Epithets Add Character

Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character By Mark Nichol Have you thought about the impact of using epithets in your writing? An epithet (from the Greek word epithetos, meaning â€Å"added†) is a word or phrase used in place of or in addition to a name to characterize the person, place, or thing. In fiction or nonfiction, it’s an effective device for evoking the subject’s qualities and for elegant variation. An epithet, also called a byname, is sometimes also referred to as sobriquet, though this word (and its variant soubriquet) is also a synonym for the more pedestrian nickname. You’re familiar with many epithets: Superheroes are frequent recipients of such designations: Superman is the Man of Steel, and Batman is the Caped Crusader or the Dark Knight. Such application of this device is only natural, considering that throughout history, mythical and legendary characters have acquired alternate appellations based on various aspects of their perceived personalities, such as Venus Genetrix (â€Å"Mother Venus†). Greek myths and tales are replete with epithets; Homer employed them liberally for poetic effect, as in referring to Agamemnon as â€Å"the son of Atreus† for† or calling the ocean â€Å"the wine-dark sea.† Musicians, too, are given epithets (or claim them for themselves): Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, the Beatles were the Fab Four, and Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss. Other artists have earned them, too, like William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, or just the Bard. Epithets describe politicians such as Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator or the Teflon President, and his contemporary Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. German leader Otto von Bismarck was called the Iron Chancellor, and a successor of his, Adolf Hitler, was styled Der Fà ¼hrer (â€Å"the Leader†), while his Italian counterpart, Benito Mussolini, was Il Duce (â€Å"the Duke†). Athletes have had epithets bestowed on them: Babe Ruth was the Great Bambino, or just the Bambino (Italian for â€Å"baby†), and the Sultan of Swat, while Brazilian football star Pele was the King of Soccer. As stated above, epithets can also be applied to places or things. Before Africa was thoroughly explored by Europeans and many of its countries came into their own in the twentieth century, it was long referred to as the Dark Continent. The New York Times is still known among journalists as the Gray Lady. Economics has been dubbed â€Å"the dismal science.† Note the mechanics of using epithets: When they appear by themselves, no emphasis is necessary other than, usually, initial capitalization of key words in the phrase. But enclose them in quotation marks when inserting them between first and last names (â€Å"Elvis ‘the King’ Presley†) or naming them as phrases (â€Å"Jealously is sometimes called ‘the green-eyed monster’†). Moderate use of epithets helps relieve the writer of having to exclusively use a person’s name or a pronoun, and it also allows for good-natured or not-so-good-natured humor: In the latter case, for example, the late artist Thomas Kinkade, widely criticized for the hubris of trademarking the personal epithet â€Å"the Painter of Light,† was referred to as â€Å"the Painter of Bud Light† after an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. In a more lighthearted vein, the character Horace Rumpole, from the television series Rumpole of the Bailey and its offshoots in other media, privately refers to his imperious wife as â€Å"She Who Must Be Obeyed†; this epithet is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the regal title character of the nineteenth-century lost-civilization novel She: A History of Adventure. Of course, writers can employ epithets in a more functional vein, as when they refer to any of the historical figures and pop-culture personalities mentioned above, but a subject need not be famous to earn an epithet: â€Å"Under his breath, Smith referred to Jones, who never returned what he borrowed, as ‘the Lord of the Light Fingers’ and ‘the Master of Mendicants.’† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comma After i.e. and e.g.16 Misquoted QuotationsHow to Style Titles of Print and Online Publications

