement) or modesty. To mark the occurrence of aposiopesis with punctuation, an em-rule (—) or an ellipsis (...) may be used.

What is an example of aposiopesis in a movie?

Example 1. For example, in Alfred Hitchco*ck's film Psycho, Marion Crane and Norman Bates discuss his relationship with his mother, whom Crane believes is abusive . Crane uses aposiopesis in order to say that if she had a mother like his, she would be driven to extremes: An error occurred.

What is the meaning of aposiopesis in poetry?

aposiopesis, (Greek: “becoming silent”), a speaker's deliberate failure to complete a sentence . Aposiopesis usually indicates speechless rage or exasperation, as in “Why, you . . .,” and sometimes implies vague threats as in, “Why, I'll . . . .” The listener is expected to complete the sentence in his mind.

How does aposiopesis affect the reader?

Aposiopesis is the art of cutting yourself short, and it's a powerful literary technique that can add a whole new dimension to your writing. By breaking off a thought or sentence before it's finished, you create a sense of tension and anticipation in your reader .

What is an example of apophasis?

Apophasis can be used passive-aggressively, as in, "I forgive you for your jealousy, so I won't even mention what a betrayal it was."

Is it ellipsis or aposiopesis?

Aposiopesis is the use of an ellipsis to trail off into silence —for example: "But I thought he was..." When placed at the end of a sentence, an ellipsis may be used to suggest melancholy or longing.

What is aposiopesis in Latin?

Origin of aposiopesis 1 . 1570–80; < Late Latin < Greek: literally, a full silence , equivalent to aposiōpē- (verbid stem of aposiōpáein to be fully silent; apo- apo- + siōpáein to be silent) + -sis -sis.

What is the plural form of Aposiopesis?

plural aposiopeses ˌa-pə-ˌsī-ə-ˈpē-ˌsēz. : the leaving of a thought incomplete usually by a sudden breaking off (as in "his behavior was—but I blush to mention that") aposiopetic.

What is the origin of the word aposiopesis?

From Latin aposiopesis, from Ancient Greek ἀποσιώπησις (aposiṓpēsis), from ἀποσιωπάω (aposiōpáō, “be silent”), from ἀπό (apó, “off, from”) + σιωπάω (siōpáō, “to be silent”) .

How to use aposiopesis in a sentence?

Aposiopesis is defined as a figure of speech in which the writer stops a line of text in the middle of a sentence. E.g. The following use of '—' is an example of aposiopesis, " His anger reached such intensity that—well, let's just say helplessness took over, and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence."

What is an example of a polysyndeton?

Writers use polysyndeton to emphasize words or phrases; for example, take this well-known polysyndeton: “ Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

What is an example of aporia?

Aporia is also called dubitatio. For example: I am at no loss for information about you and your family; but I am at a loss where to begin.

Aposiopesis - Definition and Examples of Aposiopesis (2024)

Definition of Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis is derived from a Greek word that means “becoming silent.” It is a rhetorical device that can be defined as a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer breaks off abruptly, and leaves the statement incomplete. It is as if the speaker is not willing to state what is present in his mind, due to being overcome by passion, excitement, or fear. In a piece of literature, it means to leave a sentence unfinished, so that the reader can determine his own meanings.

Types of Aposiopesis

Aposiopesis examples may be classified according to the following types:

Emotive aposiopesis – This type of aposiopesis is used in conditions of conflict between emotional outbursts of a speaker, and an environment that does not react. Usually, the writer or speaker pauses in the middle of a sentence.
Calculated aposiopesis – This type of aposiopesis is based on the conflict of missing thought and its opposing force that rejects the substance of that thought. Hence, the idea is removed that is explicitly expressed afterwards.
Audience-respecting aposiopesis – It is based on the removal of thoughts which are unpleasant to the readers, or offensive to the audience.
Transitio-aposiopesis – It removes the ideas from the end part of a speech in order to immediately get the audience interested in the subsequent section.
Emphatic aposiopesis – It avoids the use of full utterance, to present the idea as greater and really inexpressible.

Some Forms of Aposiopesis

Sometimes a word is used to indicate something completely different from its literal meaning. Such as in this example, “Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse; that is, one may reach deep enough, and find little” (Timon of Athens, by William Shakespeare).
Sometimes a word is used to indicate something whose actual name is not used like, “A chair’s arm.”
Sometimes a paradoxical statement is used to create illogical strained metaphors. Such as, “Take arms against a sea of troubles.”
Abusio is a subtype of Aposiopesis, which results from the combination of two metaphors.

Examples of Aposiopesis in Literature

Example #1: King Lear (By William Shakespeare)

King Lear:
“I will have revenges on you both
That all the world shall – I will do such things –
What they are yet, I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth!”

Shakespeare has used this technique wonderfully to show moods of his characters. Here, it is employed when King Lear gets furious against his wicked daughters. He cannot declare punishment, but he breaks down and burst into tears.

Example #2: Ulysses (By James Joyce)

“All quiet on Howth now. The distant hills seem. Where we. The rhododendrons. I am a fool perhaps, He gets the plums, and I the plumstones. Where I come in.”

In this passage, Joyce deliberately paused twice in order to create dramatic effect. The idea is left unfinished. This break also gives an impression of reluctance to continue. The unfinished thoughts are shown in bold.

Example #3: 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: fare thee well, great heart!”

Shakespeare has been famous for using emotional pauses, or moments of sudden silence in soliloquies. The unfinished thought in this extract is shown with a long dash (—). This is a pivotal moment in the play where a character pauses abruptly.

Example #4: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (By Mark Twain)

“She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but still loud enough for the furniture to hear:
‘Well, I lay if I get hold of you I’ll –’
She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat…”

There are two examples of aposiopesis in this excerpt. First, the writer pauses at “hold of you I’ll –,” and then at the end of the excerpt, “nothing but the cat.” Both sentences are left incomplete.

Example #5: 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…”

Again, Shakespeare uses aposiopesis in the soliloquy spoken by Antony at Caesar’s funeral ceremony. Anthony is making an emotional speech; hence, he is unable to finish his thought. This gives a perfect dramatic impact.

Function of Aposiopesis

The purpose of using aposiopesis is to create dramatic or comic effect. The writers or speakers use it whenever they want to express ideas that are too overwhelming to finish. Several playwrights use this technique to make dialogues seem sincere and realistic. But the most effective use of aposiopesis is seen when readers successfully figure out the missing thoughts that the writer has left unfinished.