Is an epithet a nickname?
The noun epithet is a descriptive nickname, such as “Richard the Lionhearted,” or “Tommy the Terrible.” When it takes a turn for the worse, it can also be a word or phrase that offends.
Why are epithets used?
Function of Epithet With the use of epithets, writers are able to describe their characters and settings more vividly, in order to give richer meanings to the text.
What does epithet mean in English?
1a : a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing. b : a disparaging or abusive word or phrase. c : the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus.
What is epithet in figure of speech?
A transferred epithet is a little known—but often used—figure of speech in which a modifier (usually an adjective) qualifies a noun other than the person or thing it is actually describing. In other words, the modifier or epithet is transferred from the noun it is meant to describe to another noun in the sentence.
What is the difference between transferred epithet and personification?
One type of metaphoric language is personification, which involves giving human characteristics to non-human beings or objects in literature. Another type is a transferred epithet, which involves transferring an epithet from the thing it actually describes to something else in the sentence.
What is paradoxical nature?
having the nature of a paradox; self-contradictory. Medicine/Medical. not being the normal or usual kind: Stimulants are a paradoxical, albeit effective, medication used for certain forms of hyperactivity.
What is a paradoxical character?
Paradoxical characters arise from the complexity of life itself. A paradox, in this sense, represents a deeply baffling complexity in a character navigating through life.
Is irony and paradox the same?
Irony ‘“ refers to real or literary situations or conversations where the evident meaning of a statement or action is incongruous with its intended meaning. Paradox ‘“ refers to a statement that defies intuition as it leads to seemingly irreconcilable contradictions.
What do you call a statement that contradicts itself?
Use oxymoron to refer to a word or phrase that contradicts itself, usually to create some rhetorical effect.
Can a person be called an oxymoron?
Can a person be an oxymoron? While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person.