Epithets Add Character

Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character By Mark Nichol Have you thought about the impact of using epithets in your writing? An epithet (from the Greek word epithetos, meaning â€Å"added†) is a word or phrase used in place of or in addition to a name to characterize the person, place, or thing. In fiction or nonfiction, it’s an effective device for evoking the subject’s qualities and for elegant variation. An epithet, also called a byname, is sometimes also referred to as sobriquet, though this word (and its variant soubriquet) is also a synonym for the more pedestrian nickname. You’re familiar with many epithets: Superheroes are frequent recipients of such designations: Superman is the Man of Steel, and Batman is the Caped Crusader or the Dark Knight. Such application of this device is only natural, considering that throughout history, mythical and legendary characters have acquired alternate appellations based on various aspects of their perceived personalities, such as Venus Genetrix (â€Å"Mother Venus†). Greek myths and tales are replete with epithets; Homer employed them liberally for poetic effect, as in referring to Agamemnon as â€Å"the son of Atreus† for† or calling the ocean â€Å"the wine-dark sea.† Musicians, too, are given epithets (or claim them for themselves): Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, the Beatles were the Fab Four, and Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss. Other artists have earned them, too, like William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, or just the Bard. Epithets describe politicians such as Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator or the Teflon President, and his contemporary Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. German leader Otto von Bismarck was called the Iron Chancellor, and a successor of his, Adolf Hitler, was styled Der Fà ¼hrer (â€Å"the Leader†), while his Italian counterpart, Benito Mussolini, was Il Duce (â€Å"the Duke†). Athletes have had epithets bestowed on them: Babe Ruth was the Great Bambino, or just the Bambino (Italian for â€Å"baby†), and the Sultan of Swat, while Brazilian football star Pele was the King of Soccer. As stated above, epithets can also be applied to places or things. Before Africa was thoroughly explored by Europeans and many of its countries came into their own in the twentieth century, it was long referred to as the Dark Continent. The New York Times is still known among journalists as the Gray Lady. Economics has been dubbed â€Å"the dismal science.† Note the mechanics of using epithets: When they appear by themselves, no emphasis is necessary other than, usually, initial capitalization of key words in the phrase. But enclose them in quotation marks when inserting them between first and last names (â€Å"Elvis ‘the King’ Presley†) or naming them as phrases (â€Å"Jealously is sometimes called ‘the green-eyed monster’†). Moderate use of epithets helps relieve the writer of having to exclusively use a person’s name or a pronoun, and it also allows for good-natured or not-so-good-natured humor: In the latter case, for example, the late artist Thomas Kinkade, widely criticized for the hubris of trademarking the personal epithet â€Å"the Painter of Light,† was referred to as â€Å"the Painter of Bud Light† after an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. In a more lighthearted vein, the character Horace Rumpole, from the television series Rumpole of the Bailey and its offshoots in other media, privately refers to his imperious wife as â€Å"She Who Must Be Obeyed†; this epithet is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the regal title character of the nineteenth-century lost-civilization novel She: A History of Adventure. Of course, writers can employ epithets in a more functional vein, as when they refer to any of the historical figures and pop-culture personalities mentioned above, but a subject need not be famous to earn an epithet: â€Å"Under his breath, Smith referred to Jones, who never returned what he borrowed, as ‘the Lord of the Light Fingers’ and ‘the Master of Mendicants.’† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comma After i.e. and e.g.16 Misquoted QuotationsHow to Style Titles of Print and Online Publications

Epithets Add Character

Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character Epithets Add Character By Mark Nichol Have you thought about the impact of using epithets in your writing? An epithet (from the Greek word epithetos, meaning â€Å"added†) is a word or phrase used in place of or in addition to a name to characterize the person, place, or thing. In fiction or nonfiction, it’s an effective device for evoking the subject’s qualities and for elegant variation. An epithet, also called a byname, is sometimes also referred to as sobriquet, though this word (and its variant soubriquet) is also a synonym for the more pedestrian nickname. You’re familiar with many epithets: Superheroes are frequent recipients of such designations: Superman is the Man of Steel, and Batman is the Caped Crusader or the Dark Knight. Such application of this device is only natural, considering that throughout history, mythical and legendary characters have acquired alternate appellations based on various aspects of their perceived personalities, such as Venus Genetrix (â€Å"Mother Venus†). Greek myths and tales are replete with epithets; Homer employed them liberally for poetic effect, as in referring to Agamemnon as â€Å"the son of Atreus† for† or calling the ocean â€Å"the wine-dark sea.† Musicians, too, are given epithets (or claim them for themselves): Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, the Beatles were the Fab Four, and Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss. Other artists have earned them, too, like William Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, or just the Bard. Epithets describe politicians such as Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator or the Teflon President, and his contemporary Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady. German leader Otto von Bismarck was called the Iron Chancellor, and a successor of his, Adolf Hitler, was styled Der Fà ¼hrer (â€Å"the Leader†), while his Italian counterpart, Benito Mussolini, was Il Duce (â€Å"the Duke†). Athletes have had epithets bestowed on them: Babe Ruth was the Great Bambino, or just the Bambino (Italian for â€Å"baby†), and the Sultan of Swat, while Brazilian football star Pele was the King of Soccer. As stated above, epithets can also be applied to places or things. Before Africa was thoroughly explored by Europeans and many of its countries came into their own in the twentieth century, it was long referred to as the Dark Continent. The New York Times is still known among journalists as the Gray Lady. Economics has been dubbed â€Å"the dismal science.† Note the mechanics of using epithets: When they appear by themselves, no emphasis is necessary other than, usually, initial capitalization of key words in the phrase. But enclose them in quotation marks when inserting them between first and last names (â€Å"Elvis ‘the King’ Presley†) or naming them as phrases (â€Å"Jealously is sometimes called ‘the green-eyed monster’†). Moderate use of epithets helps relieve the writer of having to exclusively use a person’s name or a pronoun, and it also allows for good-natured or not-so-good-natured humor: In the latter case, for example, the late artist Thomas Kinkade, widely criticized for the hubris of trademarking the personal epithet â€Å"the Painter of Light,† was referred to as â€Å"the Painter of Bud Light† after an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. In a more lighthearted vein, the character Horace Rumpole, from the television series Rumpole of the Bailey and its offshoots in other media, privately refers to his imperious wife as â€Å"She Who Must Be Obeyed†; this epithet is a tongue-in-cheek homage to the regal title character of the nineteenth-century lost-civilization novel She: A History of Adventure. Of course, writers can employ epithets in a more functional vein, as when they refer to any of the historical figures and pop-culture personalities mentioned above, but a subject need not be famous to earn an epithet: â€Å"Under his breath, Smith referred to Jones, who never returned what he borrowed, as ‘the Lord of the Light Fingers’ and ‘the Master of Mendicants.’† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comma After i.e. and e.g.16 Misquoted QuotationsHow to Style Titles of Print and Online Publications

