![]() ![]() brings out this point: “The effect of an apostrophe in poetry is to personify or bring to life something not living, so the poet is able to address it directly. It also adds drama, evoking emotions from jubilation to sorrow. Why do poets use this literary device ? One reason is to highlight the importance of the idea or object. ![]() Thy mists, that roll and rise! Poetic apostrophe-why it’s used O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! ![]() Vincent Millay does this in her poem “God’s World.” Historically, poets often began their address to the absent party with the interjection “O.” When poets use it today, it is often with the intent to create an archaic tone. Here are some verses from a modern-day poem called “ How Come? ” published on the Wild Rose Reader blog: Sometimes, these types of poems are called poems of address. They might even address an inanimate object or a place. Writers might direct speech to a person who is physically absent or deceased. In poetry, the party is often an abstract concept such as love, hate, or freedom. As in the example above, one of the speakers turns away from addressing another character or the audience and instead addresses a third party. Instead, it is a literary device that helps the writer accomplish a goal. Since death is not a person or thing that is literally present, you can view it as missing, like the G of talkin’! Interestingly, the word apostrophe comes from a Greek term meaning “turning away.” So, in poetry, an apostrophe is not a punctuation mark. In this scene, Queen Isabelle directly addresses death. Queen Isabelle: Then come, sweet death, and rid me of this grief. Second Lord: That boots not therefore, gentle madam, go. Queen Isabelle: He hath forgotten me stay, I am his mother. Second Lord: Thus, madam, ’tis the king’s will you shall hence. Keeping in mind that an apostrophe signifies omission, read the following excerpt from Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly Poetic apostrophe example ![]()
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