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LECTURE V
LEXICAL STYLISTIC DEVICES: EPITHET, IRONY,
OXYMORON, HYPERBOLE
Issues to be discussed:
1.
Definition, semantics, structure and functions of Epithet.
2.
Definition, semantics and functions of Irony
3.
Definition, semantics, structure and functions of Oxymoron.
4.
Definition, semantics and functions of Hyperbole.
Key Words:
Lexical Stylistic Device, Epithet, Irony, Oxymoron, Hyperbole.
Epithet
Epithet is a stylistic device based on interaction of emotive and logical meanings
in an attributive word, phrase or sentence. Thus in «charming smile» besides logical
meaning, there is also an emotive meaning. Care should be taken not to mix epithet with
the logical attribute. The epithet is subjective and evaluative.
The logical attribute is
purely objective, non-evaluative.
E.g. Thus in,
green leaves, little girl, round table, blue skies
-the
adjectives are
logical attributes. They indicate those qualities of the object which may be regarded as
generally recognised.
If we compare:
a golden watch - a golden heart; a green leaf - a green youth
the
difference between logical attribute and epithet is clearly seen. Epithets make a strong
impact on the reader, so much that the reader begins to see and evaluate things as the
writer wants him to.
Epithet like all stylistic devices can be trite and genuine. In trite
epithet the ties
between the attribute and the noun are very close. Combination of this type appears as a
result of the frequent use of certain definite epithets with definite nouns: e.g. bright face,
true love, sweet smile, golden heart, unearthly beauty, wild -wind. Trite epithets belong
to expressive means of the language.
Genuine epithet is a stylistic device which characterises the object by adding a
feature not inherent in the object, a feature which may be so unexpected as to strike the
reader by its novelty: a heart-burning smile, voiceless sand's, a -watery smile, sullen
earth, destructive charms.
One of the varieties of genuine epithet are personificated epithets.
An attribute
which modifies a living being is shifted to modify an inanimate thing.
E.g.
1.
They felt quite happy on that unbreakfasted morning. 2. He lay all night on
his sleepless pillow. 3.Dancing thoughts, laughing wrinkles,
Epithets are mainly expressed by adjective in the function of an attribute. But it
also can be expressed by adjective in the function of an attribute:
e.g.
with lips of flame and heart of stone
/Shelly/.
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Another structural variety of the epithet expressed by an of-phrase is a reversed
epithet.
e.g.
a devil of sea, a shadow of smile, a devil of a job a dog of a fellow.
Here the subjective, evaluating, emotional element is embodied not in the noun
attribute but in the noun described. It should be noted that epithets, expressed by an «of-
phrase» are metaphorical.
From the point of view of
their compositional structure, epithet may be divided
into simple and phrase epithets.
The tendency to cram into one language unit as much information as possible has
led to new compositional models of epithets - phrase epithets.
the never-to-be-forgotten day
the don't-touch-me-or-I-ll-kill-you expression
do-it-yourself, go-it-alone attitude
The stylistic function of the epithet is to reveal the subjective, evaluating attitude of
the writer to the thing or events spoken of.
Irony
Irony is a stylistic device also based on simultaneous realisation of two meanings:
dictionary and contextual, but the two meanings stand in opposition to each other. In
other words it is a stylistic device in which the opposite of what is said is meant.
e.g.
What a happy woman was Rose to be Lady Crawly. Her husband used to
drink every night and beat his Rose sometimes.
/Thackerey/
Irony generally is used to convey a negative meaning, an expression of praise is
used were the blame is meant.
e.g.
How clever it is not to take an umbrella when it is raining hard.
/Jerome K
Jerome/
Irony as a linguistic means must not be confused
with irony and humour as a
stylistic effect, produced by different stylistic devices or even by a description of a
funny incident or an odd feature which we laugh at. Irony as a SD is interaction of two
types of meanings in one and the same word. Let's compare:
She jumps as an elephant She jumps gracefully as an elephant
Irony is realised only in the context. The context may be one sentence, two
sentences, several sentences. It may extend as far a paragraph,
chapter or even the
whole book.
e.g.
Stoney smiled the sweet smile of an alligator.
Here irony in the word «sweet « is realised within a sentence. In Galsworthy’s
book «The Man of Property» Soames and Irene are called «the happy». In order to
understand this irony we must read the whole book at least a half of the book /. The
main stylistic function of irony is to produce a humorous or satiric effect. And it mostly
appears in the belles-lettres style.
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