The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias - Essay Example The paper "The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias" will be the formal analysis of the two famous paintings. Gazing at the painting and then taking notes on what is observed can be the best strategy to achieve this. The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias is a painting done by Salvador Dali, a prominent Spanish surrealist artist. He had a range of art work that included photography, statuettes, cooperation with other artists, and paintings. Salvador was recognized for his extraordinary art work. Many accredit his artistic skills to the inspiration he got from the masters of rebirth. This paper will look at the painting depth, iconography, and color. In the Painting Depth, The Man with Head of Blue Hortensias, Salvador Dali tries to create depth in a number of ways. First, the male stature is perceived to be seating on a small rock near other large ones with his head bent or seating in a vertical position, depending on the position one is viewing the painting. The use of slightly bright col ors makes the rocks and the male stature appear close. In addition, there are dark clouds in the sky. The use of darker colors helps to make some rocks and the clouds appear to be far away. There seems to be a pathway separating the towering rocks on the left and where the male shape is seated. It appears close due to the slightly brighter color used. The rocks that have been painted in blue appear further away than those painted in brown. This goes a long way in depicting depth in the painting.

Judaism Religion and Theology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Judaism Religion and Theology - Essay Example One reason is that the Essenes formed one of the greatest sects during that time of Christ, in which the Jews were divided. Judaism is the way of life, philosophy and religion of the Jewish people. One might be interested in being part of these separatist societies because of the uniqueness of these societies. The Essenes for example had no women and also had no money. These were believed to be the major causes of sin and were therefore forbidden from these societies. They only had palm trees as their companions. This saw many people who were tired of life being driven to these societies to adopt their interesting mannerisms. This paper will discuss â€Å"The Damascus Document† and the â€Å"Rule of the Community† expanding on why someone might have been interested in being a part of these separatist communities. One would therefore be interested in being part of these separatist societies because they were thought to have advantage over the weariness that comes with li fe. â€Å"The land of the Essenes was also very fertile and it attracted people to it†. Another factor that would make one to be interested in being part of these separatist societies, first, according to Josephus and Philo, the members of the sect numbered 4000. Judaism is a religious system whereby everyone is under the rule of God. This was because becoming a member of Essene sect for example was not easy to achieve. Only the male adults were allowed to join the group. The Essenes for example believed in living very simple lives.... There are a number of factors that made their ways of life appealing. First, their days began with prayer and they believed in purification after working in their various occupations. That is why they would assemble for ritual purification at the end of each day. â€Å"Followers had communal meals which were prepared by the priest† (Brownlee, 1982). These meals were served to each member in order of their status in the society but each member would wear special garments for these meals. They would return to work after these meals and later on reassemble for another meal. They often recited prayers together at sunset. Their unique mannerisms and ways of life made them to be different and they were separated from their fellow Jews. One can therefore desire to be like them because of their unique mannerisms (Trans, 1942). These societies overemphasized on ritual purity in the sense that they would purify themselves several times after relieving themselves for example, after worki ng, after being in contact with people who were not members of their societies and before meals. According to the rule of the community, the character of these communities such as that which required one to undergo thorough examination before being allowed to join the sects made them to be desirable and appealing. Such an examination process would last for almost two years before one became a fully fledged member. Their celibacy, community of property and theology were unique and made them to be different. The Jews are considered to be an ethno religious group. The members of these separatist societies such as the Essenes only worked in certain occupations such as crafts and agriculture. They avoided other occupations that were considered as not being pure. These