Faculty of Humanities and Social Science > English Language Skills

Literary Terms

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Binoy:
Ekphrastic 
অন্যচিত্র

Definition:
Ekphrastic refers to a form of writing, mostly poetry, wherein the author describes another work of art, usually visual. It is used to convey the deeper symbolism of the corporeal art form by means of a separate medium. It has often been found that ekphrastic writing is rhetorical in nature and symbolic of a greater meaning.

Example:
A photograph of an empty landscape can convey desolation, abandon and loss. Similarly, one can convey the same sentiments and concepts by using phrases such as ‘an empty doorway’ or ‘a childless nursery’.

Binoy:
Epilogue 
সমাপ্তিকা; অন্তকথন

Definition:
Epilogues are an inherent part of any story or poem and are essential to the structure of any written form. The epilogue is an important literary tool that acts as the afterword once the last chapter is over. The purpose of an epilogue is to add a little insight to some interesting developments that happen once the major plot is over. Epilogues often act as a teaser trailer to any possible sequels that might be created later.

Sometimes the epilogue is used to add a little bit about the life or future of the main characters after the story itself has unfolded and wrapped up. Epilogues can be written in a number of ways: sometimes the same narrative style as adopted in the story is continued while at other times one of the characters might take up the narrative or speak one to one with the audience.

Example:
In a remarkably contemporary moment at the end of The Tempest, Shakespeare’s wizard Prospero addresses the audience directly, breaking down the boundaries of the play. He informs them that the play is over, his powers are gone, and thus his escape from the play’s island setting depends on their applause that they, in effect, get to decide his fate.

This serves as a Epilogue for Shakespeare’s tragicomedy The Tempest.

Binoy:
Epithet 
উপনাম; উপাধি

Definition:
An epithet is a literary device that is used as a descriptive device. It is usually used to add to a person or place’s regular name and attribute some special quality to the same. Epithets are remarkable in that they become a part of common parlance over time. These descriptive words and phrases can be used to enhance the persona of real and fictitious places, objects, persons and divinities.

Example:
“Alexander the Great” is the epithet commonly used to refer to Alexander III of Macedon. The young king has come to be recognized by this epithet in all of history and popular culture owing to his spectacular achievements in creating one of the largest ever historical empires.

Binoy:
Euphemism 
মৃদুবচন

Definition:
The term ‘euphemism’ is used to refer to the literary practice of using a comparatively milder or less abrasive form of a negative description instead of its original, unsympathetic form. This device is used when writing about matters such as sex, violence, death, crimes and things “embarrassing”. The purpose of euphemisms is to substitute unpleasant and severe words with more genteel ones in order to mask the harshness.. The use of euphemisms is sometimes manipulated to lend a touch of exaggeration or irony in satirical writing.

Examples:
Using “to put out to pasture” when one implies retiring a person because they are too old to be effective.

Downsizing – This is used when a company fires or lays off a larger number of employees

Friendly fire – This is used by the military when soldiers are accidentally killed by other soldiers on the same side.

Tipsy – This is a soft way to say that someone has had to much to drink.

Golden years – This is used to describe the later period of life when someone is of old age.

Gone to heaven – This is a polite way to say that someone is dead.

Enhanced interrogation – This is modern euphemism to minimize what by many people would be viewed as torture.

Binoy:
Euphony 
সুরেলা ভাষা; সুললিত বচন

Definition:
The literary device “euphony” refers to the use of phrases and words that are noted for possessing an extensive degree of notable loveliness or melody in the sound they create. The use of euphony is predominant in literary prose and poetry, where poetic devices such as alliteration, rhyme and assonance are used to create pleasant sounds. Euphony is the opposite of cacophony, which refers to the creation of unpleasant and harsh sounds by using certain words and phrases together. This literary device is based on the use and manipulation of phonetics in literature.

Example:
It has been said that the phrase “cellar door” is reportedly the most pleasant sounding phrase in the English language. The phrase is said to depict the highest degree of euphony, and is said to be especially notable when spoken in the British accent.

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